CRPF camp shooting in Assam: ASI kills two, injures one before dying by suicide
Synopsis
A CRPF assistant sub-inspector allegedly shot dead two colleagues and wounded a third inside a high-security camp in Assam's Nagaon district on 4 August before dying by suicide — the latest in a series of fratricidal incidents that have raised urgent questions about mental health and stress management within India's central paramilitary forces.
Key Takeaways
ASI Ballani Premabaram of the 34 Battalion CRPF allegedly opened fire at Katimari camp, Nagaon, Assam on 4 August .
Head Constable Vishnu Prasad Baghel and SI Ramnawal Singh Yadav were killed in the attack.
ASI Mane Govind Sripul of the 171 Battalion was seriously injured and is being treated at Dew Care Hospital .
Premabaram allegedly used an INSAS rifle taken from the camp guard room before dying by suicide.
The motive has not been established; a formal inquiry is under way.
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and a third was seriously injured after Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ballani Premabaram allegedly opened fire inside the 34 Battalion CRPF camp at Katimari, Nagaon district, Assam, on Tuesday, 4 August. Premabaram, a native of Andhra Pradesh, subsequently allegedly died by suicide at the scene, according to officials.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to preliminary accounts from officials, ASI Premabaram was posted on main gate duty when he was reportedly found without his assigned service weapon. He then allegedly entered the camp's guard room, picked up an INSAS rifle, and moved toward the rear of the Quarter Guard.
Premabaram allegedly fired first at Head Constable (HV/GD) Vishnu Prasad Baghel, who sustained fatal injuries and died at the spot. He then allegedly shot Sub-Inspector (SI/GD) Ramnawal Singh Yadav, who had reportedly arrived at the camp for official document verification. Yadav also succumbed to his injuries.
Third Personnel Injured
ASI Mane Govind Sripul of the 171 Battalion was also shot and left seriously injured. He was immediately transported to Dew Care Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. His condition has not been officially characterised beyond 'serious' at this stage.
Shooter Dies by Suicide
Following the attack, Premabaram allegedly moved into the barracks of the 171 Battalion and shot himself with the same weapon, dying on the spot, officials said. The episode triggered panic within the high-security premises before senior CRPF officers and local police personnel arrived at the camp.
Investigation Under Way
The motive behind the shooting has not yet been established. Security officials have launched a detailed inquiry to determine the precise sequence of events, examine the circumstances that led to Premabaram accessing the rifle, and ascertain what drove the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.
This comes amid broader concerns about mental health support and early-warning systems for personnel under operational stress within central paramilitary forces — an issue that has surfaced in similar fratricidal incidents in the past.
Point of View
BSF, and CISF deployments over the past decade. Each incident prompts an inquiry; few produce systemic reform. The critical question is not just what drove Premabaram on this occasion, but why the institutional safeguards — weapon accountability, psychological screening, early-warning protocols — failed to prevent a man on gate duty from accessing a rifle from the guard room unchallenged. Until the CRPF publishes inquiry findings and acts on them publicly, these incidents will continue to be treated as individual tragedies rather than the organisational failures they may represent.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the CRPF camp in Nagaon, Assam?
An Assistant Sub-Inspector of the CRPF allegedly shot dead two colleagues and seriously injured a third inside the 34 Battalion camp at Katimari, Nagaon on 4 August, before allegedly dying by suicide with the same weapon.
Who were the victims in the Nagaon CRPF shooting?
The two personnel killed were Head Constable Vishnu Prasad Baghel and Sub-Inspector Ramnawal Singh Yadav. ASI Mane Govind Sripul of the 171 Battalion was seriously injured and is hospitalised at Dew Care Hospital.
Who was the alleged shooter in the CRPF Assam camp incident?
The alleged shooter was ASI/GD Ballani Premabaram, a native of Andhra Pradesh deployed with the 34 Battalion at Katimari. He allegedly took an INSAS rifle from the camp guard room and opened fire before dying by suicide.
What is the motive behind the CRPF Nagaon shooting?
The motive has not yet been established. Officials have launched a formal inquiry to determine the sequence of events and the circumstances that led to the attack.
What action has been taken after the CRPF camp shooting in Assam?
Senior CRPF officers and local police reached the camp immediately after the incident. A detailed investigation has been initiated to examine the circumstances, weapon-access chain, and motive behind the shooting.
