IPS officer Ankita Sharma, the Superintendent of Police of Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon, fired an assault rifle during Shastra Puja on Dussehra. The video, which went viral, has prompted retired Indian Army officers to question the officer's safety protocols, conduct and accountability.
IPS officer Ankita Sharma has nearly a million followers on Instagram, and more than 2.76 lakh followers on X. (Images: Instagram/ X)
An IPS officer in a saree, an assault rifle in her hands, and a burst of gunfire during a festival meant to honour weapons. The video of Ankita Sharma, Chhattisgarh's "Lady Singham", has gone viral and drawn attention online. It has also raised questions about whether those in positions of authority overstep the line and escape consequences.
IPS officer Ankita Sharma is the Superintendent of Police of Rajnandgaon in western Chhattisgarh. After a video of her firing an AK-47 rifle during "Shastra Puja" during the Dussehra celebrations went viral, several former Army officers sharply criticised her and questioned the safety protocols followed during the firing.
"Shastra Puja" is the traditional worship of weapons performed on Vijayadashami. The ceremony reportedly took place at the police lines in Rajnandgaon, where police personnel and senior officers were present.
The video has garnered lakhs of views on both Instagram and X, but was not posted by her own account.
Notably, Sharma is an established social-media personality, and has nearly a million followers (9.17 lakh) on Instagram, and more than 2.76 lakh followers on X as of October 21.
However, the questions raised by retired military officers, including a general-rank officer, go beyond the spectacle of a uniformed officer handling a weapon. Their concerns were about the basic rules of firearm safety, the risks associated with firing ammunition into the air, and the standards of conduct expected of people entrusted with weapons and public authority.
'BLACK DEMO OF AUTHORITY WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY'
One of the sharpest reactions came from Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon (Retired), former commander of the Indian Army's Chinar Corps, who listed several violations of weapon-handling protocols in the video.
"All aspects of safety of weapon handling [were] violated," he said on X. He pointed to the way the loaded weapon was handled and the directions in which it was pointed. He added, "People in the background appeared visibly terrified".
Dhillon questioned the firing of a service weapon during what he described as an "unauthorised act and in non-authorised dress". He said basic weapon-handling drills taught at training academies did not appear to have been followed.
"Such irresponsible action can cause death or hurt to self or others," he said, describing the incident as an overall "black demo of authority [without] responsibility".
He also called for appropriate punishment for such acts of indiscipline to prevent their recurrence.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Singh Sheoran (Retired) offered his assessment, acknowledging Sharma's apparent familiarity with the weapon while criticising the circumstances in which it was fired.
"There are two aspects to this video: one positive and one negative. On the positive side, the IPS officer appears to know how to handle a weapon effectively. Perhaps she attended the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during college. The second aspect concerns safety procedures, which were very poor," he said.
Sheoran also questioned the purpose of firing ammunition into the air during a celebration.
"First, firing into the air is a waste of ammunition; this is not a public celebration in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Such firing violates safety standards, and the organisers should be held accountable. Fortunately, no accident occurred," he said.
In a separate remark on X, he added, "She first wasted ammunition and then handled the weapons unprofessionally. Her proficiency is impressive, but the timing and location are inappropriate."
SHASTRA PUJA IS ABOUT WORSHIPPING WEAPONS, NOT FIRING THEM
Lieutenant Colonel Sandeep Ahlawat (Retired), in a post on X, did not name Sharma but used the occasion to draw a distinction between defence professionalism and the public display of weapons.
"Those who fire weapons in life and death situations and combat operations never fire them at ceremonial functions or weddings. Those who fire weapons at ceremonial functions and weddings have never fired them in combat operations," he wrote.
Alongside the post, Ahlawat shared a video of Indian Army officers worshipping drones during Shastra Puja.
In another post, he explained his objection to celebratory firing during the ritual.
"Shastra Puja is about honouring weapons, not firing them. It is not an occasion to fire them for spectacle. Weapons are used when duty demands it. And yes, be familiar with your weapon as you are friendly with the people you serve," he said.
Shastra Puja is observed in several sections of the armed forces and police on Vijayadashami, when weapons and equipment are worshipped as symbols of duty and preparedness. The ritual itself does not require ammunition to be fired.
AN AK-47 BULLET CAN TRAVEL A LONG DISTANCE. WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
The safety concerns highlighted by the Indian Army veterans are not merely theoretical. An AK-47 typically fires 7.6239 mm ammunition, and a US Army Research Laboratory technical report lists its muzzle velocity at approximately 715 metres per second. This is the speed of the projectile as it leaves the barrel, not its speed when it eventually returns to the ground.
When a bullet is fired into the air at an angle, its trajectory and speed change under the influence of gravity and air resistance. It can travel a considerable distance before descending. Depending on its trajectory, the projectile's condition and the circumstances of its impact, a falling bullet can cause serious injuries or even death.
A 2013 forensic case report published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences documented fatal injuries caused by falling bullets during celebratory gunfire in the US.
Such incidents are often difficult to anticipate because the person struck might be far from the place where the weapon was fired. The absence of an immediate accident at the firing location does not establish that the act was safe.
This is why firearm safety protocols emphasise maintaining control of a weapon's muzzle and ensuring that ammunition is discharged only in an appropriate, controlled setting. Firing into the air does not make a bullet harmless. It just removes the shooter's control over where it will eventually come down.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT CELEBRATORY FIRING?
India's Arms Act, 1959, contains a specific provision addressing the use of firearms in a rash or negligent manner and celebratory firing that endangers human life or the personal safety of others.
Section 25(9), inserted through the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019, provides for imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both, for such conduct.
The provision defines celebratory gunfire as the use of firearms to discharge ammunition at public gatherings, religious places, marriage parties or other functions. The law's application depends on the circumstances, including whether the firing endangered human life or the personal safety of others.
However, it would be premature to conclude that Sharma has committed a specific offence solely on the basis of the viral clip. The firearm appears to have been handled in an official police setting, and the precise circumstances, authorisation and applicable service rules would need to be established before reaching a legal conclusion.
There is also a distinction between service weapons and firearms held by civilians under an individual arms licence. A civilian's licence does not grant unrestricted permission to fire a weapon for celebration or to create a social-media video. Authorities can take action under the applicable law and licencing conditions, including seizure where legally justified.
'IAS, IPS ARE GODS': SOCIAL MEDIA TURNS TO THE QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
The criticism of Sharma's video has also fed into a wider online debate about the conduct of India's civil service officers and whether they are held to the same standards as ordinary citizens.
A verified handle on X sarcastically criticised what they described as the colonial hangover and power display associated with the bureaucracy.
"Sir, how can you call out mistakes in any IAS/IPS/DM/SDM in this country? They are the most intelligent/honest/hard-working species in the entire Galaxy," the person wrote.
The post went on to accuse officials of using social media to display their authority and make reels during duty hours.
Another person on X took a more sweeping position, writing: "IAS / IPS are gods, sir. Maha mahmanab. This colonial creation needs to be eliminated for ever."
These reactions reflect a familiar public frustration with perceived impunity among people occupying positions of authority. Who polices the police when those in uniform cross the line?
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