An IPS officer fired an AK‑47 during a Shastra Puja in Rajnandgaon as part of Vijayadashami celebrations, a moment that went viral on social media.
Veteran KJS Dhillon slammed the act on X, writing that the loaded rifle was pointed in multiple directions while bystanders gasped, and that basic safety drills were ignored. Dhillon said the officer’s handling of the weapon violated training protocols and called for punishment to prevent a repeat.
Lt Col Sushil Singh Sheoran offered a tempered view, acknowledging the officer’s familiarity with firearms—possibly from NCC training—but criticizing the poor safety measures and the waste of ammunition. He added that no accident occurred and that organisers should be held accountable.
Sharma, a 2018 batch officer dubbed the state’s “Lady Singham”, has long been a public figure for her bold policing style. The incident has prompted the Chhattisgarh Police Department to announce an internal review and the state government to consider tightening regulations on weapon use during public events. Residents of Rajnandgaon say the sight made them uneasy, with one shopkeeper recalling the crowd’s shouts.