Officials said constable Sanjiv Pawar (28) of the 151st battalion of the central force allegedly shot himself from his INSAS rifle after he returned from a patrol at 2:30 AM to his base in Keshloor between Sukma and Jagdalpur.
"The exact reason behind Pawar taking the extreme step is being ascertained. An inquiry has been ordered," a senior Central Reserve Police Force officer said.
Pawar was deployed as part of the anti-Naxal operations team of the force deployed in this Maoist hotbed. He hailed from Madhya Pradesh.