Four Army personnel were killed in a firing incident inside the Military Station in Punjab's Bathinda, one of the country's largest defence establishments, the Indian Army said on Wednesday. However, the local police clarified that it was not a terror attack.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) South West Command confirmed the firing incident, which took place at 4.35 a.m. inside the station.
The military station Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area has been cordoned off and sealed, the PRO said in a statement.
"Four fatal casualties reported, further details being ascertained."
Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana told the media "it was not a terror attack and seemed to be some internal development in the military station".
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He said the police teams have been on spot for an in-depth investigation and assisting the local military authorities.
Preliminary reports said the incident seems to be an incident of fratricide. Sources said an INSAS rifle from the unit and some rounds of ammunition had gone missing from the unit premises a few days ago.
The military installation in Bathinda is crucial as it is the headquarters of 10 Corps, which falls under the jurisdiction of the South Western Command based in Jaipur in Rajasthan.
The military station is located along the National Highway-7 on the Chandigarh-Fazilka stretch that further leads to Rajasthan.
Avoid rumors on Bathinda military base firing incident: Army
Considering sensitivities involved, the Indian Army on Wednesday asked the media to avoid rumours and refrain from speculation over a firing incident inside the Military Station in Punjab's Bathinda, which led to the deaths of four soldiers, and "the area continues to be sealed off to establish the facts of the case".The firing took place at about 4.35 a.m. at the military base -- the largest in Asia -- located some 100 km from the border of Pakistan.
"It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident," the South Western Command headquarters said in a statement.
"No other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property have been reported. The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case."
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The statement said all aspects, including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back, are being ascertained.
Earlier, the South Western Command said Station Quick Reaction Teams had been activated and search operations were in progress.
Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana told the media that "it was not a terror attack and seemed to be some internal development in the military station".
He said the police teams have been on spot for an in-depth investigation and assisting the local military authorities.
The Bathinda cantonment, which houses one of the biggest ammunition depots in the country, located along the National Highway-7 on the Chandigarh-Fazilka stretch that further leads to Rajasthan.
