Indian Army Clarifies Suicide Case and ‘Agniveer’ Controversy Amid Political Backlash

In the midst of a major political controversy surrounding the lack of a guard of honor at the funeral of an Agniveer recruit, the Indian Army has provided clarification regarding the tragic incident. The Army revealed that Amritpal Singh, who was serving with a battalion of the Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Rifles unit, took his own life by shooting himself while on sentry duty. This revelation sheds light on why military honors were not extended to his funeral, as such honors are typically not given in cases of self-inflicted injuries.
Amritpal Singh’s demise occurred on October 11, and he was cremated on Friday in his native village in Punjab’s Mansa district. The Indian Army emphasized that it does not differentiate among soldiers based on whether they joined the force before or after the implementation of the Agnipath scheme, which recruits soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers for a four-year period.
In a statement, the Army expressed empathy for the family, acknowledging that self-inflicted injuries are a matter of deep concern and that they are accorded due respect. While the armed forces do not differentiate among soldiers for entitled benefits and protocols, the extant Army Order of 1967 dictates that military funerals are not provided in cases of suicide or self-inflicted injuries, a policy consistently followed since 1967.
The statement also revealed that since 2001, there has been an average yearly loss of 100-140 soldiers due to suicides and self-inflicted injuries, and military funerals have not been accorded in such cases. However, the Army underscored its commitment to providing financial assistance and relief as per entitlement, including immediate support for conducting funerals.
The Indian Army called for society’s support in upholding the respect, privacy, and dignity of the family while empathizing with them during this difficult time. The armed forces reiterated their adherence to established policies and protocols and requested the support of all sections of society in this matter.
The controversy surrounding Amritpal Singh’s death and funeral has ignited a political debate, with opposition parties expressing shock over the matter. Questions have been raised about the policies of the Agnipath Scheme, including entitlement to pension and martyr status for soldiers recruited under the scheme.
The AAP leader, Raghav Chadha, emphasized that Singh’s family will not be entitled to pension, and the soldier was not given military honors during his last rites. Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a ₹1 crore honorarium and martyr status for Singh, further intensifying the political discourse.
Several political leaders, including Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and Bikram Singh Majithia, have raised concerns about the treatment of Agniveer recruits and called for reevaluating the Agniveer scheme’s policies.
The incident has generated significant public attention, sparking discussions about the treatment of soldiers recruited under the Agniveer scheme and the broader implications of the existing policies.
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