In a yet another embarrassing situation for Ranchi Police on Friday, most of the 303 rifles carried by the police personnel misfired during the Guard of Honour given to the last heir of the Royal Chotanagpur Dynasty lal Chintamani Nath Shahdeo at Ratu in Ranchi. Ranchi Police however, calling it a technical fault, blamed it on the old and blank cartridges used for such ceremonial purposes.
“It is a matter of investigation where it went wrong......It seems to be a technical fault as 303 rifles are generally used for ceremonial purposes as the police force in general is equipped with highly modernised weapons ,” said SP City Anoop Birthare.
There could be some other reasons like the firing pin did not work or the blank cartridges, which is generally used during such ceremonial functions, would have misfired said Birthare. Blank rounds, might have been from an old stock which is rarely used during such functions, added Birthare. Blank cartridges are used only for the purpose of sound without having any splinter in it, he said.
Referring to the use of 303 rifles if it cannot fire in the hour of need, Birthare said that these rifles are only being used by the Home Guards for patrolling purposes. Birthare however, asserted that that it was embarrassing situation for them before so many distinguished guests like Chief Secretary and other senior officials of the state. “Such incident should not take place in future,” Birthare added.
last heir of Chotanagpur Dynasty Maharaja Chintamani Nath Shahdeo died on Thursday. last tributes were being paid by the State Government on Friday but the rifles carried by the police personnel misfired while the Maharaja was given salute of guns putting the police officials present there into an embarrassing
situation.
Policemen somehow later completed the formality of firing after struggling for quite some time who even had to press their rifles to the ground in order to make it fire.