A head constable of Uttar Pradesh’s Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) gunned down his two colleagues at a police outpost in Arora Tank, in the extremist-infested Chaudauli district, on Sunday morning. Three policemen were injured.The constable, Laxman Ram, escaped with his rifle after the incident. Police are still not sure what prompted the killing. The dead were indentified as Joginder Saroj of the PAC and Dayaram Yadav, a constable with the district police. The injured are being treated at the BHU Hospital in Varanasi.Police said Laxman Ram had fired 26 rounds.PAC I-G S K Mishra said: “I will be in a position to say something about the reason only after visiting the spot. The real reason can be ascertained only after questioning him.” He said a manhunt is on for the absconding constable.Sources in the police headquarters say the constable could have been affected by work stress. However, they are not ruling out the possibility of his having connections with left-wing groups, which are active in the area. Officers find it surprising that the constable could escape with his rifle after the incident. Sources also revealed that the force had withdrawn the constable’s rifle recently.
