Varanasi: Panic gripped the high-security Kashi Vishwanath Dham area on Saturday morning after a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawan’s carbine accidentally discharged near the Nandu Feria Gate checkpoint, injuring three florists with concrete shrapnel. Police said the jawan was safe, the injured sustained only minor injuries and were discharged from SSPG Divisional Hospital after first aid. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.Three workers at a florist shop — Nikky Gupta, Ram Babu and Vikas Yadav, all aged between 30 and 40 — were injured when bullets struck the road, sending concrete fragments flying, ACP Shivhari Meena said.Meena said the jawan, identified as Amarnath Chauhan of the 48th Battalion PAC, was unharmed. “The jawan, who joined the force in 1987 and is due to retire next year, appears to have discharged his carbine accidentally. However, senior officers have been informed and a detailed inquiry has been ordered,” the ACP said.“The security arrangements and weapon-handling protocol will also be reviewed,” he added.CCTV footage of the incident showed pilgrims entering the Kashi Vishwanath Dham in an orderly manner through the designated queue at Gate 4B, popularly known as Nandu Feria Gate, when the mishap occurred. PAC jawan Amarnath Chauhan was holding his carbine in his right hand while regulating the crowd with his left when the weapon accidentally discharged twice.The bullets hit the road, damaging its surface and causing concrete shrapnel to fly in different directions. Ram Babu God, a resident of Shakarkand Gali, sustained injuries to his stomach, Vikas Yadav of Domri suffered injuries to his waist, and Nikhil (Nikky) Gupta of Rajghat was injured in his hand. The sound of the firing triggered panic in the vicinity, with people running for safety. However, policemen deployed at the high-security checkpoint quickly brought the situation under control, rushed the injured to hospital and ensured that pilgrims’ entry into the shrine remained uninterrupted.ACP (Dashashwamedh) Atul Anjan Tripathi said the injuries were minor and doctors confirmed they were caused by concrete shrapnel rather than bullets.
