CRPF faces sharp rise in suicides as 59 personnel die in 2025
RNA illustration for representation.
New Delhi: Suicides among personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached a five-year high in 2025, with 59 deaths recorded during the year, according to data compiled by the force. The CRPF recorded 19 more cases by May 22, 2026, taking the total number of suicides between 2021 and May 2026 to 281.
The force recorded 57 suicides in 2021, followed by 43 in 2022, 57 in 2023 and 46 in 2024. The figure rose to 59 in 2025, the highest annual count in the period. Between January 1 and May 22 this year, 19 CRPF personnel died by suicide.
Of the 281 deaths recorded during the period, 216 occurred while personnel were on duty and 65 while they were on leave. On-duty suicides stood at 44 in 2021, 34 in 2022, 48 in 2023, 36 in 2024 and 40 in 2025. 14 such cases were reported till May 22, 2026.
Deaths among personnel on leave stood at 13 in 2021, nine each in 2022 and 2023, and 10 in 2024. The number increased to 19 in 2025, while five cases were recorded till May 22 this year.
The CRPF figures come against a wider pattern of suicides among India’s central security forces. In a Rajya Sabha reply dated December 4, 2024, the home ministry said 730 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), National Security Guard (NSG) and Assam Rifles died by suicide between 2020 and 2024. The annual figures were 144 in 2020, 157 in 2021, 138 in 2022, 157 in 2023 and 134 in 2024.
The issue has also surfaced in recent cases involving CRPF personnel. According to a report by RNA Media, an assistant sub-inspector at a CRPF camp in Assam’s Nagaon district killed two colleagues before taking his own life on August 4
The MHA reply also listed measures being taken to address stress and improve the working conditions of CAPF personnel, including regulating duty hours, providing leave, counselling and psychological support, and promoting activities such as yoga and meditation.
According to recent CRPF data, there has been no let-up in suicides among CRPF personnel, and the year 2025 witnessed the highest suicide rate among all years in the past five years. The rising number of suicides by personnel on leave is also another aspect of the problem since it is evident that suicides have not been restricted to personnel who are on active service.
It is therefore important to ensure continuous welfare of such personnel in challenging security situations, including early warning systems for distress.
