Four soldiers dead in army station firing in India’s Punjab; probe launched

• Shubham
• 12 April, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

In an incident that revived the memory of the 2016 terror attacks at the Pathankot air force station in the northern Indian state of Punjab bordering Pakistan, four soldiers were killed in firing inside the military station in Bathinda in the same state on Wednesday (12) morning.

According to reports, the deceased belonged to an artillery unit of the Indian Army. The area was sealed off and quick response teams were carrying out a search, according to the army’s south western command.

VIDEO | Four people were killed in a firing incident at Bathinda military station in Punjab on Wednesday morning, the Army said. Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area was cordoned off and sealed. pic.twitter.com/xvTizY3s3T

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 12, 2023

“Firing incident reported in the early hours of the morning around 0435h inside Bathinda Military Station. Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated. Area was cordoned off and sealed. Search operations, are in progress. Four Fatal casualties reported. Further details being ascertained,” a statement issued by the armed forces said.

Another statement issued later said the army was conducting a joint investigation into the incident with officers of Punjab Police.

On speculation that an INSAS rifle and ammunition that went missing a couple of days ago could have been used in the incident, the army’s statement said, “All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained.”

On January 2, 2016, a terror attack took place at a station of the Indian Air Force in Pathankot in Punjab by a heavily armed outfit of Islamic militants. Seven security personnel were killed besides one civilian while the attackers were eliminated. The incident happened just days after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore in Pakistan to greet its then prime minister Nawaz Sharif at a private ceremony.

The incident upset the two neighbours’ relations.