New Delhi: Over the past five years, 577 Indian paramilitary personnel have succumbed to heart attacks and other illnesses while stationed in states affected by Naxalite insurgencies, highlighting the severe health challenges faced by security forces in these high-stress environments.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the alarming statistics were disclosed by the Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, in a recent session of Parliament. The data shows that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was the hardest hit, with 297 fatalities, followed by the Border Security Force (BSF) with 108 deaths. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) also reported significant casualties due to health-related issues.
These figures underscore the intense physical and mental demands placed on personnel operating within India’s Naxal-affected regions, which include states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. The ongoing conflict and the harsh conditions in these areas contribute to the health risks faced by the forces.
The government’s labeling of various community groups as Naxalites or Maoists, including tribal peoples, villagers, Dalits, and supporters of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), has intensified the situation in these regions, with demands for justice and independent status continuing to fuel the conflict.