R. C. Sharma

India faces both conventional and sub-conventional security challenges. The sub-conventional security challenges such as riots, pandemic, terrorism, militancy, counter-insurgency and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) are internal security issues with external security links and dimensions. Due to poor training, lack of leadership, non-availability of advance weaponry and equipment, the police is not able to handle these security threats.

To make up for police deficiencies Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are often called in to deal with these security threats. They are regularly involved in internal security duties in addition to their mandated role and task which take a toll on mental and physical health of jawans. The ministry of home affairs’ (MHA’s) Parliamentary Standing Committee, headed by P. Chidambram, had flagged issues like long working hours, stagnation, attrition, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate accommodation and so on, in its 214th and 215th report. It had highlighted how lack of facilities and proper work environment led to stress and often resulted in suicides and fratricides.

These incidents have turned into headlines and breaking news in print and electronic media. A few examples of these are:

• 3 December 2019: In Naxal infested Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, five ITBP him veers are killed and two injured by a colleague.
• 9 December 2019: A CRPF jawan kills an assistant commandant and an assistant sub inspector during election duty in Bokaro, Jharkhand.
• 3 May 2020: A BSF head constable shoots platoon commander in Rajasthan.
• 11 May 2020: At BSF Subsidiary Training centre in Manipur, head constable shoots colleague, attempts shooting inspector general, head of institution. Later kills self.
• 12 May 2020: A CRPF sub inspector and ASI committed suicide in Kashmir.

The government attributes the cause of these incidents to personal and domestic problems like marital discord, personal enmity, mental illness and depression. The government absolves itself of all account