CRPF trooper shoots himself in Kashmir (Third lead)

SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI - A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper Sunday committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in his camp in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Constable Satyadan Meena, 25, killed himself in the 118 CRPF battalion complex in Gund village in the northern district of Ganderbal, state police officials said.

A CRPF spokesman said in New Delhi that the constable belonged to Sikar district in Rajasthan.

“Constable Meena killed himself with his service rifle in the bathroom of his camp,” the spokesman said, adding that the trooper returned from leave May 28 to join duty.

“He had joined the CRPF in 2004 and had been posted in the valley for the past one year,” the spokesman added.

A Jammu and Kashmir police officer in Srinagar said: “We are investigating the matter.”

Incidents of suicides and fratricidal shootouts have been reported among paramilitary and soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir since the separatist violence began 20 years back.

Long separation from families, hostile environment and lack of recreational facilities are often cited as the reasons for the suicides and killings.

Counsellors have suggested periodic leaves, recreational facilities in the camps and better command and control structure as remedies.