In the last one year at least six jawans have lost control and opened fire at colleagues. They have worked alongside for years.

The reason for such attacks may be stress, perhaps loneliness or even violence and uncertainity of daily battles.

There are no easy answers. But the truth is cast in blood, as shootouts in army camps in the valley are becoming a part of everyday reality.

Two brutal shootouts have taken place in army camps of Rajouri over the last week.

On Monday, a Jawan of 60 Rashtriya Rifles killed two colleagues apparently without any serious provocation.

Just the day before, in another camp nearby, a soldier shot three colleagues dead. There reasons were, again, unknown.

"We have ordered an enquiry on why this happened," said Colonel S D Goswami, Army PRO.

There might not be easy explanations but these shootouts have become a party of our force's everyday reality.

Brutal cases

This year itself, over six cases were reported, each more brutal than the other.

On September 14 this year, 27-year-old Army major Harsh of 38 Rashtriya Rifles, leading counter-insurgency operations in Rajouri, fell to the bullet of his office clerk Naik N Ravi.

Ravi pulled out a gun after Harsh pulled him up for inefficiency.

"Had it been the enemy, he could have battled them. He was a brave soldier and has killed militants. The army must introspect why these incidents take place, why I had to lose my son," said Raj Singh, Major Harsh's father and a Retd Commandant of BSF.

On April 4, 2006, in another bizarre shootout outside the CM's residence in Jammu, Anand Kumar Singh, a CRPF jawan on guard duty, suddenly opened fire and killed three colleagues, including an inspector.

Strained relations

Army said it was a case of strained relations.

"This was an interpersonal relationship problem, due to which he fired," said Gopal Sharma, Director General of Police, J&K.

NDTV: Are you taking a serious note of this?
Gopal Sharma: Of course we are. We are looking into if there is anything else needed to be done for their living conditions or performance of duty. We will do that.

On March 6, 2006, there was yet another bloodbath at the transit camp in Miran Sahib, 10 km from Jammu.

Naik Suchender Singh of 21 Rajput Regiment gunned down three soldiers during a minor argument. When Subedar Major Bhor Singh tried to intervene Naik killed him too.

"He was suffering from depression and was a low medical category case since June 2005," said Sheikh Mehmood, SP, South Jammu.

On January 25, 2006, just days after killing two fidayeens at Srinagar, CRPF jawan Avtar Singh killed four of his colleagues over a small argument.

"He had been tense. He was facing family problems," said Yuvraj Singh, DIG, BSF.

Common occurrence

It is not something uncommon in the state. Shooting of colleagues by the security forces speaks volumes about the mental stress jawans are facing while fighting unconventional war in Kashmir.

What adds to the stress is the denial of leave, reprimands, and sometimes even simple arguments.

Also, little-known but true fact, almost every jawan in Kashmir carries a personal weapon that is loaded at all times.

So even after Army rifles go back to the unit armoury guns have been pulled out over small arguments.

Battling the enemy within is not easy. Music, films, poetry may bring in good cheer.

"The only objective is that the jawans feel happy. Their tensions are released and their morale is kept high. Such diversions are required," said J K Sinha, DG, CRPF.

But efforts such as these to keep the jawans entertained are clearly not enough.

"Our confidence wears out as we are always away from home on a very difficult job," said Kaptan Singh, Head constable, CRPF.