Numberspeak | With 12 Deaths Per Month, India Losing More CAPF Personnel to Suicides Than in Action

In the run-up to World Mental Health Day on October 10, News18 takes a look at the number of suicides in CAPF and what is causing these deaths.

Since January 2020, at least 507 suicide cases have been reported in the CAPFs, ministry data up to July 2023 shows — which means around 12 suicide cases per month.

The ministry data anlaysed by News18 shows that the number of CAPF personnel who died between 2011 and 2021 by suicide stood at 1,325 while those who have been killed in operations stood at 654 — almost half.

The CAPF includes Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Of all these forces, CRPF has reported the highest suicide rate.

Since 2015, more than 335 CRPF personnel have died by suicide. BSF is next in line with over 260 suicides. This is followed by CISF with around 150 suicides between 2015 and 2022.

In the last three years between 2020 and 2022, at least 436 suicides were reported in these forces, including 154 alone from the CRPF.

Another pattern that is visible in these personnel is the high rate of voluntary retirement and resignation. Home Ministry data shows that per month on an average, around 785 personnel were taking voluntary retirement and at least 106 were resigning between the 2018-22 period.

While the CRPF was topping charts in terms of suicide, it is BSF that is reporting the highest voluntary retirement. CISF has witnessed the highest resignation rate.

Further, the MHA data also said that between 2018 and 2022, at least 29 personnel were killed by their colleagues in CAPFs. The causative factors in most of such incidents are generally personal and domestic problems, family issues, depression and work-related issues.

WHAT IS KILLING OUR JAWANS?

In February, News18 had reported that humiliation, harassment and leave-related issues are the main trigger points for suicides and fratricides among CAPF personnel.

A draft report by the Home Ministry-appointed task force also said tough service conditions, criticism, access to weapons are among key reasons for these deaths.

Further, prolonged deployment in high-risk areas and ad-hoc duties, clubbed with long separation from families, forced bachelorship, fear of disciplinary or legal action, discrimination among sub-groups, tough duty hours in inhospitable and adverse climatic conditions leading to fatigue, depression and other problems add to the mental heath burden.

WHAT THE MINISTRY IS DOING

To promote mental health and wellbeing of jawans in the CAPFs, the ministry is implementing transparent policies pertaining to transfer and leave. Also, it is providing choice posting to the extent possible after the personnel have served in hard areas. The hospitalisation period due to injuries while on duty is also treated as on duty.

The ministry is also holding regular interactions of officers with troops to find out and redress their grievances. It is ensuring adequate rest and relief by regulating duty hours, improving living conditions of troops, providing adequate recreational/ entertainment, sports, as well as communication facilities.

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Celebrated globally on October 10, the overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilise efforts in support of it.

The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

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