Border Security Force (BSF) authorities in Tripura Frontier are facing a serious challenge in ensuring a stress-free environment for the troops, as was illustrated by the suicide of a jawan on Friday. It was the third incident of suicide by BSF personnel in Tripura this year.
According to BSF authorities all three incidents occurred due to the victims’ personal or family problems, but the issue of isolated lifestyle at remote border outposts appears to be a major cause of concern.
The BSF constable reportedly committed suicide on Friday by shooting himself dead from his service rifle at Khowai in West Tripura. The victim, identified as Suresh Kumar Pandey (37), was a resident of Uttar Pradesh. He was posted as a constable in the 10th battalion of BSF, along Tripura-Bangladesh border.
Pandey had enjoyed two months leave only a month ago and he was said to be fine till Friday afternoon, but he suddenly shot himself from his service rifle around 6 pm the same evening, a BSF official said.
“He was shifted to Khowai sub-divisional hospital immediately and was then moved to Agartala Government Medical College at night where he was declared dead,” the BSF official said.
The body was to be sent to the victim’s home on Saturday. Pandey is survived by his parents, wife and two sons.
-via The Times of India.
