The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Constable dies as AK-47 goes off

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Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Constable dies as AK-47 goes off

Staff Reporter

Another constable has miraculous escape

Opinion of ballistic experts being taken to know whether it was an accidental fire or suicide
Hailing from Gonegandla village in Kurnool district, Somappa joined police two years ago

HYDERABAD: A police constable died after an AK-47 weapon went off accidentally in his hands at Petlaburj near Charminar on Monday morning.

G. Somappa (24) of Dhoolpet boarded a police vehicle for going to Goshamahal stadium along with other constables. Soon after he sat on the chair, the AK-47 went-off resulting in serious head injuries. Death was instant for the constable as the bullet pierced through his head from above the right eye.

Another constable, Lakshmaiah, had a miraculous escape as he had just got down from the vehicle to get a water bottle. “We are yet to ascertain how the incident occurred. We are planning to take the opinion of ballistic experts to know whether it was an accidental firing or suicide,” said ACP (Charminar) M. Rammohan Rao.

Police said young constables were selected from all the police stations in the twin cities and divided into batches to impart commando training. The batch in which Somappa was selected had already completed the training a few days ago.

Training

The batch had to report at the City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters at Petlaburj everyday to take the weapons and proceed to Goshamahal stadium in a bus from where they would be deployed for bandobust duties. “Somappa reported at the office in the morning, took the AK-47 and boarded the vehicle. But within seconds, the weapon went off,” a police official said.

Somappa was posted at Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar police station before he was selected for the commando training. Hailing from Gonegandla village in Kurnool district, he completed B.Sc. and joined the department two years ago.

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Andhra Pradesh