Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 (IANS): Indian Army jawan V. Arun, who committed suicide in Kashmir early this week, was cremated at his hometown in Killimannor near here Friday morning.

The body was first placed at the school where he had studied before being cremated.

Arun was attached to the 16th Light Cavalry armoured regiment and posted in Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir. He had shot himself using his service weapon, allegedly over being denied leave.

His father Vishwamohanan Pillai said after they heard that their son had committed suicide, Arun's wife had revealed that he was undergoing tremendous emotional strain.

"We came to know that three hours before he took away his life, he spoke to his mother and said that he will come for Onam vacation (in the last week of August)," Pillai said.

The parents have demanded an enquiry into the incident.

"We suspect that his death is suspicious and only a proper investigation will reveal if it was a suicide or murder because he said there were lot of issues in their unit and he was being hounded by senior officials," added Pillai.

The army has ordered a court of inquiry into the suicide. Army sources have blamed the incident on shortage of officers. While 20 officers are needed per unit, only nine are available, the sources said.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony has sought a detailed report on the incident.

According to sources, jawans and officers of 16th Light Cavalry were allegedly involved in a verbal confrontation after Arun committed suicide.