Cop injured in accidental gunfire at Taj Mahal hotel

In an incident that shook up tight security arrangements at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai where President Barack Obama is currently staying, a police officer sustained a bullet wound as a result of accidental misfiring from his service revolver.

The police officer, S Chowdhury(49) isu00a0attached to Unit 5 of the Crime Branch.

The injured officer was rushed to Bombay Hospital. The incident took place at the back entrance of the Taj, which is the staff entrance where Chowdhury was on patrol, said witnesses.

Chowdhury, who spoke to MiDDAY, said, he was at bandobast duty in the morning. After completing his shift at 7.30 pmu00a0 on Saturday when his reliever came, he went to change his uniform. Unfortunately, his service revolver got stuck in his trouser and misfired a round. The bullet brushed his left thigh, luckily it did not lead to any major injury, he said. He will be discharged early morning on Sunday, Chowdhury added.

The injured copu00a0had dinner with fhis amily members at Bombay Hospital, who had reached there after hearing about the incident.

Chowdhury, a resident of Kalyan, joined the police force in 1990. He got associated with Unit 5 three months ago. His last posting was at Kurla police station as a detection officer.

Mumbai Commissioner of police Sanjeev Dayal, confirming the incident said, "The concerned officer was outside the perimeter of Taj, and was leaving as his shift had been completed, when the incident happened. An inquiry has been initiated and all officers have been informed to remain extra vigilant with arms handling henceforth."

Doctors at Bombay Hospital also confirmed that the officer is out of danger. "He was brought in at 7.30pm and was shot in the thigh. However, he is out of danger now though is being kept here for observation."