4 soldiers killed in firing inside Bathinda military station

"The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case," the Indian Army said. 

A firing incident at the Bathinda military station in Punjab on Wednesday morning claimed the lives of four Indian Army jawans, the Army said.

"It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property have been reported," the Indian Army said in a statement.

"The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case. All aspects, including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back, are being ascertained," the statement further said. 

The Army also requested media persons to refrain from speculation and avoid spreading rumours considering the sensitivities involved.

The firing incident was reported in the early hours of the morning around 04:35 hours inside Bathinda Military Station. Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area was cordoned off and sealed. The Quick Reaction Teams were activated following the firing incident at 4:35 am, the Army said, adding that search operations are in progress.

Earlier in the day, the state police had termed the firing at the military station as a 'fratricidal incident'.Punjab's Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar told news agency PTI over the phone, "It is not a terrorist attack, it is not an attack from outside. It is a fratricidal incident".

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed on the incident. A high-level meeting was convened where the National Security Advisor and senior officials of the Indian Army and the Ministry of Home Affairs attended.