Indian soldier shoots dead major in Kashmir for objecting to using mobile phone

An Indian soldier in the restive state of Kashmir reportedly shot dead a senior officer after the latter caught him using a mobile phone while on duty.

The deceased officer was identified as Major Shikhar Thapa who was posted with the 8 Rashtriya Rifles, the Indian army's elite counterinsurgency unit. The identity of the suspected shooter has not been released. Police and army officials are investigating the incident which took place in a sensitive area known as Uri sector close to the Line of Control, the de facto border with Pakistan.

According to local reports, the soldier pumped five bullets into the army officer using his AK-47 rifle following an altercation. Thapa was killed on the spot. Thapa had pulled up the soldier for using his mobile phone in the sensitive border area and threatened to report him to senior army officials.

Investigating officials have recovered a damaged cellphone from the crime scene. The Indian army is yet to officially issue a statement on the matter.

In September 2016, a terror attack on the Indian army base in Uri by four heavily armed militants left 17 soldiers dead. It was said to be the deadliest attack on Indian security forces in Kashmir in nearly 20 years.