M A I N   N E W S

Cadet dies in grenade blast at IMA
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
A gentleman cadet in his final term at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, was killed in a grenade blast during a training session at the academy this afternoon, it is learnt. An instructor was injured in the explosion.

Sources said that the cadet, B.K. Tewari, along with other cadets was on the range for practising throwing of live grenades, when it burst in his hand. He is said to have died on the spot. The incident occurred at about 1.40 p.m. The condition of the instructor, Hav Vijay Kumar, is stated to be critical.

The incident, sources said, is being viewed as a training accident. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain whether the explosion was a result of a faulty fuse in the grenade or the cadet kept holding it in his hand for longer than necessary after having pulled out the pin. Officers said that throwing live hand grenades is an intrinsic part of training for officers. Though the establishments follow a laid down training procedure and all safety precautions are undertaken, accidents at times happen.

Tewari was a direct entry cadet, having joined the IMA after passing the CDS Examination. In his third term, he was to pass out in June this year, with just about two more months of training to go. He hailed from Hazari Bagh in Jharkhand, where his father is employed as a clerk in a coal company, sources said.

Meanwhile, in another incident at the IMA this week, a cadet has alleged that he was beaten by a captain posted as an instructor at the academy. The incident reportedly occurred when the company to which the cadet belongs was being “punished” for poor performance in a cross country race.

IMA sources said that the cadet was hit by the officer while the cadets were doing rolls on the ground, as a result of which he started bleeding. He was later taken to the MI room for treatment, where an injury report was made out.

The official spokesperson for Army Headquarters, when contacted on this issue, said that an inquiry had been ordered into the alleged incident. He maintained that the cross country run had taken place on March 3, while the cadet had reported sick on March 5, following which he was advised two days rest. The spokesperson added that no official complaint has been made by the cadet.