The West Bengal Assembly was in a turmoil today after the semi-automatic carbine of a constable posted there accidentally went off. No one was injured.The incident took place in the toilet of the Assembly around 5.10 pm. Some of the MLAs were present in the House. The constable has been suspended and the Kolkata police has initiated an investigation into the incident. “Preliminary investigation points to an accident. There are set procedures for handling weapons and we are investigating whether there was any negligence on part of the constable,” said Ajay Ranade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Central). Tapan Kumar Mondol is a constable of Fifth batallion of armed police. Around 5 pm, when Mondal was in the toilet, the semi-automatic carbine he was carrying slid from his shoulders and went off. One shot was fired, said the police. The bullet hit the toilet wall.“The semi-automatic carbine, meant for rapid firing, was on single shot mode. Luckily, there were no one else in the toilets. A major accident could have taken place,” said a senior police officer. The loud report triggered panic in the building and the security forces went on high alert. Armed police personnel rushed to the spot and the area was cordoned off. Mondal was detained and taken to the Hare street police station. Later, he was suspended. The Opposition lambasted the government’s decision to station armed force inside the Assembly building.
