A constable in Karnataka shot his senior colleague dead as the latter refused to grant him leave even after a 30-hour work shift.
An enraged constable Sunday shot dead a sub-inspector in their police station near Bangalore when he was denied leave after working for over 30 hours since late Friday, a police official said.
"We have arrested constable Anand Kumar (45) for fatally shooting police sub inspector (PSI) Vijay Kumar (38) in the Rajanukunte police station earlier in the day after a heated argument on being denied leave and change of duty," Inspector General of Police (central) Amar Kumar Pandey said.
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The accused was first taken into custody by his colleagues in the police station and later arrested under sections 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 3 & 25 of the Arms Act.
Though a bleeding Vijay Kumar was rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed on the way and was pronounced dead by doctors.
The police station where the shooting took place earlier in the day comes under Bangalore district, about 30 km from the city centre and near Doddaballapur town.
"We are investigating to find out what provoked the accused to take the life of a senior colleague," Pandey said.
According to another constable present at the police station, Anand applied for a week's leave after being on duty since Friday till early Sunday for Republic Day security, as he wanted to rush to his home town for the opening ceremony of his newly-built house.
"When Vijay Kumar declined leave due to staff shortage and other constables being away, Anand asked to change his duty from sentry to beat round. When that too was denied, he returned to Vijay Kumar's cabin and shot at him twice in the chest and once in the head," said Deputy Superintendent of Police V Sridhar.
In his preliminary interrogation, Anand said he fired at the sub-inspector because the latter had threatened to shoot him with his service revolver during the argument and also for insulting him (Anand) in his wife's presence.
"Trouble had been brewing between the two policemen since Vijay Kumar came on transfer six months ago from the adjacent Ramanagara district. Frequent arguments, friction and one-upmanship led to a showdown Sunday over leave," said Sridhar.
Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, who also holds the home portfolio, ordered Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Bipin Gopalakrishna to inquire into the incident and review the situation arising out of staff shortage and denial of leave.
"This is the first time such an unfortunate incident has taken place in the state police. We will find out through the inquiry what transpired between the two and what provoked the accused to shoot at his senior colleague," Ashoka told reporters.
The accused will be presented in the court for remand to interrogate him further.
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