A soldier of the Defence Security Corps (DSC), who was on sentry duty at the security post outside the naval air station INS Garuda in the Naval Base, was found dead with gunshot wounds on Sunday night.
The deceased was identified as Naik K. Sivadasan, 53, native of Mulankunnathukavu in Thrissur.
Sources said that Sivadasan, who had been with DSC, which provides physical security to defence installations, since 2001 would have accidentally pressed the trigger, causing his INSAS rifle to fire three rounds in rapid fire mode. “Two of the bullets went right through his chin across the head, while one bullet was in the chamber. Sabotage or fragging has been ruled out in this case and the police are ascertaining if the wounds were accidentally caused or self-inflicted,” said sources.
The Harbour Police registered a case of unnatural death. A post-mortem on the body was conducted at the Medical College Hospital in Alappuzha before it was handed over to his relatives.
Sivadasan is learnt to have been part of the platoon that assumed duty at the Naval Base last year.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Navy to probe
The Navy has formed a board of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, the police have termed it a case of suicide. “The post-mortem, which found that the crown of the head was completely mutilated after the two rounds entered upward through the neck region, suggested it as a case of suicide. The forensic team, which examined the scene of crime, was also of the same opinion’’, said Joseph Sajan F, sub-inspector of police, Harbour station.
According to him, three rounds were missing from the magazine of the light machine gun used by Sivadasan. Empty cases of these bullets were found from the spot where he was found dead.
‘Sivadasan would have accidentally pressed the trigger, causing his rifle to fire’
