Police officer accidentally shoots himself dead

A police officer died today after he accidentally shot himself in the chest with his service pistol during patrol duty, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sabu Mathew, deputy commandant at A R Camp in Thripunithura.

The incident occurred when he was in a police jeep along with his driver and another police official around 2 AM, they said.

He was rushed to a private hospital in the city with gun shot injuries, police said.

"The official, who suffered the gunshot wound, has passed away due to his injuries," a police officer said.

The officer was on night patrol duty in the Vazhakkala area of the city, police said.