A firing episode at the Doordarshan TV Tower located at Marnenga about 10 kms from district headquarters last year which was being dubbed as a Naxal attack leaving three persons dead turned out to be a case of fierce rivalry among police guards on duty.
‘It was found after investigation that a dispute over allocation of duty between police guards had resulted in the firing incident. It had nothing to do with any kind of Naxal activity,’ informed Superintendent of Police, Jagdalpur, Ajay Yadav on Friday. The firing incident had happened on intervening night of May 11-12, 2013 at Doordarshan TV Tower at Marnenga, he said.
Notably three persons including Head Constable Silvanus Ekka, Constable Alexander lakra and Constable Vasudev Sahu of 4th Battalion Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) were killed in the incident while Constable Majhar Khan was injured.
Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Keshlur, Ravindra Upadhyay who investigated that case while talking to The Pioneer over phone informed that evidence gathered from the scene of crime did not support the version of incident detailed by lone survivor of the incident Constable Majhar Khan. After a long investigation and through interrogation of Majhar Khan we came to know about the truth, he claimed.
The SDOP further said that on the May 11, 2013, Head Constable Silvanus Ekka had a heated exchange of words with Constable Vasudev Sahu over distribution of duty. During night hours, the same day , Ekka and Vasudev entered into a dispute which grew intense leading them to a brawl. Majhar Khan interrupted the dispute and separated them, the SDOP informed, going by the confession statement of Majhar Khan.
The same night, a fuming Ekka took out his gun and fired few shots on the door of Majhar Khan who was sleeping inside. However the bullets got jammed in the gun and taking advantage of the situation Majhar Khan managed to run away from the room.
Ekka then chased Majhar Khan and fired a few shots out of which one hit Majhar in the limb. Meanwhile, a shot fired by Ekka accidently hit Alexander lakra who was a few yards away from them resulting in his death, SDOP maintained.
Majhar in the meantime, managed to overpower Ekka and grabbed his gun. He then shot Ekka lakra who died on the spot. later on, Majhar reached Vasudev Sahu’s room where he found him dead, SDOP said adding, Majhar Khan in order to get away cooked up the story of a Naxal attack. Meanwhile Majhar Khan has been booked under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).