According to Times of India, the reports started circulating after the incident that jawans went on a mutiny, the claims which were rejected by the Indian army.
“The jawan complained of chest pain prior to the routine march, but was checked by the unit medical officer and found fit. The jawan later collapsed during route march, was taken to the field ambulance where he succumbed,” Lt Col Newton said in a press release.
The Defence PRO said “only a few (4-5) jawans got emotional and agitated”. The jawans also “indulged in agitated behaviour leading to a minor scuffle”, the PRO said, adding that no one sustained serious injuries. “The incident is being investigated as is the practice in all cases of death during training,” he said. The name and other details of the jawan who died during training was not available.
A boxing bout turned into a bare-knuckles street fight between officers and personnel of an infantry unit near Meerut in 2013. Two majors and a soldier were hospitalised.
The Meerut incident came a year after four soldiers of 226 Field Artillery Regiment, including the unit’s commanding officer and his deputy, were injured in a brawl between officers and soldiers in Ladakh’s Nyoma sector. A soldier had misbehaved with the wife of a major, triggering the face-off.
Another army unit, 16 Cavalry, witnessed an officer-soldier spat in 2012, leading to disciplinary action against 60 personnel. In April 2010, there was a clash between officers and personnel of 45 Cavalry near Gurdaspur.
