Dhamtari Firing: A 45-year-old police constable allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his official rifle in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district on Tuesday. Police officials said that constable Salik Ram Patre shot himself with an INSAS rifle.

He said that Patre shot himself while he was on security duty in the strong room of the district election office. According to him, when the staff on duty reached the spot after hearing the gunshot, they informed the police about the incident.

Officials said that Patre was posted in the police line here. He was posted on security duty in the strong room from January 19 for the urban and panchayat body elections to be held next month. EVMs are kept in this strong room.

He said that Patre was a resident of Kabirdham district of the state and had joined the police in 2010. Officials said that no information has been received yet about why Patre took this step. Police have registered an FIR and the matter is being investigated.