Srinagar: An Army soldier was killed after his service rifle went off accidentally inside an army camp at Hirri area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday, police said.

The soldier namely Havaldar Rakesh Kumar of 8 JAT Regiment posted with army’s 160 TA headquarters at Hirri sustained a bullet wound in his chest, a police officer said. “The incident occurred while he was cleaning his service rifle.”

The injured soldier was immediately taken to a nearby health facility of army where from he was later referred military hospital Drugmulla in critical conditions, the officer said.

However, the doctors at military hospital Drugmulla declared him brought dead.

He said that police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated further investigations in this regard. (GNS)