Soldier Responsible For Bathinda Military Station Shooting That Left Four Dead, Arrested

The Punjab Police has arrested a soldier from the Bathinda Military Station in connection with the shooting incident that killed four soldiers dead.

The arrested soldier has confessed killing four soldiers and according to a report, the soldier killed his colleagues over personal a dispute. Four other jawans were also interrogated in connection with the incident.

The Army has registered an FIR with the Punjab Police against two unknown persons. The four soldiers killed according to the report are identified as Yogesh, Sagar, Santosh and Kamlesh. All of the four soldiers belonged to an artillery unit of the Army.

It was reported that the four soldiers were killed in their sleep early in the morning with an INSAS assault rifle which was reportedly stolen along with 28 rounds of ammunition. The rifle was later recovered by the Army.

Incidentally, on the same day at the station, another soldier reportedly committed suicide using his service rifle while on sentry duty at 4.30pm, as stated by the Army, leading to more speculation.

However, the Army has denied any relation between both incidents saying that the incidents are unrelated and the soldier in all likelihood has committed suicide.

The Punjab Police, on the other hand, has also released a statement confirming that the incident may be a case of fratricide and is not a terrorist attack.

"The information we have gathered so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist act," Punjab police has then said. The Army Chief General Manoj Pande has also briefed the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter.