25-year-old CISF constable dies after being hit by a bullet

A 25-year-old Central Industrial Security Force constable died after he was hit by a bullet that misfired when he was on duty at the K.K. Gate of the New Mangalore Port Trust on Saturday morning.

CISF Head Constable P. Rajendra said he and Sarkate S.S. were posted at the inside part of the gate. Sub-Inspector K.L. Narayan and three other CISF personnel were posted outside the gate. All the six had been posted to screen vehicles entering and exiting from the gate.

Around 1.30 a.m. Sarkate is said to have left the gate to ease himself. After walking for about 100 metres, Sarkate, who was carrying a rifle, reportedly slipped. The impact of his fall activated the rifle and the bullet got fired. The bullet pierced his stomach from the front and went out from the back. Sarkate screamed for help that led Narayan and the other personnel rush to his rescue. While being taken to the nearby NMPT hospital, Sarkate explained to Narayan how the incident took place and sought immediate attention, Mr. Rajendra said.

After preliminary check-up and dressing, Sarkate was taken in an ambulance to a private hospital in Kuntikana and moved to another private hospital in Kankanady. He was declared dead around 5 a.m.

Sarkate, a native of Chandrapura district in Maharashtra, joined the CISF in 2010. He was married in June 2013. The Panambur police have registered a case of unnatural death. The police are not ruling the incident as an act of suicide as Sarkate was depressed for the last few days. The police have informed Sarkate’s elder brother, who was expected to arrive in a flight from Mumbai by Saturday night.