Chhattisgarh IPS officer Ankita Sharma issued notice for firing AK-47 during Dussehra ritual

A senior Indian Police Service officer in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district has received a show-cause notice after a video of her firing an AK-47 rifle into the air went viral on social media.

The Incident And Criticism

The incident took place on October 20 during the traditional 'Shastra Puja' weapon-worship ritual at the Police Lines on the occasion of Vijayadashami. The video showed Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Ankita Sharma firing bullets in a saree. The footage drew intense online backlash and was broadcast on multiple news channels and web portals, sparking debates on safety protocols and police discipline. Rajnandgaon Range Inspector General of Police Ajay Yadav confirmed the notice, stating that once he receives her reply, he will forward it along with his note to senior officials. A senior official explained that the notice was issued because the viral video received negative public traction and affected the image of the police force. Phone calls and messages to Sharma seeking her response went unanswered.

Wider Reactions And Other Officers

Army veteran KJS Dhillion criticized the officer on X, pointing out dangerous weapon handling, violations of safety rules, pointing a loaded weapon in all directions, and noting that people in the background looked visibly terrified. Retired IPS officer R K Vij stated that the tradition is meant for worshipping weapons rather than firing them, warning that such firing carries accident risks. Meanwhile, according to The Hindu - National, other social media users defended Sharma, arguing she was singled out partly because she wore a saree while firing. Footage subsequently surfaced showing multiple other senior police officers across districts like Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Durg, Kabirdham, and Bastar also firing rifles into the air during the same festive ritual. Officials noted that a senior officer firing a few rounds in the air is traditionally seen as a good omen, and an anonymous officer mentioned that firing blank rounds known as 'awazi kartoos' is a state-wide custom. However, authorities confirmed that only Sharma received a notice because her specific video went viral and harmed the police image.

Context

Shastra Puja is a traditional annual ritual observed by security forces and communities in various parts of India during Dussehra to honor tools of defense and duty. Weapon safety rules strictly prohibit firing service weapons in public areas without proper authorization or safety precautions. Public scrutiny of police conduct has intensified significantly with the rise of social media video sharing.