Why men in uniform kill self, others?

A large number of soldiers are on a killing spree in fits of rage for reasons ranging from stress to sheer fatigue.

A growing number of Indian soldiers and paramilitary personnel are killing their seniors and themselves in fits of unbridled rage for reasons ranging from stress to sheer fatigue.

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The authorities say the worrying trend has spread to all sections of security forces, particularly the army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

But the problem, they say, is most acute in formations deployed for long periods in counter-insurgency operations in the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir where the personnel are often confronted by "hidden and unseen" enemies.

In Jammu and Kashmir alone, over 400 people have died in such tragic circumstances since militancy broke out in 1989. Such killings and suicides have been reported from across the country now.

Serving and retired paramilitary officials said that they are aware of the situation.

"As these men spend most of their time far away from their homes and families, the problems often deepen or multiply and can have a very damaging psychological impact," said one CRPF official.

Fuses are short because of recurring strain, including due to long working hours, lack of holidays, postings in "difficult" and dangerous places and in some cases due to alcohol abuse.

A sharp increase in the number of suicides and in incidents of paramilitary troopers killing their own colleagues has become a cause for serious concern.

The issue found an echo in Parliament on Tuesday with Sriprakash Jaiswal, the minister of state for home affairs, saying 75 suicides took place among seven paramilitary forces active in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

The minister said till December 15, 2004, there had been 13 incidents of security personnel killing their colleagues.

Schizophrenia, alcohol dependence syndrome and neurotic depression were mainly to blame for the suicides and killings, said psychiatrists SK Das and S Chaudhry in a study.

"Indian troops stationed in conflict zones... also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders, leading to suicides," the study said.

There are other reasons as well.

An Indian Army officer said: "Unlike many countries we don't have psychologists working among our men and telling them how to handle stress. And being posted on the border or distant places can and does cause enormous tension and suffering.

"While civilians take out their frustration in a dozen ways, those with weapons sometimes press the trigger in a moment of anger."

Former CISF chief KM Singh put it somewhat differently: "The combined strength of all paramilitary forces is nearly 700,000 men. If there are two suicides in a month, I don't think it's of such a major consequence."

He said stress-related incidents were more prevalent in BSF and CRPF.

But CISF constable Raj Namdeo hogged headlines two years ago when he shot his deputy commandant and held six others hostage for eights hours at the Mumbai airport because he was refused leave.

Most security personnel get a month's leave every year. But they are not always able to avail themselves of it. The weekly breaks are not of much use - the soldiers often end up cooped up in their camps.

At times they don't get even short leave when they need it. They are expected to maintain discipline all the time. All this leads to bottled-up tensions that can prove dangerous.

Being away from families for long periods, when they are beset with domestic problems or when they cannot intervene even in serious family disputes, adds to their tensions.

In certain places in Kashmir, soldiers do not even have access to any mail, with letters from home being read aloud to them on the wireless in the presence of others.

CRPF recorded 27 suicides and five incidents of killing in 2004 while the figures for BSF were 26 suicides and three killings.

"Many were in the line of duty in harsh conditions. That took its toll," said one officer at Army Headquarters.

Officials say the only way out to check such incidents is to maintain morale, ensure regular leave and have regular medical check-ups for soldiers.

But stress, as has been evidenced by many incidents, is harder to diagnose and treat than physical ailments.