Major shot dead by jawan over use of mobile phone in Kashmir''s Uri

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 18

An Army Major of 8 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) battalion was killed in a fratricide incident by a fellow jawan over the use of mobile phone on duty at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in North Kashmir.

Sources said the Major posted in Kamalote area suffered fatal wound when a jawan fired from AK-47 rifle from behind around midnight.

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 It is learnt that the major scolded the jawan over use of mobile phone.

“The jawan was found by officer using the phone during the duty. The officer warned him and tried to confiscate the phone. During the process, the mobile screen broke over which an argument took place.”

Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia termed the incident as unfortunate.

 “In an unfortunate incident that occurred at one of the forward posts in Uri sector along LoC, an Army officer was killed in the firing by one of the Army jawans.  The officer succumbed to his injuries on the spot.  Further investigations by the Army and the police are underway,” the spokesman said.

Since the militancy erupted, dozens of soldiers have committed suicide or have been killed by their colleagues. There have been many incidents of fratricidal killings and the reasons for such incidents are mostly believed to be high level of stress.