PAC Jawan’s Accidental Firing Injures Three At Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Three people were injured after an accidental firing allegedly occurred from the service carbine of a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawan deployed at Gate No. 4 of the Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday, police said. The incident took place during routine crowd management duties at one of the country’s most visited religious sites, which witnesses heavy daily footfall of devotees.

According to police officials, the injured have been identified as Nikyni Gupta, Ram Babu and Vikas Yadav. Authorities said the weapon discharge did not directly strike the individuals. Instead, the bullet reportedly hit a stone surface near the spot, causing fragments of the stone to break off and scatter. These high-velocity chips are believed to have struck the three bystanders who were present in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

Following the incident, security personnel and local authorities rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to the Divisional Hospital in Kabirchaura for immediate medical attention. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that all three individuals were given first aid treatment and that none of them sustained life-threatening injuries. Officials further stated that the condition of the injured remained stable and they were discharged after initial observation, as their wounds were not severe.

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Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shiv Hari Meena visited both the hospital and the incident site shortly after the matter was reported. Speaking to the media, he said that a PAC jawan had been engaged in clearing a crowd of devotees near the temple complex when the service weapon allegedly went off accidentally. He added that the situation was brought under control quickly and that an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the firing incident.

The jawan involved in the incident has been identified as Amarnath Chauhan, who is posted with the 48th Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Officials said Chauhan belongs to the 1987 recruitment batch and is scheduled to retire in 2027. A departmental inquiry has been ordered to examine whether there was any procedural lapse, mechanical failure of the weapon, or human error that led to the accidental discharge in a high-security and densely crowded area.

The incident has also raised concerns over safety protocols in sensitive public spaces, particularly at major pilgrimage centres like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which attracts large numbers of devotees throughout the year. While police have maintained that the situation was swiftly contained and no serious injuries occurred, the episode has prompted discussions on the handling of firearms in congested civilian zones and the need for stricter adherence to operational guidelines.

Authorities have indicated that a detailed review of deployment procedures and crowd-control practices may be undertaken in light of the incident. Further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry, which aims to establish accountability and prevent similar occurrences in the future at high-security religious and public locations.

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