Rajkot: An ostensibly accidental discharge from the service revolver of a police sub-inspector (PSI) serving with the Cyber Crime police station injured him and a woman friend, at Samanvay Sulabh Apartments on University Road late on Monday night. PSI N K Pandya, 32, and his 31-year-old woman friend, who was in his flat, suffered bullet injuries and were rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Senior police officials, including deputy commissioner of police Rakesh Desai and University police station in-charge inspector M L Damor, reached the spot after being alerted. During preliminary inquiries at the hospital, Pandya said the gunshot occurred inadvertently while he was unloading his service revolver at night. According to his account, the bullet struck his right hand and then hit his woman friend in the side. Doctors later confirmed that Pandya had suffered a fracture in his hand. However, West Division in-charge ACP B V Jadhav told mediapersons that the accidental discharge occurred while Pandya was cleaning his service revolver. Pandya is a direct police sub-inspector from the 2022–23 batch and was transferred to Cyber Crime police station just 15 days ago from the University police station. After the incident, police secured the flat, seized the service revolver and the fired cartridge, and called in a Forensic Science Laboratory team for exam. Police are yet to record the full statement of the injured woman and will question her after she is discharged from the hospital. Police sources said the woman, who is from Valsad, has been friends with Bhavnagar-native Pandya for the past year. Investigators found that Pandya is married but is currently living separately from his family. The incident was registered at University police station. Jadhav said a departmental inquiry against Pandya would be initiated and handed over to his competent superior officer.
