The plain-clothes PSI, Jetsinh Bhurabhai Parmar, fired five of the six cartridges from his Webley Scott service revolver before being brought under control.

The high-voltage drama kicked off around 1.30 on Tuesday afternoon, when Parmar whipped out his gun and fired at Chandrakant Mulchand Reshamwala (45), a builder by profession, injuring him seriously in the abdomen.

Even as civilian and police bystanders -- the Surat Fort houses government offices, the rural police headquarters and the Athwalines police station -- scurried for cover, Parmar turned to estate broker Suryakant N Tolat, placed his service revolver against his chest, and pulled the trigger, killing him instantly.

The PSI then walked into the Athwalines police station, with which he was attached earlier, where only the PSO and LIB constable Shantilal Govind Patel were present. Walking up to Patel, Parmar said, ``Yehi hain woh (This is the guy)'' and shot him in the abdomen. The bullet ripped through his body before hitting the floor.

Parmar then walked over to the PSO's room and, after watching the confusion outside for a couple of minutes, fired at the police officials tending to the dead and wounded, but missed.

``With Parmar firing away indiscriminately, I asked Police Commissioner (Kuldip Sharma) if I could shoot him'', Assistant Commissioner of Police (E division) I C Raj told Express Newsline. Even as the commissioner assented, Dinesh Barwaliya, circle inspector of the Surat rural police, overpowered him.

Barwaliya later told Express Newsline, ``I was in my office when the commotion began. I came down to see Parmar going back to the police station after hitting two persons. I hid on the steps and pounced on him in a bid to snatch the weapon.''

In the scuffle that took place, a fifth shot was fired from Parmar's weapon, hitting the wall. Said Khandu Kalyan Surti, an eyewitness to the whole drama, ``He didn't seem to know what he was doing. He just kept shooting and was very calm throughout.''

Meanwhile, Tolat's body was taken to the New Civil Hospital for a post-mortem. Reshamwala, one of the injured, had to undergo an operation at the Surat General Hospital, but was said to be out of danger. The constable, who was operated upon at the Mahavir Hospital, however, was said to be in a serious condition.

Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the family of the deceased Tolat and Rs 25,000 each for the injured.

Cases for murder, attempt to murder and under the Arms Act have been registered against Parmar. PI G B Darji is investigating under the supervision of DCP D M Naik and ACP I C Raj.