Dilshan killing: Lieutenant-colonel suspected

Forty-eight hours after Dilshan, 13, died of a gunshot injury inside the army premises in Chennai, a lieutenant-colonel is in the dock.

The boy was shot at in the head on Sunday after he trespassed into the army officer’s enclave. At night he died of his injuries. While the police had ruled out any civilian role in the shooting, the army had maintained that its men were not involved.

But on Tuesday, the CB-CID (Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department) interrogated the officer and two others — a jawan and a civilian guard in connection with the shooting.

But R Sekar, the Addl DGP (CB-CID), avoided a direct reply. “An investigation is on,” Sekar said. “We will let you know everything once we find out the culprit.”

Another police officer, however, said that the shooter has been identified. “The chief secretary has even written to the Army Headquarters (HQ) asking them to hand over the culprit to the state police,” he said.

An intelligence official said the sentries on duty on Sunday spilled the beans when they were questioned by the police.

“They said an officer got furious when he saw a group of boys inside the compound,” the official said. “He shot at the boy who possibly died instantly.” Realising what he had done, the officer rushed to the spot and took away the bullet that had come out of the boy’s head, he said.