New Delhi, July 17: A drunk CRPF constable, Harpinder Singh, opened fire with an AK-47, killing six personnel over three hours, including one assistant commandant, after a brawl erupted over wastage of food at the CRPF mess in Saraikela district of Jharkhand. The incident has prompted the CRPF brass to reiterate the need for strict action against jawans found drinking on duty.
“We go into the reason why it happened. In this case it was not because he wanted leave,” a CRPF official said. CRPF sources said Harpinder had returned from leave on June 18.
Preliminary reports with CRPF HQ here revealed Harpinder was questioned about wastage of food at the mess by assistant commandant Bikau Singh, who noticed Harpinder was drunk and ordered a medical test. Harpinder argued and soon returned with an AK-47 and started firing. He ran to the roof-top and took up position behind a bunker from where he started firing at the CRPF camps, sources said. “At around 10 pm, Harpinder Singh, after consuming liquor, fired indiscriminately and killed six personnel,” a CRPF statement said. Later the constable, who belonged to Amritsar, was also shot dead, it said.