Jawan shoots himself to death in Banihal

Jammu, Nov 17 (UNI) An army jawan posted with the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) today shot himself to death at Nachlana camp area in Banihal tehsil of Doda district, official sources have said.

Naik Sher Singh of 23 RR (Rajput) shot himself to death with his AK 47 rifle at 0610 hrs in Nachlana area, an official spokesman told UNI.

The reason which forced the jawan to take the extreme step was not known yet, he said.

However, the Army had initiated an enquiry to probe into the matter.

Five such cases of killings were reported from this militancy-infested state since October 21 (Diwali) this year, in which at least nine jawans and a Lieutenant Colonel lost their lives.

A soldier shot dead three colleagues and injured another at the Nariyan camp in Rajouri district, on October 21.

Two days later, a jawan killed two colleagues in the same district.

A soldier committed suicide in Poonch district under mysterious circumstances, on October 27.

A Signal man shot dead a Havildar in Udhampur on October 29.

This was followed by the killing of an officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on the outskirts of Srinagar on October 31.

UNI VJ IS RK1945