CISF constable guns down four colleagues in J&K’s Kathua
Four Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were shot dead by a colleague at the Sewa-II Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Tuesday evening, in what officials described as a case of fratricidal violence. The accused, a Head Constable, has been detained and handed over to the police, and an internal inquiry has been initiated by the force.
Incident at Sewa-II Hydroelectric Project
According to preliminary reports, the shooting occurred around 6.45 p.m. on September 29, 2026, at the power project located near the Himachal Pradesh border. A Head Constable from the 2009 batch had reportedly argued with his colleagues before the incident. He then entered an office area and allegedly opened fire with an AK-47 rifle, leaving four personnel critically injured.
The injured were rushed to the NHPC Hospital in Himachal Pradesh, where all four succumbed to their injuries.
Victims and the Accused
Officials said the deceased include an Assistant Commandant, a Sub-Inspector, and two constables. Their identities were not immediately released.
“The accused Head Constable has been handed over to the police,” an official said. The CISF has also ordered an internal inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Police and CISF Response
Local police have not disclosed the exact circumstances of the killings. Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events preceding the incident, including the reported altercation, as part of their probe. No information has been made public on potential motives.
The CISF, which provides security to several critical installations in the region, including hydroelectric projects across Jammu and Kashmir, said it is cooperating with the police investigation while conducting its own internal review.
Location and Operational Context
The shooting took place within the premises of the Sewa-II Hydroelectric Project, close to the border with Himachal Pradesh. Multiple hydroelectric facilities across Jammu and Kashmir are secured by CISF units, underscoring the sensitivity and importance of such installations.
What Comes Next
Authorities have not shared further details about the immediate steps taken at the project site following the incident. The findings of the police investigation and the CISF’s internal inquiry are expected to shed more light on the trigger for the violence and any procedural or disciplinary issues that may have been factors.
The incident adds to concerns over fratricidal episodes within security forces, though officials have cautioned that the precise context and cause will only be clear after a thorough probe.
