Md Jubair: Suicides and fratricide incidents are common among Indian Para-military personnel deployed in Kashmir. Indian armed forces have lost 900 soldiers to suicide in last seven years.
That is almost twice the number of soldiers lost in the Kargil War (527).
One jawan commits suicide every third day Major Gen Samay Ram said in his book, Stress, Suicide and Fratricide in the Army Crisis within, “Indian army is losing approximately 100-120 men per 100,000 in suicides.
Anshu Gupta, a psychiatric social worker, in his paper titled ‘Stress in Indian Army A Psychological Perspective of Present scenario and Needs’, writes that the rising incidents of suicide and fratricide is a matter of concern for the armed forces, adding that the condition is worse in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeast region.
Some politicians, including Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav publicly taunted Indian PM Modi, saying `Pulwama attack was a conspiracy’ and ‘jawans were killed for votes’.
During the last six years, approximately 700 jawans of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) committed suicide and the rate of voluntary retirement was approximately 9,000 jawan per year.
Recently, an Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable shot himself dead with his service rifle in Gund area of the district. SHO of Gund Police Station, Mir Abdul Rasheed confirmed that the trooper committed suicide.
• Ratio of suicide in Indian army clearly depicts inadequacies in the quality of leadership.
• Overburdened commitments.
• Inadequate resources.
• Frequent dislocations.
• Lack of fairness and transparency in postings and promotions.
• Down gradation in pay and status.
• Inadequate promotional avenues.
• Lack of motivation amongst juniors.
• Non-grant of leave.
• Indifferent attitude of civilian officials and short command tenures.