Officer’s attempt to heat blank bullets in frying pan triggers scare at Kochi police camp

The Kochi City police have initiated a departmental inquiry after a reported attempt by a sub-inspector to heat blank bullets in a frying pan resulted in an explosion at the Armed Reserve (AR) camp in Ernakulam.

The incident reportedly occurred on March 10. The ammunition, which is used for firing ceremonial shots to the sky during funerals, is usually dried under sunlight to make it usable.

Blank bullets contain gunpowder and a primer but lacks a projectile. The ammunition is used for simulating gunfire with sound and flash without the risk of firing a projectile, However, the officer opted for an instant solution to dry up the blank bullets in view of the little time left before a police funeral ceremony.

He reportedly took the bullets to the kitchen in the camp mess and tried to heat them in a pan in an attempt to make it usable. The gunpowder inside the cartridges ignited, resulting in a loud explosion. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to other areas of the kitchen including the space where LPG cylinders were stored.

A departmental inquiry was ordered after a report by the Commandant of the AR camp found lapses on the part of the officer in handling the situation. There was a lapse in judgment, according to the report.