50 police personnel committed suicide in Chhattisgarh in last two years

Out of the mentioned suicide cases, total 18 were reported from seven districts of Maoist-affected Bastar division.

Published on: Feb 26, 2020, 23:41:07 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Answering a question in legislative assembly on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said that total 50 police personnel, including personnel of paramilitary forces, committed suicide in the last two years in Chhattisgarh.

As per the figures, in 2018 , total 22 police personnel committed suicide, while in 2019, the toll stood at 26. (HT file photo)

Out of the mentioned suicide cases, total 18 were reported from seven districts of Maoist-affected Bastar division.

The question was asked by senior BJP and former minster MLA Ajay Chandrakar.

“Total 50 police personnel, including those from state and paramilitary forces have committed suicide so far since 2018,” Sahu told the house.

The minister further informed that total eight security personnel, including six Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, were killed in two incidents of fratricide in last two years.

As per the figures, in 2018 , total 22 police personnel committed suicide, while in 2019, the toll stood at 26. The figures also mentioned that 2 have committed suicide in 2020.

It is worth mentioning, that in the year 2017, total 38 security personnel had committed suicide which was highest in a decade, while in 2016, only 12 committed suicide in 2016.

According to an official posted in the state, most suicides are caused by depression, difficulty in getting leave sanctioned and homesickness. The records broadly categorise 50 per cent of the suicides as having been caused by personal and, or family reasons, 11 per cent on account of illness, 8 per cent for work-related, and 13 per cent under other reasons. The remaining 18 per cent continue to be under investigation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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