Fratricide in CRPF

The fratricidal incident in which four CRPF jawans were killed and three injured in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday points to the challenges confronting the security forces, not just in terms of correct perception but also the welfare of their personnel. The same day, a CRPF trooper committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. While a court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the Sukma case, the regularity with which such incidents involving security personnel have been reported from different parts of the country is a matter of concern. The CRPF has lost many personnel in cases of fratricide in Chhattisgarh this year, with similar incidents also being reported from Bastar and Narayanpur districts. Following a rise in such cases, the Chhattisgarh police had last year launched a special campaign for the security staff to overcome mental stress and depression.

Paramilitary and armed forces have well-laid-out procedures and hierarchy for functioning which are strictly abided by. While the Sukma incident is prima facie being described as having been triggered by ‘emotional stress’, preventive measures are needed to rule out such incidents. The CRPF has asked its formations to identify personnel who are either under depression or are stressed and undertake appropriate counselling to curb suicide and fratricide. But more needs to be done to raise the morale of the forces by looking into their problems and finding ways to redress grievances.

The job of the CRPF is unenviable and its personnel have to function under difficult conditions like insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalism in Chhattisgarh. Round-the-clock vigil and the constant threat to life can prove testing along with long duty hours, staying away from family and the easy availability of firearms. Human resource is precious, more so for the security forces, and should be managed more effectively and compassionately.