Lance naik gets life for killing two at Santacruz IAF station

MUMBAI: A sessions court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 53-year-old lance naik to life imprisonment for opening fire at the Air Force station at Santacruz, killing two colleagues and grievously injuring others. Lance Naik Rohitsav Yadav, from Rajasthan was found guilty of killing his group leader, H R Singh, and colleague Som Nath in 2014. Public prosecutor Shankar Erande said 19 witnesses, including two injured in the attack, Bhimsingh Lalsingh and T B Thapa, deposed. Erande said Yadav was angry after a fight with Singh over the latter's refusal to switch off the TV set in the resting room. He had complained of harassment too in the past. At the station, generally one guard each was deployed at the two gates, while others took a break in the resting quarters. The guards were rotated every two hours. Erande said around 10pm on May 26, 2014, Bhimsingh completed his duty, handed over his rifle and 10 rounds of ammunition to Yadav, and went to the rest room. After one and a half hours there, Yadav went to the room where Singh and Nath were asleep and opened fire.Erande said another guard, Ramdhari, was on patrol duty at the back of the gate. Thapa, who was nearby, was shot at by Yadav and received injuries near his waist. Erande said Bhimsingh escaped with an injury after a bullet grazed against his thigh. Bhimsingh tried to overpower Yadav and take away the rifle but he ran away. The complainant called others and went to the rest room. The prosecution said he saw the two men lying injured on their beds. The complainant and others were rushed to hospital, where Singh and Nath were declared dead. Erande said police stations across the city were ordered to look out for the uniformed guard. It said Yadav was near Goregaon (E) railway station when he was spotted by a Vanrai policeman. He was arrested by Nirmal Nagar police.