Criminal case against ‘trigger-happy’ cop

SNS, Siliguri , 4 September 2014:  Police have started a criminal case against constable Tashi Sherpa who allegedly shot at one of his colleagues during regular patrol at Tinbatti More near Siliguri last night.

Constable Karlus Oraon suffered bullet injuries when Mr Sherpa opened fire at him inside a patrol van. Another constable shot Mr Sherpa on his leg to stop him.

Mr Sherpa, who belongs to the 10th battalion of the State Armed Police (SAP), was seated in the last row in the vehicle, while Mr Oraon was sitting on the middle seat.

Mr Oraon was shot at twice in his underarms.

Both the constables are undergoing treatment in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH).

"We have started a criminal case against Mr Sherpa. Preliminary investigations have suggested that he was under mental stress. We are trying to ascertain the reason behind the incident. Departmental investigations have started to confirm the roles of the personnel on patrol in the vehicle that night. 

The condition of both the persons is stable," said Siliguri Metropolitan Police commissioner Jag Mohan.

He said 10 rounds were fired during the incident.

Mr Oraon hails from Phansidewa, while Mr Sherpa is a resident of Darjeeling.Six police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were in the police van when the incident occurred.

“We came to know that Mr Sherpa used to take drugs. But we are trying to ascertain whether he was under any influence during the incident,” sources said.

The unprecedented incident has left people in a state of shock in the area, locals said.