A man sustained serious head injuries after accidentally firing a police service pistol during a gathering in Jowai, West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred between 4:30 pm and 5 pm on Sunday. The victim, Wanda-O-Najiar, was with friends, including Sub-Inspector Wewanroy Challan, Second Officer-in-Charge of Nartiang Police Station. While chewing betel nut, Najiar took the officer’s pistol, which accidentally discharged, injuring him in the head.