Bullets 'Fried' In Pan At Kerala Police Station Kitchen; High-Level Probe Ordered

The incident occurred when an officer, trying to clean rusty bullets for a ceremonial gun salute, chose to 'fry' them over a flame.

Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained preventing any significant damage.

Source : Pixabay

A high-level probe has been launched after a bizarre incident at a police camp in Kochi, Kerala, where bullets exploded in a pan inside the kitchen. The incident, which occurred on March 11, has raised serious concerns about safety protocols in handling ammunition within the police force.

How The Incident Happened

In Kerala, it is customary for a police squad to provide a ceremonial gun salute during state-organised funerals. When the Kerala Police camp in Kochi received a call on March 11 for such an event, CV Sajeevan, the officer in charge of ammunition, began preparing the necessary materials for the farewell ceremony, reported IANS.

During his inspection, Sajeevan noticed that some of the bullets intended for the gun salute appeared rusty. Given the limited time available before the ceremony, he decided that the bullets needed quick cleaning. Instead of following standard maintenance procedures, he chose a makeshift method—placing the bullets on a pan over a fire in the police station’s kitchen.

The heat from the fire triggered an explosion causing panic within the premises. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained preventing any significant damage. However, the situation could have been catastrophic as the kitchen also stored gas cylinders posing a severe safety risk.

Investigation

A top police official confirmed to IANS that an inquiry into the incident had already begun with senior officers awaiting a detailed report before deciding on further action. Authorities are looking into whether there were any procedural lapses that led to the mishap and whether proper safety measures were ignored in handling the ammunition.

Although no injuries were reported the incident has sparked widespread debate regarding safety practices within the Kerala Police force.