Senior policeman relieved of election duty in Ariyalur for firing bullets in air

Ariyalur: A senior police officer of the Haryana cadre, deputed as the police observer for the Chidambaram (Reserved) parliamentary constituency, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fired nine rounds of bullets in the air in the early hours of Sunday. The Election Commission later relieved him of Tamil Nadu poll duty. The incident occurred in Ariyalur.

According to sources, Hemant Kalson, an Inspector General who had reported for duty in Ariyalur on Friday used the gun which was in the possession of Armed Reserve Police constable Manibalan.

The constable, who was posted for security, obeyed Kalson’s orders to hand over the gun to him. The officer reportedly fired nine rounds of bullets in the air handing the INSAS rifle back to Manibalan. The officer was also reportedly under the influence of alcohol.