Jawan's weapon goes off before PM's arrival

An hour before the arrival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Itanagar, a securityman guarding his route "accidentally" fired at a labourer causing a flutter on Thursday.

Police said a casual labourer Yangbin Yaya was injured when a bullet went off accidentally from the revolver of a jawan of the India Reserve Battalion and hit his lower jaw.

The jawan was standing guard on National Highway 52A through which the prime minister's motorcade was to pass shortly after his arrival in Itanagar on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The labourer was engaged in work at the Indira Gandhi Park where Dr Singh was to address a public meeting in the afternoon.

The firing incident occurred near a petrol pump, which is hardly 100 yards away from the venue of the public meeting.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu said the bullet hit the ground before wounding the labourer. His injury was not serious, Khandu said.

A case was registered against the jawan.