May 28: The incidents of killings by the second largest standing army in the world, Indian Army, are rising day by day as within three months two soldiers have been awarded death sentence for heinous crime of killing their senior and colleagues. Sepoy Satyam Kumar killed his colleague Havildar Padamrajan last year. This is not the first occasion when any soldier met such fate. Earlier K.C.Behra killed his senior Lieutenant-Colonel Saket Saxena in Srinagar. The list of fratricide cases of in army is long. In 2006 as many as 23 cases have been reported of fratricidal killings in Indian Army.
The alarming rate raises many questions and pertinent among them is as what are the conditions that prompt soldiers to break all rules, lose control on their mind and senses and open indiscriminate fire on their seniors. Why the weapons given for the protection of the country target the security itself? Defence institute of psychological research DIPR, cites the reason for such misconduct as the lack of communication between the senior officials and soldiers, constant deployment of soldiers without leave in conflict-ridden areas such as Kashmir and north-east, and lastly the problems at home. Some also see these phenomena as cases of leadership failure while some emphasize on the need of reforms in recruitment procedure of troopers holding low ranks in the army.
No single reason is said to be responsible for such behaviour. A bunch of problems which the soldiers face, for example poor financial status, working conditions, short duration stay at home and little socializing, pressure for the performance are responsible for triggering such gross indiscipline among the low rank holders. Major determining factor cited by the officials is their inability to attend the problems of their family and personal issues.
Whatever may be the causes but time has come for the Government to look into the problems and provide every kind of support financial, psychological as well as administrative and help soldiers to avoid such incidents in future. This can be done by reducing their burden and making special arrangements or mechanism for solving their problems. Even Prime Minister has suggested for appointment of a nominated senior officer at all levels to assist the soldiers. Government as of now is concerned by the increasing number of such cases and as a remedial measure states have been asked to address the problems of soldiers related to land and property. Leave policy of the armed forces is supposed to be reviewed in near future.
Keeping in view the huge chunk of problems faced by soldiers, Government needs to pay its attention to the roots of the problem rather.
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