In a shocking incident, a 55-year-old Border Security Force (BSF) constable was shot dead by a fellow jawan during a quarrel late Saturday night at Samserganj in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.
The deceased, identified as Ratan Lal Singh, hailed from Rajasthan and was declared dead on arrival at the Jangipur sub-divisional hospital after doctors at a local facility were unable to control the bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
According to police, the accused, Shivam Kumar Mishra, a 29-year-old constable from Chhattisgarh, allegedly fired 13 rounds from his service rifle, several of which struck Singh fatally. The incident reportedly occurred after a heated argument between the two during duty hours.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the altercation was sparked by Singh refusing to grant leave to Mishra, who wanted to visit his pregnant wife. Mishra then allegedly switched his rifle to burst mode and opened fire.
The BSF’s South Bengal Frontier informed the local authorities, following which Mishra was arrested by Samserganj police in the early hours of Sunday. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on charges of murder, based on a formal complaint lodged by BSF officials. Mishra, who joined the force four years ago, was produced in the Jangipur court and has been remanded in judicial custody.
BSF spokesperson N. K. Pandey confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
The incident took place while the BSF’s 119th battalion was on patrol duty in the Paharghati area, which has been under tight security since April due to communal unrest linked to protests against the newly amended Waqf Act. Central paramilitary forces, including the BSF, remain deployed in the region under Calcutta High Court orders.
