A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan allegedly shot himself at the force’s outpost along the Indo-Nepal border in the West Champaran district of Bihar on Wednesday.

The deceased jawan, Jagadeesh Battini, was a native of a village in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. He was a part of the 44th battalion of the SSB and was deployed at the Bhikhnathori border outpost.

The incident occurred at 5am while he was at the outpost barracks. The force officials said he shot himself from the service rifle issued to him. His colleagues heard the shot and found him lying on the ground.

“It is difficult to tell the reasons behind the suicide of Battini at present. The inquiry into his death has started. An FIR has been registered with Bihar police.

“He had returned to duty recently after a two-month leave,” a senior SSB officer, who did not wish to be named, told The Telegraph.

The jawan’s body has been sent for post-mortem. SSB officials will take it to his native village for the last rites.

The local police have seized the weapon that was allegedly used in the suicide.

It will be sent to the forensic science lab for further examination.

Sources said that Battini had been depressed for the past few days because his mother was ill and he had to leave her in that condition to return to duty.