A Major of the 10th Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Light Infantry posted at interior Montuk area in Manipur bordering Myanmar was shot dead by havildar Ashok Kumar inside his room in the base camp of the Army unit on Tuesday evening, according to defence sources.

The havildar barged into the room of Major Angkit Varadhwaj and shot him from close range. The seriously injured Army officer was declared brought dead by doctors at the military hospital at Leimakhong army base near Imphal.

The Army informed the nearest police station about the incident. A defence source in Imphal informed that the Army had instituted a court of inquiry into the incident to ascertain Kumar's motive behind his attack on the senior Army officer. The havildar is now in the custody of the Army.

The 10th Jammu Kashmir Light Infantry has been posted in the area for the last two years or so and has been doing excellent work in countering insurgents in the area close to Myanmar.