Colaba police sets up inquiry into misfiring incident

Mumbai: A day after a police constable injured himself after allegedly misfiring his service revolver, the Colaba police will set up an internal inquiry into the incident. The constable identified as Laxman Raut (29) was attached to the quick response team of Colaba police station and stationed outside Hotel Taj Mahal near the Gateway of India.

According to sources, the incident occurred at around 8.45 am on Tuesday when Raut, who was checking his weapon in a patrol van, accidentally fired it. While he severely injured his palm, the subsequent gunfire created panic amongst passers-by.

A senior official from Colaba police station said, “The constable said he was cleaning the weapon and fired it by mistake. But we are still investigating the case. The gunfire created panic but other officers present brought the situation under control immediately while simultaneously rushing Raut to the hospital.”

The police said that prima facie, it looked like the constable had accidentally fired the weapon. “We are checking who else was in the patrol van with him and will be recording their statements too. He has injured his palm and we are in touch with doctors to know his condition,” said the official. The injured constable is recuperating at St George Hospital.

The resident medical officer of state-run G.T. Hospital, said, “Raut was admitted on Tuesday since he had a major cut owing to the bullet. It is nothing serious and he is stable. We have operated on him on Tuesday itself. We are doing his dressing on a daily basis and he is recovering.”