Soldier kills superior at Army's Northern Command Hqs

Jammu, Oct 29 (UNI) An army jawan killed his superior with his service weapon at northern command headquarters in Udhampur late last night, a senior army official said here today.

A jawan of Signals regiment, who was on guard duty late last night, shot dead a NCO with his insas rifle, northern command spokesman Brigadier J S Kataria told UNI.

As per the sources, sepoy Satyam Kumar of Signals Regiment opened fire with his insas rifle, killing the guard commander (a Havildar) while injuring a Signalman, Balwan Singh.

It is prime facie a case of murder. ''The jawan has been taken into the custody, and an inquiry has been ordered into the case,'' Brig Kataria said.

In last eight days, it was the third incident of a soldier killing his colleagues, while the fourth act was ''committed in distress''.

Earlier, on october 21 (Diwali), a Signalman shot dead three colleagues and attempted to commit suicide in the border district of Rajouri.

Two days later, a jawan of Rashtriya Rifles in Rajouri shot dead two colleagues before committing suicide.

On Friday night, an armyman committed suicide in Poonch district.

Increased level of mental stress among security personnel posted in Jammu and Kashmir is said to be the main reason behind such incidents.

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