A woman Army officer allegedly shot herself to death at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur district Thursday night.

The officer, identified as Lt Sushmita Chakarvorty, was depressed with her job and wanted to quit but her mother did not allow her to do so, leading to her taking the extreme step, official sources said on Friday.

Chakravorty had earlier gone on leave for two months to her home in Bhopal, where her mother persuaded her to continue with the job and even accompanied her back to her posting at the Northern Command headquarters, the sources said. She was complaining about some problems at work, they added.

According to them, on Thursday night, she took the rifle of a guard posted at army guest house, went inside and shot herself.

Chakrabarty was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

The body was handed over to her mother for last rites.

The Army has instituted a court of inquiry into the incident, the sources, said adding this is the first ever incident of a lady officer committing suicide in the armed forces.