A jawan belonging to the Assam Rifles, who was posted in south Manipur, opened fire at his colleagues on Wednesday. The incident, which took place near the Indo-Myanmar border, was confirmed by the Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles jawan reportedly fired at his colleagues before shooting himself dead.
All those who were injured in the incident are ‘non-Manipuris’, the official statement said. All those injured in the incident have been safely evacuated are being currently treated at the Military Hospital. Condition of all six jawans is said to be stable.
Assam Rifles battalions in Manipur exhibit a diverse class composition, incorporating members from various communities. Despite societal polarization, personnel from different backgrounds coexist and work together to uphold peace and stability in Manipur, the official statement further said.
What’s Fratricide?
Fratricide, within military terminology, means the act of a soldier or security personnel causing harm to their own colleagues. Various studies conducted over the past two decades link fratricides and suicides in India’s armed forces to stress and depression. As of July 2022, the defence ministry reported that India’s army, navy, and air force collectively lost over 800 personnel to suicide since 2017. With approximately 1.4 million active personnel in the Indian military, official data from February 2020 revealed seven army personnel, two air force members, and none from the navy were reported killed between 2016 and 2020.
What’s the situation in Manipur?
The ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities have led to over 200 deaths and displacement of nearly 50,000 people in Manipur. Despite lasting for more than eight months, the violence in the region shows no signs of abating.
