Day after,CISF fires gun-toting constable

Rezvi,posted at the 2002 riots witness protection camp at Naroda Gam,fired 30 rounds from his INSAS rifle,injuring eight people before being overpowered in a two hour-operation.

In-Charge CISF Commandant SM Singh said: “We have terminated Balwinder Singh Rezvi from service with immediate effect. A departmental inquiry has begun against him under our senior officer from Mumbai,DIG YM Sharma. His behaviour yesterday was intolerable and unpardonable.”

He added: “Balwinder’s mother was ill and later his wife fell ill. He took four long leaves in the last four months; leave was not the only reason behind this ill behaviour. He had told a few of his colleagues that he was under debt,but we don’t know whether that was the reason behind his frustration.”

After his arrest,Rezvi had told the police that he was angry with his senior officers for denial of leave.

Initially,it was suspected that Rezvi was in an inebriated state or was under the influence,but Inspector CP Patel said: “We sent him for a medical test and the primary reports showed he was not under intoxication. He was angry and lost his control reportedly due to an argument with his senior officer when the latter questioned him whether he had joined duty or not. Rezvi told us that his senior officer had come to the camp for a check and had abused him since he was refraining from joining duty. CISF officers have told senior police officers about Rezvi’s misbehaviour.”

CISF officers said Rezvi went on his duty around 7.30 pm without wearing his uniform. The camp in-charge asked him to get his uniform and rifle and join the shift duty immediately,but Rezvi went off to sleep on a cot. Other CISF personnel asked him to wake up,but he misbehaved with them too.

According to the CISF officers,the camp in-charge told his assistant in-charge to ask Rezvi to leave the rifle and take a stick for patrol duty with the other personnel. But before the assistant in-charge could pass on the order,Rezvi took his rifle and started shooting across the area.

CISF DIG YM Sharma came to Ahmedabad today morning to take stock of the situation. He also met the injured persons at Rudraksh Hospital,Anand Surgical Hospital and Apollo Hospital. Sharma has told families of the victims that CISF will provide financial assistance towards their treatment.

The Ahmedabad police have booked Rezvi for attempt to murder under Section 307,and causing damage to vehicles under Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code. He has also been booked under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.