New Delhi, July 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):A total of 819 Indian armed forces’ personnel died by suicide in the last five years, with the Indian Army reporting a maximum of 642 such cases. This was stated in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament, by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt. The minister said that the Indian Air Force reported 148 cases of suicide in the said period, while the number in the Indian Navy was 29.

The minister’s reply came following a question on the number of servicemen and ex-servicemen who committed suicide in the last five years. As per an Indian media report, over 150 soldiers, airmen and sailors are taking their lives every year despite all the so-called measures being undertaken by the Indian defence establishment to reduce stress among troops. The suicides in the Indian army, Navy and Air Force are apart from frequent incidents of fratricide.

While it is said that protracted deployment along the borders with Pakistan and China as well as counter-militancy operations take a toll on the mental health and physical endurance of Indian soldiers, however, experts are of the opinion that it is compounded by poor salaries, lack of basic amenities, ineffectual leadership and sometimes humiliation at the hands of their officers.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org