New Delhi: A 26-year-old Delhi Police constable, reportedly tense over family matters, Sunday shot himself with his service pistol and is battling for his life, police said.
Vipin Tomar, posted at Barakhamba Road police station in the heart of the national capital, fired at himself around 8.00 a.m., a few hours after issuing his service pistol from the police station.
The incident took place inside a police booth near Minto bridge, off the commercial district of Connaught Place.
"A traffic constable towards the police booth after hearing the bullet's sound and found Vipin lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He also made a call to Police Control Room (PCR)," said a police officer.
"Vipin was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in a critical condition," the officer said.
According to the officer, Vipin shot himself in his right temple. "The bullet crossed from his left temple and hit the wall."
The officer said Tomar hails from Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar area and was to get married Feb 10.
Tomar joined Delhi Police in 2010 and was deployed as a constable in Barakhamba Road police station for the past three years.
Police said they were probing what caused Tomar to shoot at himself. No suicide note was recovered from his possession.
"We have informed family members of Vipin Tomar. After their arrival, we can know if he was facing any family problem or there was any other issue," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Singh told IANS.
Tomar, who resided at the police barrack in central Delhi's Paharganj, had joined his duty Saturday after a four days leave.
"Vipin is among one of my good friends. He was happy over his marriage. I am surprised why he took such an step," constable Himanshu, who is also posted at Barakhamba Road police station, told IANS.
He said Vipin was disturbed over some family issue since Saturday, but did not disclose anything to him, he said.