the Army must also investigate and take remedial action as to why some Soldiers were compelled to engage in these extreme actions
Published Date – Friday, 4/21/23 at 12:30pm
the Army must also investigate and take remedial action as to why some Soldiers were compelled to engage in these extreme actions
Hyderabad: The recent shooting at the Bathinda Military Station in Punjab, which claimed the lives of four Jaws, was yet another stark reminder of the failure of the Armed Forces’ grievance redress mechanism. The underlying factors of such killings must be thoroughly explored and sensitively addressed, as they have a huge impact on the morale of the Defense Forces. According to official figures, between 2014 and March 2021, there were at least 18 incidents of cannibalism in the Army and two in the Indian Air Force (IAF). In July 2022, two servicemen were killed and two others were injured in a cannibalism at an army camp in Surankote, in the Poonch border area of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Central Armed Police Force has far more cases of fratricide and suicide, with 29 paramilitary soldiers killed by colleagues during 2018-22. The Army should review its internal systems to ensure uniform life is free from harassment. It must seriously address this issue, not gloss it over. The Army has zero tolerance for fratricide. For example, the Armed Forces Court ruled last November that such cases should be dealt with strictly to maintain discipline. However, the reasons why some soldiers are compelled to engage in these extreme behaviors must also be explored and remedial measures taken to mitigate the aggravation. The chronic emotional stress of working under the toughest working conditions takes a heavy toll on security personnel.
24/7 vigil and constant threat to life can justify testing as well as long shifts, distance from family and easy access to firearms. Events at Bathinda, one of the country’s largest army bases, illustrate the ominous trend. Stress is an integral part of military life, according to a report from the National Library of Medicine. This manifests as mental disorders and disciplinary problems. Long hours of intense work with minimal rest can put a lot of stress on an individual. The frequent reports of such incidents involving security personnel in different parts of the country should be cause for concern. Frequent cases of manslaughter call for an overhaul of the disciplinary enforcement mechanisms within the ranks. Concrete measures are needed not only to correct perceptions of the functioning of the security forces, but also to improve working conditions and overall welfare. A more compassionate approach is needed to manage valuable human resources in a challenging workforce. The government needs to assess why years of remedial action have not had much impact locally.
