Tragic shooting incident at CAF camp in Chhattisgarh

In a tragic incident, two Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) personnel were shot dead by a colleague at their camp in Balrampur district, senior officials said on Wednesday.

The shooting took place around 11 am at B Company of 11th Battalion of CAF in Bhutahi Mod, within Samri Path police station area, about 400 km from Raipur. According to Ankit Garg, Inspector General of Police (Surguja Firing Range), Constable Ajay Sidar allegedly opened fire on his colleagues with his service weapon, an Insas rifle.

Constable Rupesh Patel died instantly while another constable, Sandip Pandey, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Injured soldiers Ambuj Shukla and Rahul Baghel were taken to a community health centre, Shukla was later shifted for further treatment. Sidar has been arrested and investigators are working to ascertain his motive. The CAF is stationed near the Jharkhand border for anti-Naxalite operations.

(With contributions from agencies.)