Deaths By Suicide Among CRPF Personnel Hit 5-Year High In 2025, Most Occurred While On Duty

Published 6 August 2026 · india

News india Deaths By Suicide Among CRPF Personnel Hit 5-Year High In 2025, Most Occurred While On Duty Deaths By Suicide Among CRPF Personnel Hit

News india Deaths By Suicide Among CRPF Personnel Hit 5-Year High In 2025, Most Occurred While On Duty Deaths By Suicide Among CRPF Personnel Hit 5-Year High In 2025, Most Occurred While On Duty Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 09:21 IST According to the data, 57 suicides were reported in 2021, followed by 43 in 2022, 57 in 2023, 46 in 2024, and 59 in 2025. Rapid Read According to a senior CRPF official, the main trigger for suicide deaths remains the inability to balance professional and personal life. Deaths by suicide among CRPF personnel reached their highest level in 2025, with 59 deaths, the highest annual figure recorded since 2021, according to official data reviewed by News18. The data, covering the period from 2021 to May 2026, also shows that many suicides occurred while personnel were on duty, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing mental health and welfare interventions. Over the years, the CRPF has introduced several measures to address mental health concerns and prevent suicides among personnel. However, the latest data, showing the highest number of suicides in 2025, is likely to raise questions about the effectiveness of these interventions. According to the data, 57 suicides were reported in 2021, followed by 43 in 2022, 57 in 2023, 46 in 2024, and 59 in 2025.

As of May 2026, 19 suicides had already been reported. In all, 281 suicides were recorded during the period under review. A query sent to the CRPF spokesperson on the issue remained unanswered. According to a senior CRPF official, the main trigger remains the inability to balance professional and personal life. “Such cases have often been triggered after a jawan rejoined duty after leave or after speaking to family members over the phone before committing suicide. There are professional reasons as well, which sometimes also result in fratricide," the officer told News18. A year-wise break-up further reveals that 216 of the 281 suicides (about 77 per cent) occurred while personnel were on duty, compared with 65 cases while on leave. On-duty suicides stood at 44 in 2021, 34 in 2022, 48 in 2023, 36 in 2024, 40 in 2025, and 14 till May 22, 2026. The corresponding on-leave figures were 13, 9, 9, 10, 19 and 5, respectively. The data also points to a notable increase in on-leave suicides during 2025, when 19 cases were recorded, almost double the annual figures reported in the preceding three years (9 in 2022, 9 in 2023 and 10 in 2024). While on-duty suicides consistently remained significantly higher than those on leave throughout the period, the rise in off-duty cases during 2025 marks a departure from the earlier trend.