“In these kinds of cases, an X-Ray is done before conducting the postmortem for thoroughly screening the body. The X-Ray did not show any bullets inside his body. No bullets were found even in the autopsy. The bullet could have penetrated and then exited his body,” a senior AIIMS doctor said.

This, experts say, usually happens during close quarter shootings and when a high-velocity firearm is used. “The wound suggests it was a near shot from a rifled firearm. These have greater accuracy and stability,” another doctor said.

Special Cell inspector and top encounter cop Mohan Chand Sharma was killed in Friday’s encounter in Jamia Nagar, which lasted for over an hour. Two men, who the police claim were behind the serial blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, were also killed.

The doctors said the wounds on Sharma’s body suggest he was hit by two bullets — one in the stomach and the other on his arm. “The bullet usually exits if it enters soft tissue, as in this case where it hit the stomach and arm. If the bullet had hit a bone, it would have shattered,” the doctor added. “The cause of death is shock due to loss of excessive blood,” the doctor said.

Forensic experts at AIIMS, however, have not yet handed over the postmortem report to the police and have asked for the report of the doctor at Holy Family who treated the inspector before he succumbed to his injuries. “While it is quite difficult to take out bullets during surgery, to make sure before we present our conclusions, we have asked for the surgical intervention report from the police,” a doctor said.