Another soldier commits suicide in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 11 (UNI) Yet another army jawan committed suicide in the Kashmir valley as introduction of 'Yoga and Art of living' has failed to help security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations to destress.

A police spokesman said a soldier of 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) shot himself dead with his service weapon at his company headquarter at Upalna in north Kashmir district of Baramulla.

It was not immediately known why the soldier identified as Pardeep Yadav took this extreme step.

This was the third such incident in less then three weeks.

A soldier Saurwan Singh of Dogra Regiment committed suicide in his post at the headquarters of 15 Corps here by shooting himself with his service weapon on March 27 while a jawan S S Adey of 122 batallion shot himself dead with his service weapon in Srinagar on March 22.

Suicide by the security forces in the Kashmir valley was on rise despite the introduction of 'Yoga' and 'Art of living' classes.

More than 20 security personnel were killed during the past six months in similar incidents in the Kashmir valley.

At least 14 security personnel, including some officers, were also killed by their colleagues in the Valley during the same period. On March 20, an army jawan shot dead his colleague in an army camp in north Kashmir.

A soldier was recently awarded death by a court martial for killing Lt Colonel Saket Sexana at Harwan camp.

UNI