BSF soldier kills colleague in Kashmir’s Bandipora

Suicides and fratricides among security forces personnel posted in Kashmir are not uncommon.

A Border Security Force (BSF) soldier shot dead his colleague during a scuffle inside a camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district late on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

Head constable Chanderbhan of Haryana was found dead at a BSF camp in Madar.

A senior district police officer confirmed the news and said that the police are investigating the incident at Madar area, which appears to be a case of fratricidal killing.

A spokesperson of the BSF told the Hindustan Times said that head constable Chandrabhan of Haryana was killed in the incident.

“Police is investigating the matter and the alleged suspect, a jawan, has been handed over. Further details will be clear after investigation,” the spokesperson said.

Suicides and fratricides among security forces personnel posted in Kashmir are not uncommon.

An Indian Army soldier posted in north Kashmir’s Uri sector pumped five bullets into a major, killing him on the spot after he was reprimanded by him over cell-phone usage at the sensitive post in July this year.

Incidents of fratricide have, however, reduced in the army over the last decade as the force has taken a raft of measures to address the issue.

The steps taken by the government to prevent fratricide include professional psychological counselling, workshops on mental health, meditation being made part of the unit routine, yoga classes, improvement in living conditions and liberalised leave policy.

Apart from fratricide, more than 100 cases of suicide are reported every year in the armed forces.