The argument that led to a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) head constable shooting dead four of his colleagues apparently concerned the presence of his child at their workplace, a hydropower project near the border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua , people familiar with the matter said.
While police and CISF are still investigating the trigger for the incident — a DIG rank officer from Delhi has reached Kathua — multiple versions that have emerged so far converge on the child being a factor. The four were taken to hospital but died of their injuries. Other colleagues overpowered Kumar and handed him over to police. The force is also training in-house staff to recognise behavioural changes and signs of stress among colleagues to facilitate timely intervention. Four days before Tuesday’s fratricide incident, this was among a series of decisions taken by the top brass in New Delhi for the mental well-being of its personnel.
Kumar opened fire with his AK-47 rifle, shooting down company commander(assistant commandant) Ankit Kumar Pandey, constables Rafiq Ahmed and Sandeep Kumar, and sub-inspector Lakshman Singh.
This officer said even as the police are probing the incident, CISF will conduct an internal inquiry to examine the work environment and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. “The DIG(intelligence) will file a report and submit it to the Delhi headquarters,” this officer said. CISF personnel on some of the force’s toughest and most stressful assignments—including those on duty at Parliament House and commandos engaged in high-level VIP security—have to undergo specialised psychometric assessments to identify psychological stress, people familiar with the matter said.
An officer said, the head constable, Avdesh Kumar, brought his child to work at the Sewa Hydel Power project in Kathua on Tuesday evening, which led to the argument with his company commander and three colleagues, according to one version.
