Indian soldier 'kills comrades'

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

The Assam Rifles are a leading Indian counter-insurgency force

A member of an elite Indian army unit has shot dead six other soldiers in a shooting incident in the north-eastern state of Manipur, the army says.

The soldier from the Assam Rifles elite paramilitary force shot a comrade dead after an argument, a spokesman said.

He said the killer then shot dead five other soldiers who tried to disarm him, before fleeing the scene.

Stress is blamed for more than 70 deaths in shooting incidents in India's armed forces since 2001.

Many members of the security forces are denied leave for long periods during tough counter-insurgency operations.

'Deadly fire'

Army spokesman Major Shamsher Jung said the latest shooting incident happened at a remote camp in Ukhrul district in Manipur.

Major Jung said the force had launched a huge manhunt to capture the soldier, TS Tangkhul.

The Assam Rifles troops were manning a checkpost on a road at Awang Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district late on Wednesday when TS Tangkhul got into a heated altercation with another soldier, he said.

Tangkhul, who is from the area, shot dead his colleague and soon found himself surrounded by five soldiers of the unit who tried to disarm him.

"He opened deadly fire and killed all of them," Major Shamsher Jung said.