Bathinda firing: Defence minister takes stock of situation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation at the Bathinda military station where four Indian Army jawans of an artillery unit were killed in a firing incident.

The Army said the incident took place at around 4:30 am and that it deployed quick reaction teams and cordoned off the area.

"It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss, damage to property have been reported," the Army's South Western command said in a statement.

It further 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.

Punjab's Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar told PTI over phone, "It is not a terrorist attack, it is not an attack from outside. It is a fratricidal incident". "We are in touch with the Army authorities," he said.

Bathinda's Senior Superintendent of Police, Gulneet Singh Khurana told the media in Bathinda, "It is not a terror incident. It is an internal issue, it appears to be fratricidal issue. Our investigation teams have reached inside (military station) with all forensic equipment and they are conducting investigations.

In-depth investigations are going on. The Army said the area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with the Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish facts of the case.

Senior police officials have asked Army families to stay inside their homes as two people, who are believed to be behind the incident, are yet to be identified or apprehended.

As per initial reports, it seems an internal issue as a rifle with ammunition had been missing for the last two days. Search ops are underway inside military station where there is thick plantation in some areas.