Maharashtra Police has written to authorities at the Army’s Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) in Pulgaon, Wardha district, for custody of Major Manan Tiwari — booked for allegedly shooting a junior commissioned officer (JCO), Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand, dead during a small-arms shooting practice on Friday morning — for questioning.

Lance Naik Beersingh Dhami, posted at the CAD camp, lodged an FIR at the Pulgaon Police Station around 5.10 pm Friday; and BNS Section 103 (1), which pertains to murder, was invoked in the case. The FIR states that shooting practice was being conducted for the soldiers at the camp from May 13. According to Dhami, he had gone to the shooting range around 6.30 am Friday for practice. and Major Tiwari and Subedar Major Khand deployed on duty at that time. Shooting practice for Major Tiwari and Subedar Major Khand was held after Dhami and others completed theirs.

“During the firing practice of Subedar Major Khand, he himself was assigned the duty of collecting empty shells. Whereas, during Major Tiwari’s, a soldier, Sanjeev Kumar Roshanlal, was deputed for the same.” The FIR stated that between 8 am and 8:20 am, as the shooting practice was underway, Major Tiwari allegedly shot Subedar Major Khand dead by allegedly firing a bullet into his left eye with an INSAS 5.56 gun. “I don’t know why Major Tiwari killed Subedar Major Khand. The soldiers had later taken Major Tiwari into custody,” Dhami said in the FIR.

An investigation has been initiated into the case by Wardha Police. Special Inspector General of Police (Nagpur range) Sandeep Patil said, “Investigation is in progress. We have written to the Army authorities at CAD to hand over Major Tiwari to police for questioning.”

In a post on X, the Defence PRO, Nagpur, said, “Sub Maj Om Bahadur Khand (56) died in an incident that occurred at the small-arms firing range on May 15 in Pulgaon during routine firing practice. The incident is under probe by the Army and police. The Army authorities are extending all support to police for investigation. An FIR has been registered. The Army and police authorities are conducting a fair and impartial investigation into the incident. The accused is in custody.”