CRPF constable kills self in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: A CRPF constable shot himself dead with his service weapon at Group Centre in Srinagar’s Rambagh area on Monday. This is the second such suicide in the paramilitary force in the past eight days in Kashmir.
The deceased was identified as constable Pintoo Mondal from West Bengal. “An inquiry was ordered to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step,” CRPF spokesperson Pankaj Singh said.
A senior CRPF official cited depression caused by the coronavirus pandemic as the reason why paramilitary personnel deployed in Kashmir Valley are killing themselves. “Covid-19 has caused a huge level of depression among CRPF ranks as they are strictly following social distancing norms within their units. Secondly, they have been unable to avail leave and meet their family members since March because of the pandemic. This has contributed to an increased level of pressure leading to depression among CRPF men posted in the Valley.”
Earlier on July 19, a CRPF jawan posted with the force’s 29 Bn shot himself dead with his service rifle at his unit in Pantha Chowk, Srinagar. On May 12, two CRPF personnel killed themselves in two separate suicides in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while an assistant sub-inspector of the paramilitary force shot himself dead in Srinagar’s 49 Bn camp. The suicide note of one of the deceased read: “I am afraid I may be corona-positive… better to die.” On March 21, a CRPF jawan posted outside Srinagar civil secretariat committed suicide.
“Even though regular counselling sessions are held for the CRPF men in the morning and evening, a certain level of pressure still remains on their minds because of the Covid-19 outbreak,” a CRPF officer said, attributing the rising number of suicides to the pandemic.