Faulty grenade fuse leads to CRPF training tragedy

A hand grenade,which weighs around 1 kg,usually takes 4 seconds to explode. “But this one exploded just after being thrown in the air at a height of 2 feet above their heads,” said one of the inspectors at the training site,who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Sita Ram Gautam was hit by a splinter in the right eye,which pierced through the brain. Constable Recruit Mahipal,who hails from Rajasthan,received an injury on the right hand and Constable Recruit Ravi Kumar,who is from Jammu,received an injury on the left side of chest. Both of them have been declared out of danger.

Head Constable Madan Lal from Rajasthan received an injury on the elbow and has been discharged from hospital.

There was a doctor available at the site but he could provide only first aid. The road to the site was unpaved and one has to cross the stream of water to reach the main road.

All the four were rushed to PGI where Gautam was declared “brought dead. He was from Rampur district,Uttar Pradesh,and was considered a good instructor by his colleagues.

CRPF DIG Taj Mohammed said,“The fuse in the grenade was faulty. In grenades we fix the fuse with a detonator that gives a time of 4 seconds for it to explode. But this grenade exploded just after two seconds. An inquiry will be ordered into the incident.”

He added,“We give four seconds for the grenade to reach the ground as more time may prove helpful for the enemy as it can lob it back too. During the exercise all were wearing helmets and bullet-proof jackets. That is why the other three received minor injuries. Sita Ram too was wearing a helmet. Unfortunately,the splinter hit his right eye and pierced through the brain,leading to his death.”

Panchkula SDM Sharandeep Brar,who visited the accident site,told Newsline,“This place is far away from the population. Their men usually cordon off the area and do not allow villagers to come close to the range when the exercise takes place.”

The firing range,where the use of high-explosive weapons are practiced,actually belongs to the Army.