Srinagar: A trooper of the Rashtriya Rifles went on a shooting spree inside a camp in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir Thursday, killing four of his colleagues, including an officer.
The incident in the Panzgam camp, about 45 km from here, took place around 6 a.m. when the trooper went berserk and started firing from his service weapon. Three troopers and a junior commissioned officer were killed before he could be disarmed, police said.
"Another trooper was also injured in the shooting incident before the jawan was overpowered and disarmed," a police officer told agency.
Lt Col JS Brar, spokesperson of the army`s 15th Corps, also confirmed the incident and said an inquiry had been ordered to ascertain the facts.
There have been several incidents of fratricidal shootouts and suicides among security forces in Jammu and Kashmir since armed violence broke out here in 1990.
Continued deployment under hostile conditions, separation from families, and lack of recreational facilities are among the factors believed to cause such incidents among security forces.
To address the problem, authorities have taken several steps, including improved recreational avenues, frequent leaves to troops to join their families and a better command and control structure.
IANS
