IMPHAL, November 20: The tranquility of the highly fortified official residence of the Chief Minister of Manipur was shattered this morning with the sound of a gunshot that killed a lady constable of the CISF deployed inside the premises.
The victim is identified as one Priti D Bole, 22, daughter of Diliprao Bole of Kailash Nagar of Gopal Nagar district, Amrabati, Maharastra, constable number 120801042.
Sources said that the incident took place around 10:25 am. Priti was on duty when the incident took place.
She was rushed to JNIMS hospital and succumbed at the hospital around 12:45 afternoon due to excessive bleeding.
An inquest was also conducted at the temporary morgue of JNIMS from where she was rushed to RIMS for post mortem.
However, official sources declined to comment on the incident.
During the time of the incident, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was not at his official residence.
On hearing about the incident, top police brass including DGP, ADGPs, IGs, SP Imphal West and SP CID, rushed to the area and conducted a spot inquiry.
An insider said that few minutes before the incident Priti had a telephonic conversation on her mobile phone. Moments later, on hearing a sudden gunshot, fellow CISF personnel rushed to the area and found Priti lying in pool of blood inside ladies checking room with her service pistol (Glock series) lying near the body.
Police also reportedly recovered a spent cartridge of 9mm round from the site.
Some speculated the incident could be a suicide case while others ruled out the theory as Priti looked normal while attending her duty.
Meanwhile, post mortem was conducted and her mortal remain is likely to be sent to her native place tomorrow.
As per police report, Priti sustained a bullet injury on her lower back and had marks on her navel portion. She was still bleeding while she was rushed to JNIMS.
On the other hand, reliable sources informed IFP that the bullet hit Priti’s abdomen from a close range and exited at her back damaging her spine.
The same sources disclosed that although the bullet seemed to have hit her from close range, it was not shot from point blank range.
With the incident remaining a mystery, a sample of vaginal swap, urinal track, viscera, was sent to the forensic science medicine department.
At the same time, a case has been registered with the Imphal Police Station with regards to the incident UD case no. 25/IPS/2013.