Assistant sub-inspector Joginder Singh died in Amritsar on Friday after his service pistol discharged while he was cleaning it in a park, according to police. The incident occurred around 1 pm as Singh, who was in uniform, prepared to leave for duty.
Police said Singh was sitting in the park with his family when the weapon went off. A bullet that remained in the chamber struck him during the accidental discharge. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Assistant commissioner of police Preet Inder Singh and Sultanwind station house officer Inspector Arjun Kumar reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. The ACP told mediapersons that Singh had been deployed as a gunman with Sahil Mahajan, who had been provided police security because of a threat perception.
According to the police account, Singh was on his way to duty and had stopped in the park with his family before leaving. He was cleaning his service weapon when he apparently failed to notice that a round was still in the chamber. The firearm then discharged, causing the fatal injury.
The incident places the handling of a loaded service weapon in a public setting at the centre of the police inquiry. The park was being used by Singh and his family when the discharge occurred, but the report did not indicate that any other person was injured.
Police are recording statements from family members and completing other legal formalities to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. The authorities have not announced any further findings from the inquiry.
