Fratricide Incident in Jammu and Kashmir Claims Four CISF Lives

Four members of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), including an Assistant Commandant, were killed in a shooting incident described as fratricide. The incident occurred at a security camp responsible for guarding the Sewa hydel power project in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, on the evening of Tuesday. According to reports, the attack unfolded around 7 pm during a shift change at the camp located in Mashka village, which is near the Himachal Pradesh border.

Officials indicated that a confrontation among the personnel likely sparked the shooting, although the precise catalyst for the disagreement remains the subject of ongoing investigations. The deceased have been identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh, and constables Sanjeev Kumar and Mohd Rafiq. Pandey was noted to hold the position of company commander for the unit stationed at the project.

The four personnel were critically injured during the incident and were immediately transported to a nearby NHPC hospital in Himachal Pradesh, where they ultimately succumbed to their injuries. The individual responsible for the shooting, identified as a head constable of the CISF, has been apprehended and is currently in police custody. Law enforcement from the Kathua district has initiated an inquiry into the event.

Additionally, the CISF has instituted a Court of Inquiry aimed at determining the sequence of events leading up to the tragic incident. This shooting, termed fratricide, marks a serious internal conflict within the force. Current reports have not disclosed whether any underlying conditions may have contributed to the violent outbreak.

The Sewa hydel power project is situated in a challenging mountainous region within the Basohli area of Kathua, and serves significant importance in terms of power generation and infrastructure security. It is located strategically at the Chamera Dam on the Ravi River, making access to the site more feasible from Himachal Pradesh than from other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The CISF’s role here involves ensuring protection for essential installations crucial for energy supply. With the security deployment focused on this vital project, the incident raises concerns about internal discipline and the mental well-being of personnel in demanding environments.