Indian soldier 'shoots himself'

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The Indian army has said one soldier has shot himself dead in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Gurvinder Singh shot himself with his service revolver in the Doda district on Monday morning, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel SD Goswami said.

An investigation has been launched to find out why the soldier took his life.

More than 100 Indian soldiers have killed themselves this year. A further 32 servicemen have been killed by their colleagues.

Correspondents say the million-strong force is under tremendous pressure. While it has not fought a full-blown war in decades, the force is bogged down in fighting domestic insurgencies, guarding restive borders and sometimes quelling civilian rioting.

Most experts attribute the growing stress to low morale, bad service conditions, lack of adequate home leave, unattractive pay and a communication gap with superiors.

Indian defence minister AK Antony has expressed his concern over the increasing number of soldiers taking their lives and killing each other.