MHA discusses fratricidal killings, suicides by CPMF jawans

The meeting, chaired by Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh and attended by chiefs of paramilitary forces including CRPF and BSF, also reviewed the recruitment process for induction of constables and other ranks and steps to revamp it to reach out to the remote and Maoist affected areas and increase representation of minorities and women.

The high number of death in forces due to fratricidal killings and suicides and how to check such unnatural deaths, attrition of officers and jawans due to stress and how to motivate them to continue in their services were discussed in great length, sources said.

According to a Home Ministry figure, nearly 400 para-military men committed suicide or died in fratricide incidents since 2009, which is more than the number of para-military men killed in action fighting terrorists.

Altogether 375 men in the Indian Army committed suicides in last three years while the seven para-military forces together have reported 398 such deaths.

Home Ministry had attributed alcoholism and extra-marital affairs to such a high number of para-military men ending their lives. (More)