Caught On Cam: Woman, Accidentally Shot Inside Police Station, Dies

On December 8, 2023, a routine visit to the Kotwali police station in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, ended in a horrifying incident. Ishrat Nigar, a 52-year-old woman seeking passport verification, fell victim to an accidental gunshot inside the police station. Sub-inspector Manoj Kumar Sharma, conducting a routine check on a loaded pistol, inadvertently fired a bullet, fatally striking Ishrat Nigar in the head. The incident raises serious questions about firearm safety protocols within law enforcement agencies.

Caught On Camera: Woman Shot In Head Inside Police Station By Cop:

On Friday, around 2:50 p.m. in Aligarh's police station, a 55-year-old woman, Ishrat, visited the police station for her passport verification to visit Saudi Arabia's Umrah, a mini-pilgrimage. As she was waiting behind a man for her turn towards the passport query, the woman was reportedly shot in the head by mistake. 

The police sub-inspector (SI), Manoj Sharma, was cocking his gun a few inches from the woman when the gun mistakenly launched the bullet, hitting the woman who immediately crashed on the floor.

CCTV Footage:

The footage starts with the normal routine of a police station, where the accused, SI Manoj Sharma, is seen in a phonetic conversation while a man and Ishrat are waiting for their turn to attend to her passport query.

A fellow policeman came handing a rifle to Sharma, who was seen cocking the gun when the bullet suddenly hit Ishrat, crashing her on the floor, while the man standing nearby and Sharma could be seen immediately looking at the injured victim of Sharma. 

Legal Proceedings and Police Response

Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani assured that a thorough investigation is underway. The post-mortem, conducted by a panel of doctors, is a crucial step in determining the circumstances surrounding Nigar's death. The police have arrested the officer who handed over the loaded revolver, ensuring that legal proceedings are initiated. However, the sub-inspector, Manoj Kumar Sharma, is currently absconding, prompting authorities to declare a ₹20,000 bounty for his arrest.

Family Of The Victim:

While the incident is said to have been an accident by the police personnel, allegations made by the victim's son, claims that she was harassed for money by the officer in charge of her passport verification, and an argument followed the impulsive decision of the policeman to shoot the victim. These claims, if substantiated, could lead to severe consequences for the officer involved.

Jeeshan, a relative of the victim, also said that the woman was getting calls for money, while they don't know who shot her or anything about money demanded from the victim, but he confirmed there was an argument before the woman was shot. 

STORY | Woman gets shot in head at police station in Aligarh

A woman who had gone to a police outpost on Friday for verification got a gunshot wound to head when a pistol got fired during a handover, an officer said. The woman rushed to a hospital is said to be critical.

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— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 9, 2023