Fragging returns to haunt security forces, 3 CRPF men killed

The spectre of fragging is back to haunt the security forces deployed in the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir. Three CRPF jawans were killed and another suffered grievous injuries when a group of troopers opened indiscriminate firing at their colleagues after an altercation in their camp in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

Police have detained six CRPF men, of whom four are believed to be the prime suspects in the fratricide killings. Police said the incident happened in the drivers’ barrack of the 18-battalion CRPF on Saturday night.

“It is a driver’s barrack meant for 10 people. There was some altercation during the day and before the incident also. And when the slain were sleeping, they were fired at leaving three jawans dead and another injured”, said Maqsood-uz-Zaman, superintendent of police, Kulgam district.

The slain have been identified as head constables S Pillay, P Sibbu and Javid Hussain of 18-battalion CRPF.

Zaman said they have detained all the six remaining jawans of which four are prime suspects. “All of them are being questioned and we are now trying to ascertain the person who actually fired on these people”, he said.

Mohisin Shahidi, CRPF spokesman in Kashmir, said investigation has been launched into this case. “Inspector General of CRPF has reached the spot and investigations have been launched to find out into this case”, he said.

Earlier, on April 28 an army havaldar ran amok in the 42 Rashtriya Riffles camp and killed four of his colleagues including a junior commissioned officer and injured another when he fired indiscriminately at them from his service weapon at Panjpora-Sangam in Anantnag district in south Kashmir.

The possible reasons for soldiers committing fragging are stress or depression; domestic or personal problems, or financial worries.