New Delhi (India), April 13, 2023: In a shocking turn of events, an Indian Army jawan has reportedly taken his own life while on duty at the Bathinda military station in Punjab.
The deceased, identified as Laghu Raj Shankar, succumbed to his injuries after firing gunshots from his service rifle at himself. The army has stated that the case “purportedly seemed to be an attempt at suicide”.
According to official sources, the incident occurred in the wee hours of Thursday, with Shankar having recently returned from leave. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon, and the weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon were found next to him. Although he was immediately evacuated to the military hospital, his injuries proved fatal.
This tragedy comes just a day after the Punjab Police registered an FIR against two unidentified men in connection with the earlier firing incident at the Bathinda military station. The army has clarified that the two incidents are unrelated and that Shankar’s untimely death was a case of suicide.
The nation mourns the loss of yet another brave soldier, and questions arise about the mental health support available to those serving in the armed forces.
