CRPF officer kills 2 colleagues, injures 1, then dies by suicide in Assam
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assistant sub-inspector allegedly shot dead two colleagues and injured another at a battalion camp in Assam's Nagaon district on Tuesday morning before turning his weapon on himself, police said.
The firing took place at around 7 am at the CRPF's 34 Battalion camp in Katimari, Nagaon. The officer, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (GD) Ballani Premabaram, was on sentry duty at the main gate when he opened fire on fellow personnel, according to Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police (HQ) Paramita Sarkar.
Two personnel lost their lives in the attack. They were Head Constable (GD) Vishnu Prasad Baghel and Sub-Inspector (GD) Ramnawal Singh Yadav. Another colleague, Assistant Sub-Inspector (Mane) Govind Sripul, sustained bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to a private hospital. His condition is reported to be stable.
After the gunfire, Premabaram shot himself with the same weapon and died on the spot, Sarkar said. The motive behind the incident is not yet known, and a detailed investigation has been initiated.
Senior CRPF officials, along with district police officers, reached the camp shortly after the incident. The area was cordoned off, and forensic teams were called in to examine the scene. The weapon allegedly used in the shooting was recovered from the spot. Eyewitness accounts are being recorded, and the personnel present at the time of the incident have been questioned.
The CRPF has ordered an internal inquiry into the incident. As part of the investigation, authorities are examining the officer’s service record, recent behaviour, and any possible disputes he may have had with the deceased. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, and further charges may be added.
Katimari is located in central Assam, a region where the CRPF has had a strong presence for decades. The 34 Battalion is part of the force’s deployment in the Northeast, where it is tasked with internal security, anti-insurgency operations, and assisting civil authorities during emergencies.
The CRPF is one of India’s largest central armed police forces, with personnel drawn from across the country. In Assam, the force has been stationed for years, often in remote locations with limited access to urban amenities. The nature of their duties, which involve long hours and extended separation from families, has often been cited as a source of stress. Personnel are frequently rotated between conflict zones and softer postings, but the demands of the job remain high.
Incidents of violence within a paramilitary unit are rare but not unprecedented. Such occurrences bring into focus the mental health challenges faced by security personnel who work in high-stress environments. The CRPF has, over the years, introduced welfare measures including leave management and counselling, but the effectiveness of these programmes is often a matter of discussion among experts.
The bodies of the two deceased personnel have been sent for post-mortem examination. The injured officer is undergoing treatment and is under medical observation. Police have impounded the service weapon as evidence and are conducting forensic analysis to establish the sequence of events. Further details regarding the investigation are awaited.
