Officials on Wednesday reported that six paramilitary soldiers were killed after one of the soldiers allegedly opened fire at his colleagues in central India.
Police in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, said the incident took place at a camp of Indo-Tibetan Border which is among the state’s worst-hit by a left-wing Maoist insurgency in India.
Speaking on the phone, a senior district official Padum Alma said, “the soldier opened fire at his colleagues in a fit of rage. An exchange of fire followed and a total of six soldiers including the attacker died.
“Two more are seriously injured.’’
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Domestic media however reported that the soldier who had shot at five of his colleagues later committed suicide by turning the gun on himself.
Alma said the reason for the dispute was unclear saying that he suspected that the soldier was upset at not getting leave, adding that an inquiry had been ordered.
Incidents of soldiers killing their colleagues are not uncommon in India, particularly in areas like Kashmir and Chhattisgarh where the forces are battling violent insurgencies.
In the past, such incidents of shootings and suicides by troops have been blamed by officials on stress due to hostile conditions and long separations from families.
dpa/NAN
