Heart attacks, depression and suicides have killed more CRPF troops — over 24 times higher — than operations and ambushes in Naxal violence-hit areas, in the past two years.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj G Ahir on Wednesday provided data in this regard in the Rajya Sabha, stating five CRPF men were killed in 2015, 31 in 2016 and 13 till April 4 this year, in the Naxal-affected States of Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Compared with these operational or on-duty deaths, 476 personnel of the country’s largest paramilitary force died in 2016, while 407 died in 2015, owing to non-operational reasons.

The data for 2016 shows 92 Central Reserve Police Force personnel died due to heart attacks, five due to malaria and dengue, 26 owing to depression and suicide, and 353 due to other non-operational reasons.

Similarly, the data for 2015 reveals 82 personnel died due to heart attacks, 13 due to dengue or malaria, 35 owing to depression and suicides, while 277 lost their lives due to other reasons.

The about 3 lakh-strong CRPF is the country’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and is also the lead force to conduct anti-Naxal operations. Italso renders a variety of duties in the country’s internal security domain.

The combined data show that heart attacks, depression, suicides, malaria, dengue and other such reasons constitute 24 times more, over operational duties, as the major reasons for the death of CRPF jawans and officers in the past two years.

Boosting morale

The Minister added that in order to boost the morale of the troops deployed in anti-Maoist operations, measures such as risk allowance, house rent allowance and retention of government accommodation at the last place of posting is “already in place”.

“In addition, insurance and various advances and loans are given to ensure financial well-being,” Ahir said.

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