The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Thursday mourned the death of four personnel who were killed in a fratricide incident at the Sewa-III Hydro Electric Project in Mashka, Basohli, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 29. The last rites of all four personnel were performed at their respective native places on October 1 with full honours and in accordance with laid-down procedures, the CISF said.
The four personnel who lost their lives were Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Laxman Singh, Constable Sanjeev Kumar and Constable Md Rafiq. They had been serving at different CISF units and were deployed in connection with security duties at hydroelectric projects and other installations.
Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, who was posted with the CISF Unit at NTPC Tanda, had joined the force on October 3, 2015. His last rites were held at his native place in Mathiya Daulatpur, Ambedkarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Senior CISF officers attended the funeral and paid their respects on behalf of the force.
Sub-Inspector Laxman Singh, who was serving with the CISF Unit at the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, had joined the force on August 9, 2013. His last rites were conducted at Village Loona in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. CISF personnel from his unit attended the ceremony and paid homage.
Constable Sanjeev Kumar, posted with the CISF Unit at the Sewa Hydro Electric Project, had joined the force on October 29, 2013. His last rites were performed at Rameen, Makhyaan village in Jammu district. Personnel from the CISF unit at the Salal Hydro Electric Project attended the funeral and paid their final respects.
Constable Md Rafiq, who was serving with the CISF Unit at the Dulhasti Hydro Electric Project, had joined the force on March 8, 2010. His last rites were conducted at Kandali village in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. A Guard of Honour and ceremonial salute were accorded in the presence of his family members, relatives and colleagues.
The four personnel were killed after a colleague allegedly opened fire at the CISF camp at the hydroelectric project in Kathua on September 29. The victims sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to their injuries. The incident has been described by authorities as a fratricidal firing incident, and an investigation has been initiated to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
CISF officers and personnel attended the funerals at the respective native places and paid homage to their departed colleagues. The force expressed deep condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the four personnel and assured the bereaved families of all possible assistance in accordance with applicable rules.
The incident has left the CISF community mourning the loss of four personnel, while the circumstances leading to the firing remain under investigation. The force has reiterated its support for the families of the deceased as further proceedings continue.
