NEW DELHI: Cops were sent into a tizzy when a
former CRPF policeman started
firing from his
licensed pistol at the
India Gate lawns near
Vijay Chowk, a few metres away from the Parliament. The
inebriated cop shot at least three rounds, sending the visitors running for cover. When caught, he claimed that his weapon had malfunctioned due to which the shots went off one after the other.
The personnel, Rajpal Yadav, was arrested and booked under the Arms Act. He works as a security guard with a politician in Tripura and had come to Delhi to meet his family members. On Sunday evening, Yadav had gone to India Gate where he fired three rounds in the air.
According to the police, a PCR call, about a man firing several rounds, was received and a team from the Parliament Street police station, along with a Parakram Commando unit, which was posted nearby, was rushed to the spot.
Yadav was immediately tracked down and caught. Cops said that he claimed innocence and said that his weapon had misfired. Police officers, however, recovered 16 live rounds from his possession.
A case under the Arms Act and endangering lives of others was registered against the accused. Yadav claimed that he had gone for a stroll at the India Gate and had mistakenly carried the loaded pistol with him. Later, when he noticed it in his holster, he tried to un-cock it, but it went off.
The weapon has been sent for a forensic analysis to establish his claims. It was found that the licence for the weapon was renewed two years ago. Meanwhile, Yadav was placed under arrested after the couple, who made the PCR call, registered a case against him.
Police said that CCTV footage from the area is being scanned to ascertain the sequence of events.