CRPF Forms Core Group to Address Rising Suicide Rates Among Personnel

In a significant move to combat the rising suicide rates among its personnel, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has established a dedicated core group of senior officers. This initiative comes in light of the alarming statistic of 59 suicides recorded in 2025, the highest in five years. Led by Director General G P Singh, the group will conduct monthly reviews of suicide cases and recommend preventive measures. The focus will be on identifying common trends and addressing root causes such as prolonged deployments and work-life balance issues. The National Human Rights Commission has also taken notice of recent suicides, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 20, 2026, 16:57 IST

CRPF Takes Action Against Suicides

File image of CRPF personnel during the 87th CRPF parade, in Guwahati. (Photo:PTI)

New Delhi, Aug 20: In response to a troubling rise in suicides, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has established a 10-member core group of senior officers dedicated to tackling this issue. The force reported 59 suicides in 2025, marking the highest annual total in five years.

Leading this initiative will be CRPF Director General G P Singh, who will convene monthly meetings to conduct thorough reviews of each suicide case.

The group's objective is to analyze cases with an objective lens and propose preventive, welfare, administrative, and medical strategies to mitigate future incidents.

Additionally, the group aims to enhance timely interventions and accountability while reinforcing preventive measures to lower the incidence of suicides, according to officials.

They will also identify prevalent trends and recurring risk factors associated with suicide cases, suggesting necessary institutional changes.

Reporting heads and supervisory officers are expected to provide analyses of cases under their supervision to the group.

A senior commanding officer highlighted that prolonged deployments, family separations, and work-life balance issues are significant root causes that must be addressed to find effective solutions.

CRPF officials have previously indicated that various measures have been implemented to protect the mental and physical health of personnel, with ongoing efforts in this regard.

According to official statistics, the CRPF recorded 59 suicides in 2025, an increase from 46 in 2024, 57 in 2023, 43 in 2022, and 57 in 2021.

Over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025, the force, which comprises approximately 325,000 personnel, experienced a total of 262 suicides.

Of these, 202, or over 77%, occurred while personnel were on duty, while the remaining incidents took place during leave, as per the data.

More than 80% of the individuals who died by suicide during this timeframe were from the constabulary and other non-gazetted ranks.

On August 14, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) announced it had taken suo motu cognizance of reports indicating that 19 CRPF personnel had died by suicide between January and May 2026.

The NHRC has issued notices to the Union Home Secretary and the CRPF Director General, requesting a comprehensive report within two weeks.