Lucknow: A 53-year-old platoon commander posted as security at the Ayodhya Ram temple suffered a gunshot injury Tuesday while cleaning his rifle in the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) control room within the temple premises. The gunshot led to momentary panic among temple visitors.
The police have called it a case of “accidental firing”. The bullet that pierced the chest of platoon commander Ram Prasad came from his AK-47 rifle, said a senior police officer.
Additional director general (ADG), PAC, Sujeet Pandey told ThePrint that the incident happened when Prasad was cleaning his rifle inside the PAC control room. “He was folding the butt of the rifle when it slipped from his hand and misfired,” said Pandey.
He said Prasad is out of danger and conscious now, and doctors have ruled out surgery. “A general report has been sought from the unit about the incident,” added Pandey.
Prasad is a part of the PAC’s 32nd battalion, said another police officer. Prasad has been posted inside the Ram temple “for the past few months since his transfer from Lucknow”.
The police officer, who was privy to the sequence of events, said the gun went off around 5.45 pm. “Fellow security personnel rushed him to the Autonomous State Medical College in Darshan Nagar,” the officer added.
He said Prasad is a native of Amethi district, and is based in Lucknow with his family.
An official of the medical college where Prasad received treatment initially said the bullet pierced the left side of Prasad’s chest. “Since his condition was serious, he was referred to the trauma centre (at King George’s Medical University) in Lucknow,” he added.
Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Karan Nayyar said the police received information about the incident at 6 pm. He said the incident, prima facie, seemed to be a case of accidental firing.
“All senior officers reached there (the medical college). After examining the spot and speaking to the field unit, we spoke to the doctor who examined the commander and information about the entry/exit of the wound has been obtained,” added the SSP.
A PAC officer told ThePrint that Ram Prasad is mentally stable, and AK-47s provided to PAC personnel undergo regular maintenance.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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