CISF jawan dies of gunshot at Rawatbhata nuclear plant, probe on
Synopsis
A 25-year-old CISF recruit died of a gunshot wound at his duty post outside the reactor building of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station in Rawatbhata — barely 30 minutes before his night shift ended. With the exact circumstances of the discharge still unestablished and the post-mortem pending, investigators are keeping all angles open at one of India's operational nuclear facilities.
Key Takeaways
Pramir Sarkar , 25, a CISF jawan, died of a gunshot wound to the chest at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station , Rawatbhata , on 22 August .
The incident occurred approximately 30 minutes before the end of his 8:30 pm to 5:00 am shift at the reactor building of Units 3 and 4 .
Sarkar was carrying an INSAS rifle ; whether the shot was fired from his own weapon has not been confirmed.
The CISF Commandant , Deputy Commandant , and Rawatbhata SHO Sanjeev Swami reached the site and launched a probe.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted after Sarkar's family arrives from West Bengal .
Sarkar had joined the CISF in 2025 and had been posted at Rawatbhata for about six months .
A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan posted at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station in Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh, died after sustaining a gunshot wound while on duty on Saturday, 22 August. The deceased has been identified as Pramir Sarkar, 25, a recruit who joined the CISF in 2025 and had been stationed at Rawatbhata for approximately six months. Police and CISF officials are investigating the incident from multiple angles.
How the Incident Unfolded
Sarkar was assigned to the night security shift — 8:30 pm to 5:00 am — at the reactor building of Units 3 and 4 of the nuclear plant. The fatal injury occurred approximately half an hour before his shift was scheduled to end. The sound of a gunshot triggered panic among security personnel at the site.
When colleagues rushed to the duty post outside the reactor building, they found Sarkar on the floor with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was immediately transported to the nuclear power plant's hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His body has been placed in the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination, which will be conducted after his family arrives from West Bengal.
What Investigators Have Found So Far
Rawatbhata SHO Sanjeev Swami confirmed that Sarkar was found dead at his duty post with a gunshot injury. Sarkar was carrying an INSAS rifle at the time of the incident. However, authorities have not yet established the exact circumstances under which the weapon was discharged. CISF officials have also indicated uncertainty over whether the shot was fired from Sarkar's own service rifle.
The CISF Commandant and Deputy Commandant, along with Rawatbhata police, reached the site and launched a formal inquiry. The investigation is examining all possible angles, including accidental discharge and other scenarios, according to officials.
Background and Family
Sarkar, a native of West Bengal, had joined the CISF in 2025 and was among the force's newer recruits. His family in West Bengal has been informed of his death. The post-mortem examination is expected to provide critical forensic clarity on the nature and trajectory of the wound.
What Comes Next
Both the police investigation and the post-mortem findings are expected to determine the definitive cause of death. Given the sensitive nature of the location — an operational atomic power station — security agencies are expected to conduct a thorough review of duty protocols as well. The outcome of the probe will be closely watched by CISF command and nuclear security authorities.
Point of View
And any ambiguity around how a service weapon was discharged at a reactor building demands a rigorous, transparent inquiry — not just a routine post-mortem. The fact that investigators have not yet established whether Sarkar's own INSAS rifle was involved is a significant gap. Nuclear site security protocols are designed to prevent exactly this kind of uncontrolled discharge; if those protocols failed, the accountability must be institutional, not just procedural.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the CISF jawan who died at Rawatbhata?
The deceased jawan has been identified as Pramir Sarkar , 25, a native of West Bengal. He had joined the CISF in 2025 and had been posted at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station in Rawatbhata for approximately six months.
What happened at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station on 22 August?
A CISF jawan, Pramir Sarkar, was found with a gunshot wound to his chest at his duty post outside the reactor building of Units 3 and 4. He was declared dead at the plant hospital. The exact circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation.
Was the gunshot accidental or intentional?
Authorities have not yet determined the cause. Police and CISF officials are investigating all possible angles, and the post-mortem examination is expected to provide further clarity on the nature of the wound.
What weapon was Sarkar carrying?
Sarkar was carrying an INSAS rifle at the time of the incident. However, CISF officials have stated that it has not yet been confirmed whether the shot was fired from his own service weapon.
When will the post-mortem be conducted?
The post-mortem examination will be carried out after Sarkar's family arrives from West Bengal. Both the autopsy findings and the ongoing police investigation are expected to establish the definitive cause of death.
