Soldier kills superior in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 31 (UNI) In yet another incident in strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir, a soldier killed his senior officer following an altercation over some matter at Harwan in the city outskirts today.

Army spokesman Col Hemant Kumar Joneja told UNI that sepoy S C Behera of 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) opened fire at his company commander, Lt Col Saket Saxena, following an altercation over some matter at Dara in Harwan, about 18 km from here, this morning.

He said while Col Saxena died on the spot, the jawan was overpowered by his other colleagues and arrested.

Col Joneja said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Thirty-eight-year-old Col Saxena was the son of Mr Virendra Saxena, the media consultant to the Home Department of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

He is survived by his wife and son. The body of Col Saxena would be flown to Delhi tomorrow for cremation.

Several senior officers of the state administration, the Army, police and para-military forces besides people from all walks of life have offered condolences to the bereaved family.

This was the fourth incident of a soldier killing his colleague during the past ten days in Jammu and Kashmir. While three such incidents took place in the Jammu region, this was the first in the Kashmir valley in the recent past.

Earlier on October 29, soldier Satyam Kumar shot dead his senior colleague Havaldar Padma Rajan and wounded another jawan by firing from his service weapon while on duty following an altercation at the Udhampur Military Garrison in the Jammu region.

Kumar was immediately overpowered by other personnel and taken into custody.

On October 21, a soldier shot dead three colleagues and wounded two others before attempting suicide in Rajouri district.

On October 23, an RR trooper shot dead two colleagues before ending his life in the Rajouri district while a soldier committed suicide in Poonch district of the Jammu region on the night of October 27.

UNI AG PK ND1740