A 26-year-old CRPF constable died when his service rifle accidentally went off while he was cleaning it at a police station in Visakhapatnam Agency area today.
The deceased was identified as Ajay Kumar, a native of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, police said.
"It is a routine practice for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constables to clean their weapons every Thursday. But today, when Ajay Kumar was cleaning his Insas rifle, he forgot to remove the bullets from it and it went off accidentally," Inspector at G K Veedhi police station, G Rambabu said.
"The bullet entered the right side of his neck, severely injuring him. Ajay Kumar was then rushed to the Government Hospital, Chintapalle, where he succumbed to his injury during the treatment," he said.
Ajay Kumar belonged to the 42 Battalion of CRPF in Rajahmundry in East Godavari district. He was posted in GK Veedhi police station for anti-Maoist operations, police said.
Police have registered a case of accidental death under section 174 of CrPC.
According to CRPF officials, a board of inquiry has been set up to probe the case. The constable's body would be taken to his native place tomorrow.
