Indian paramilitary soldier commits suicide in IIOJK

An Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer committed suicide in Srinagar, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) on Monday

The soldier, identified only as a member of the 61st Battalion, shot himself at a security post with his service rifle in the Shivpora area, Kashmir Media Service reported.

Indian officials confirmed that the CRPF officer was from Tripura, a state in India’s northeast. This incident adds to the worrying toll of suicides among Indian security forces deployed in IIOJK.

Since 2007, a total of 612 Indian soldiers and police officers have taken their own lives while stationed in Kashmir, according to KMS. The region has seen a long-standing conflict and intense security presence, which has been linked to increasing stress and mental health issues among soldiers.

The incident raises further concerns about the mental well-being of personnel stationed in conflict zones and the psychological toll of prolonged military service.

In a separate incident, a police head constable, Ghulam Rasool, died after his car crashed near Sadhna Top in Kupwara district.

Yesterday, an Indian soldier was killed on Sunday in IIOJK, during an operation "based on specific intelligence" about the presence of suspected Kashmiri fighters in southern Kishtwar, the army said.

On Saturday evening the army reported killing a Kashmiri fighter in a separate gunfight. Police said another two gunfights were taking place in the Himalayan region on Sunday, with fighting reported in both the Zabarwan and Baramulla areas.

In a renewed surge in attacks since October, gunmen have been launching an ambush on an army convoy, as well as firing on a construction camp, killing seven people. Last week, an attacker hurled a grenade at a busy market in the main city of Srinagar, wounding 12 people.