Duty and distress: No easy solutions for mental health crisis in India’s central police forces

On February 13, Havildar Sanjay Kumar of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on his colleagues at a camp in Lamsang, Manipur, before taking his own life. A constable and a sub-inspector were killed and eight others injured.

This is only one of several incidents that reflect enormous stress under which members of the Central Armed Police Forces are operating. Over the past five years, 730 CAPF personnel have died by suicide – 134 in 2024 alone, according to data presented by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha in December.

In the same period, 47,891 personnel opted for voluntary retirement, and 7,664 resigned.

The CAPF, which is administered by the home ministry, comprises the Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal and the Assam Riles.

In response to a question on whether attrition and poor performance were the result of long working hours, Rai wrote, “Measures have been taken to implement a transparent, rational and fair leave policy and to regulate duty hours to ensure adequate rest and leave,” wrote Rai.

The minister listed 14 measures that had been taken to improve working conditions. Transparent leave and transfer policies were at the top of the list with other initiatives such...

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