J&K: Mysterious Firing Incident Leaves Another CISF Jawan Dead
The latest death comes barely days after a devastating fratricidal firing incident shook the CISF in Kathua district on September 29.
Srinagar: A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan died on Friday after sustaining a gunshot wound under unexplained circumstances while on duty in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, adding to a troubling series of recent fatalities within the security force.
Officials said the incident occurred during routine deployment, though the exact sequence of events remains unclear. The injured personnel, identified as Mohammad Mushtaq of Mari village in Reasi, was rushed to the District Hospital Reasi, where doctors attempted to revive him. Despite efforts, Mushtaq succumbed to his injuries, prompting authorities to launch a formal investigation into how the weapon discharged and whether foul play or an accidental firing was involved.
The latest death comes barely days after a devastating fratricidal firing incident shook the CISF in Kathua district on September 29. In that case, an argument among personnel deployed at the Sewa III Hydroelectric Power Project in Mashka village escalated into gunfire. A CISF constable allegedly opened fire on his colleagues, critically injuring Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub Inspector Lakshman Singh, Constable Rafiq Ahmed, and Constable Sandeep Kumar. All four later died at a nearby hospital. The accused constable was subdued at the scene and arrested, and the episode triggered widespread concern over stress levels and interpersonal conflicts within security units posted in high-pressure zones.
In a separate tragedy reported on Friday, an Assistant Commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF) was found unconscious in the Doban area of frontier Kupwara district. Officials said the officer was discovered unresponsive and immediately shifted to a medical facility, but he was declared dead on arrival. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and authorities are awaiting medical examination results to establish whether it was due to natural causes, environmental factors, or any underlying health condition.
The cluster of incidents has raised fresh questions about the operational environment, mental health challenges, and safety protocols governing security personnel stationed across J&K. Investigations in all three cases are underway, officials said.