Srinagar Court convicts CRPF constable in 2006 Army camp shooting

Srinagar: In a verdict nearly two decades after a deadly shooting inside a CRPF camp in Srinagar, a local court has held a constable guilty of killing four colleagues and injuring another by opening sudden and indiscriminate fire, ruling that the act amounted to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

According to the prosecution, on 25 January 2006, the accused constable, armed with his officially allotted INSAS rifle, allegedly opened indiscriminate fire inside the camp barracks after a verbal altercation with a fellow CRPF member. 

The firing resulted in the deaths of four personnel and left one injured. A challan was filed against accused Avtaar Chand under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

During the trial, the prosecution examined 13 witnesses, including surviving personnel, medical officers, and forensic experts. 

Key eyewitness stated that moments after an exchange of words between the accused and CRPF member Mohammad Ashraf, the accused “started firing from his rifle,” killing four personnel on the spot. This testimony remained unshaken during cross-examination.

Several witnesses confirmed hearing gunshots and seeing the accused exiting the barracks with his rifle. The forensic report also established that the seized INSAS rifle had been fired and matched the recovered cartridge cases. The postmortem reports confirmed all four deaths resulted from firearm injuries.

However, the court found no evidence of prior enmity, planning, or deliberate intent to kill. It held that the shooting occurred in the heat of sudden provocation following the verbal clash. 

Justice Dinesh Gupta citing Supreme Court precedents, ruled that the act did not constitute murder under Section 302 RPC but fell under Section 304 Part I—culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The court also upheld the charge under Section 307 RPC, as one CRPF official had suffered a bullet injury during the incident.

Concluding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, the court convicted the accused under Section 304-I and Section 307 RPC. Quantum of sentence will follow separately as per the court direction.