CISF Jawan Who Opened Fire At Museum In Kolkata, Dead Colleague Both From Odisha

Kolkata/Bhubaneswar: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan who opened indiscriminate fire inside the Indian Museum premises in Kolkata on Saturday, killing a colleague and seriously injuring another, is from Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. He was identified as Head Constable Akshay Kumar Mishra.

Mishra was recently denied leave to attend his father’s funeral, according to media reports.

The killed CISF personnel was identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Ranjit Sarangi, also from Odisha. The injured CISF officer, admitted to the SSKM Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, has been identified as Assistant Commandant Subir Ghosh.

Mishra fired 15 rounds from his service weapon, an AK-47, in the barrack attached to the museum. The jawan reportedly fired at a police car also.

“The incident took place at around 6.30 pm. We have arrested the accused,” Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal said.

Mishra was neutralised and apprehended after over an hour-long operation by a joint team of Kolkata Police and CISF led by Goyal, who rushed to the museum on the busy Park Street in bullet-proof jacket and metal headgear.

According to reports, Kolkata Police and CISF commandos first cordoned off the museum area and, using microphones, asked Mishra to surrender.

The area where he was hiding was identified and power supply snapped to that part. Tear gas shells were then fired, forcing Mishra to come out. He was quickly neutralised and arrested.

“We are investigating why he fired indiscriminately. Prima facie it seems he was suffering from depression,” Goyal said.

A Kolkata Police officer was quoted in media reports as saying that fortunately the incident happened after the museum gates were closed to visitors and many museum staff had left. “Otherwise, the number of casualties would have been much more,” he was quoted as saying.

On June 10, a Kolkata Police constable, deputed at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on the busy Park Circus, opened fire with his Insas rifle, killing one woman, before committing suicide.