A police constable, 36, reportedly under stress owing to duty during the coronavirus pandemic shot himself with his service weapon in Bhopal on Tuesday afternoon.

The constable is said to be out of danger and is admitted at a hospital in Bhopal.

Constable Chetan Singh had been posted at the Ratibarh police station on the outskirts of Bhopal city and had been assigned to a motorcycle borne unit.

Sources said Chetan had been protesting with his superiors that he did not want to be drafted in front line duty while novel coronavirus was spreading in the city. He was reportedly worried that he will contract the infection in case he is assigned the frontline duty.

On Tuesday afternoon, the constable who was near the Neelbarh police Chowki reportedly took out his service pistol and fired shots in the air. He then shot himself in his left arm.

"The constable has suffered a flesh injury and has been admitted to a hospital. He is out of danger," said SP (South) Bhopal Sai Krishna.

The constable had been posted at the Ratibarh police station about two months ago and had reportedly not been happy with his duty hours. Earlier, he was posted at the reserve lines.

The Bhopal police has started a counseling centre involving a psychiatrist to look into cases of stress among its personnel. More than 10 police personnel are infected with Covid-19 in Bhopal.