Four CISF personnel killed in fratricide incident in Kathua; accused held

Four Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, including an Assistant Commandant and a Sub-Inspector, were reportedly killed in an alleged incident of fratricide inside a camp in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), officials said.

The incident took place at around 7.30 p.m. at the Sewa-III hydroelectric power project located at Mashka village in Basohli, near the border with Himachal Pradesh, the officials said.

According to preliminary information, the accused, Head Constable Abhidesh Kumar, allegedly resorted to firing his service rifle following an argument with some of his colleagues.

Four CISF personnel sustained critical injuries in the firing and later succumbed to their injuries at a nearby NHPC hospital, the officials said, adding that the deceased were identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh and constables Rafiq Ahmed and Sandeep Kumar.

Following the firing, the accused was overpowered by his colleagues and subsequently arrested. The service weapon used in the incident was also seized as part of the investigation, they said.

The officials said senior CISF and police officers rushed to the scene and the exact circumstances that led to the argument and the subsequent firing are being ascertained.

(With inputs from PTI.)