A fight broke out between soldiers and officers in the Army unit, reports said. (Representational Image)
Highlights
- One jawan dies after unit was sent on a 10-km march
- Reports had claimed 'mutiny-like situation' in the unit in the northeast
- Army denies reports, sources say a fight broke out after a jawan's death
An army jawan in a frontline unit in the Northeast has died, possibly of a heart attack, after the entire unit was sent on a 10-km march.
The incident sparked an angry outburst among a group of 4 to 5 jawans in the area, which resulted in a fight between soldiers and officers. The Army confirmed this fight resulted in injuries.
In a statement to the media, the Army said: "A case of death of a jawan during routine training activity has taken place in an infantry unit in the North East. It is NOT a case of any mutiny. The Jawan complained of chest pain prior to route march - was checked by unit MO (Medical Officer) and found fit. The jawan later collapsed during route march - was brought to the Field Ambulance where he succumbed. (sic)"
The statement was issued after reports emerged on social media of a "mutiny-like" situation in the area. According to these reports, the 10-km march was a punishment drill, which was ordered after a confrontation between a Captain and a jawan. '
In the clash, a Captain and three officers were badly injured. The Captain reportedly is in critical condition with skull injuries.
The Army Headquarters in Delhi has denied any other individual was seriously injured. The Army has also denied that reinforcement units have moved into the area when the situation was getting out of hand.
In 2012, in another instance of indiscipline, soldiers had attacked senior officers in Nyoma in Ladakh in an incident the Army dismissed as a "scuffle in an artillery unit during field firing".
Subsequent reports, however, revealed that the soldiers went out of control after senior officers severely assaulted one of their colleagues and their Commanding Officer.