Conscript Loses His Life in ‘Weapon Accident’

* Photograph: İlkan Toprak - Balıkesir/AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

21-year-old Uğur Çakmak, who was doing his mandatory military service in the district of Silopi in Turkey's southeastern province of Şırnak, has lost his life while he was on guard duty. Çakmak died after being shot with a bullet that was fired from the weapon of his friend.

The Ministry of National Defense has released a statement regarding the incident and referred to the cause of Çakmak's death as "a weapon incident."

As reported by Cumhuriyet newspaper based on İhlas News Agency (İHA), the incident occurred at the 172nd Armored Brigade Command in Silopi at around 10.50 a.m. on March 4.

Hearing the gunshot, soldiers went to the guard post, where Çakmak was on guard duty. When the soldiers went to the post, infantry Uğur Çakmak had been shot in his neck by a bullet fired from the riffle of his friend.

Being taken to the Şehit Tümgeneral Aydoğan Aydın Hospital, Çakmak lost his life there. The deceased body of the conscript was laid to rest in his hometown in Balıkesir yesterday (March 5).

In a statement released by the Balıkesir Governorship, condolences were extended to the family. (EKN/SD)