By IANS
Hyderabad : A senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was shot dead by a constable at the paramilitary force’s group centre here Thursday evening following an argument between them over the latter’s leave.
S.S.A. Khan, additional deputy inspector general of CRPF, was killed and another man was injured when constable Hanumanth Raju opened fire from his service rifle.
The incident occurred at around 6.30 p.m. at the CRPF group centre, Chandrayangutta, in the old city part of Hyderabad.
Police said Raju reported for the sentry duty at 6 p.m. and went to armoury to collect his weapon and ammunition. “Instead of going for the duty he went to Khan’s chamber and opened fire,” said Radhakrishna, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Hyderabad.
The constable, hailing from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, opened fire from the point blank range. Another person present in the officer’s chamber was also injured.
Upon hearing the gunshots, CRPF personnel rushed to Khan’s chamber and overpowered the constable.
Khan, 56, was rushed to the Osmania Hospital where he was declared brought dead. One of the two bullets fired by the constable pierced through the officer’s eye.
The constable has been taken into custody. While sources in CRPF said the constable was angry with the officer for not granting him leave, police have not confirmed this.
“We are yet to know the reason. The constable is in our custody and the reason will be known only after his interrogation,” the police officer told reporters at the hospital.
Police said it was also not clear as to how many rounds the constable fired.
Khan, hailing from Hyderabad, had been serving at the group centre for last two years. He had earlier served at the CRPF group centre in Delhi.