India: Shoot-out among police kills five

Five policemen guarding a bank in India’s capital were killed today when one officer apparently opened fire after an argument.

Police suspect the early morning incident was triggered by a brawl among the policemen, provoking one of them to start shooting, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar.

He said officers rushed to the scene after receiving a telephone call from one of the policemen about the fighting at the branch of the Dena Bank in Daryaganj neighbourhood.

Five guards were found dead and another policeman was wounded in the shootout, Kumar said. The killer fled the scene, he added.

It was not immediately clear how many policemen were on duty at the time of the firefight.

Kumar ruled out robbery as the motive behind the killings because the bank’s premises were not disturbed.

“We are investigating the matter,” he said. “It’s early to say what could have sparked a possible brawl.”