Srinagar: A troubling increase in suicide rates has been reported among members of the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, and paramilitary forces stationed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and other parts of India. This rise in self-inflicted deaths is occurring in regions where forces are deployed, aligning with the ongoing tensions and demands for self-determination in Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the suicide ratio has escalated to 16.5 percent per 100,000 soldiers within the armed forces in IIOJK and other areas. Over the past five years, more than 800 personnel have taken their lives, reportedly due to issues stemming from the conduct of their superiors. Notably, the data reveals a suicide occurrence every third day, pointing to a worsening mental health crisis within the military ranks.
Detailed records from 2010 to 2019 show that 895 Army personnel, 185 Air Force members, and 32 Navy staff have ended their lives. The frequency of such incidents has continued to rise, with 983 suicides in the Army, 96 in the Navy, and 246 in the Air Force reported since 2014. The total surpasses 3,300 military suicides since 2001.
The report also highlights several individual cases, including the January 2023 incidents where Colonel Khanna and Lieutenant Colonel Nishant took their own lives under distressing circumstances. The ongoing issue also affects female officers, as evidenced by cases like Lieutenant Sushmita Chakraborty in 2006 and Lieutenant Colonel Rashmi Mishra in 2019, who both succumbed to pressures allegedly exerted by their superiors.
Furthermore, the adverse conditions have led nearly 47,000 personnel to seek voluntary retirement or resign from their positions, underlining the severe impact of the internal culture and operational stress on the well-being of the armed forces.