A commissioned officer in the Indian Army, Major Manan Tiwari, allegedly shot and killed a junior officer during a practice firing session at the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) in Pulgaon, Wardha district, approximately 100 kilometers from Nagpur, on Friday. The incident occurred in the early morning hours, according to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Pulgaon police station.
Details of the Incident
The FIR, based on eyewitness accounts, states that Major Tiwari, after completing his practice rounds, suddenly opened fire at Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) who was collecting empty cartridge cases at the firing range. Major Tiwari used a 5.56mm INSAS assault rifle at close range. Senior police sources reported that Khand sustained at least 15 bullet wounds from the burst of fire, with the impact causing severe head injuries, and he collapsed on the ground.
Arrest and Investigation
Major Tiwari was apprehended by other soldiers present at the firing range and is currently in army custody. He is expected to be handed over to the Wardha police for further investigation. Initially, police were prevented from entering the CAD premises to conduct their inquiry, as confirmed by a senior police officer.
The FIR was registered based on the statement of Lance Naik Bir Singh Dhami, also posted at CAD and an eyewitness to the event. Dhami told police that he was unaware of the motive behind the killing of Subedar Major Khand.
Army Response
Group Captain R Kannan, the army spokesperson in Nagpur, confirmed the death of the JCO and described it as an accident during routine firing practice. He stated, "The army and Wardha police are investigating the case." Subedar Major Khand was serving with the Defence Security Corps (DSC), a force that re-employs retired army personnel. DSC units are responsible for guarding army establishments like CAD, which handles various calibers of ammunition from ordnance factories and supplies them to army units.
History of Casualties at Pulgaon CAD
The Pulgaon CAD, built by the British and considered Asia's largest ammunition depot, has a history of tragic incidents. In 2016, an explosion in a structure housing anti-tank mines killed 18 people, including a Lieutenant Colonel. Additionally, a group of workers lost their lives during an exercise to defuse old bombs.
