In a distressing incident that unfolded at Neeli post near Thanamandi in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, at least five army personnel, including three officers, found themselves injured on Thursday. Official sources report that the turmoil began when an officer, purportedly a major in rank, unexpectedly opened fire on his fellow colleagues during a routine shooting practice session.
The situation took a harrowing turn as the officer sought refuge within the unit's armory and proceeded to lob grenades at his superiors who approached the building in an endeavor to persuade him to surrender. This tense standoff persisted for nearly eight grueling hours until the officer was finally overpowered within the armory. To ensure the safety of the surrounding area, the army prudently evacuated a nearby village, PTI reported.
However, it's worth noting that the army's official statement presented a somewhat different narrative. According to the White Knight Corps, an officer had been injured in a possible grenade accident at a post in Rajouri, and the officer had been promptly evacuated and stabilized after initial treatment. The incident remained under investigation.
Sources close to the situation reveal that the camp had been conducting firing practice sessions for several days leading up to the distressing event, and the accused officer's actions seemed entirely unprovoked. Subsequently, he took cover inside the camp's armory and initiated grenade attacks when the commanding officer, accompanied by his deputy and the medical officer, approached in an attempt to negotiate his surrender.
Tragically, all three officers sustained injuries when one of the grenades hurled by the accused detonated in close proximity to them, with the second-in-command of the unit reportedly in critical condition. In the indiscriminate firing that ensued, two additional soldiers also suffered injuries. The accused officer was eventually subdued around 11 pm.
In response to the incident, Jammu-based defense PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal clarified, "I have received calls about some firing/terrorist attack on the army camp in General Area Rajouri. I would like to inform you that no terrorist attack has occurred; it is an unfortunate internal incident of the camp."
