CRPF authorities said investigations were underway in the latest incident of fratricide in Jammu and Kashmir, in which three jawans were killed and another was injured. They said it will soon be known what led to the worst incident of fratricide in recent months.
The local police which has detained six jawans for questioning said that the shooter is yet to be identified. “It appears those involved in the bloody incident opened fire at one another,” said a police officer.
SP Kulgam Maqsood-uz-Zaman confirmed the other jawans who were present inside the barrack at the time of incident have been detained for questioning. “The incident took place around 10.45 pm last (Saturday) night. Immediately after being informed we started investigations. It is premature to comment on it yet,” he said.
Such incidents are not uncommon in militancy-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir for which stress is mainly believed to be the root cause of the incidence although what officially are termed “concrete steps” initiated within the Army and paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, based upon in-depth analysis of past incidents and identification of windows of prevention, have addressed the issue greatly. These include effort at monitoring stress management programmes, training and advice and education of all ranks to understand stress and how to manage it; practice of yoga, including at the dizzy heights of Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, and other stress relieving techniques; increased emphasis on group cohesion and constant interaction among officers and other ranks and their families. Various recreational facilities including multi-gyms have also been provided by the Army.
The CRPF organises musical shows and cultural programmes on regular basis for their members to keep them in good humour. The BSF and other paramilitary forces too have drawn up special programmes to keep their morale high.