.png)
Soumitra Nandi
Kolkata: A junior constable posted at the Medinipur Police Lines under Kotwali police station area in West Bengal shot dead his parents and afterwards pumped two bullets in his head to commit suicide. The bizarre incident took place on Sunday afternoon at the cop’s residence at Chatnasole village in Gopiballavpur, in the West Midnapore district of Bengal.
“Avinash Patro 28 , a junior constable at Kotwali police killed his mother Dipali and father Balak Patro (both in their 50s) at their home in Gopiballavpur this afternoon and then shot himself dead,” said Bharati Ghose, superintendent of police, West Midnapore.
According to police sources, Avinash had performed night shift at the Midnapore District Hospital on Saturday night and came to his home in the morning. At around 12.30 in the afternoon, their neighbours heard gunshots from the Patro residence. They immediately informed the police and they rushed to the spot.
Sensing what could have happened inside the house the police surrounded the house from all sides and started making announcement over microphone urging Avinash to surrender before them. In the meantime, the police heard two more gunshots from the residence.
ASP, Jhargram Ajit Singh Yadav feared the worst. He somehow managed to climb a tree adjacent the house and with the help of a binocular saw Avinash’s parents and Avinash too lying motionless in the ground.
Yadav then evacuated all the adjoining houses as a precautionary measure and broke the door to enter the house accompanied with a huge police force. All three were lying in a pool of blood. They were rushed to the Midnapore Medical College Hospital where they were declared brought dead.
“Apart from shooting his parents dead, Avinash also used a sharp cutting instrument to inflict stab injuries upon his parents,” said a police official.
“Avinash was a bit arrogant and used to remain within himself. But we are still in the dark what prompted him to act in such a manner,” said a senior police official.
“His parents were having talks regarding his marriage. Avinash had expressed reluctance. That may be the reason of some altercation between him and his parents. But how could he shoot them dead?” said a local resident, who did not wish to be named.
“Avinash had not surrendered his licensed firearm after his duty on Sunday morning. He carried it home along with him. Probably the murder was pre planned,” said a senior official of the West Midnapore police.