In a first for the tumultuous counter-insurgency theatre in the Kashmir Valley, a military court last week awarded death sentence to a soldier found guilty of killing his senior officer while on duty. The five-member military court was unanimous in its decision that the soldier be executed for his action.

The verdict was announced by the military court presiding over a Summary General Court Martial (SGCM) on February 26, within a month of the court martial being convened on January 31 this year.

On October 31, 2006, Sepoy SC Behra of 28 Rashtriya Rifles battalion emptied a full magazine of 5.56mm ammunition from his service weapon into his company commander Lt Col Saket Saxena at Dara Harwan in the outskirts of Srinagar. The officer, son of retired Army Brigadier V Saxena, died on the spot. Behra, a native of Keonjhar district in Orissa, was overpowered by other Army personnel on duty and taken into custody. The incidents came as part of a sharp rise in “fragging” in the Army. In 2006, 24 troops were killed as a result of colleagues running amok with their weapons.

The Army confirmed on Friday that Behra’s act was perceived as “rarest of the rare” by the military court — since his action was “premeditated” and not in the “heat of the moment”. Behra was reprimanded by his company commander for improper conduct while on sentry duty at the Company Headquarters.

“The case currently rests with Headquarters Northern Command and is being processed for further action. The verdict is subject to confirmation by the Army channel and then by the Centre,” an Army spokesperson in New Delhi told The Indian Express.

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