Hazaribag: A Jharkhand police constable deployed as JMM’s Hazaribag district president Sanjeev Bediya’s bodyguard died after sustaining a gunshot injury at Urimari under the Barkagaon police station limits in Hazaribag while he was on duty on Thursday morning, police said.Niranjan Mahto, 37, was a resident of the Tamar police station area in Ranchi district and had been deputed as the official bodyguard of Sanjeev Bediya on October 5, police added.“Two bodyguards were deployed with Bediya. One of them was present in an adjacent room when a gunshot was heard. He came out and knocked on the door. When he did not get any response, the door was broken open. Those present at the site entered into the room and found Mahto dead with a gunshot wound. An AK-47 rifle and materials used for cleaning the weapon were found near the body,” Hazaribag SP Aman Kumar said.Speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, a police officer associated with the case said, “The deceased constable reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, chin, and left hand. Twelve live rounds were recovered from the rifle’s magazine, while an estimated 18 rounds are believed to have been fired. One bullet reportedly pierced the glass of a room window and exited outside.”“An investigation has been launched into the case. The body was sent to the Hazaribag sadar hospital for post-mortem examination. Police are examining all possible angles, including suicide and accidental firing while cleaning the AK-47. The rifle’s burst mode may have been switched on inadvertently, resulting in multiple rounds being fired in quick succession. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examined the site,” SP Kumar further said.Barkagaon SDPO Amit Kumar Anand said, “Preliminary investigation suggests the rifle accidentally went off while Mahto was cleaning it. The body has been sent to Hazaribag sadar hospital for post-mortem examination. The matter is being investigated.”
