The Indian Army has said that death of soldiers by suicide or self-inflicted injury are accorded due respect by the Armed Forces along with deep and enduring empathy with the family, however, such deaths are not entitled Military Funerals as per the Army Order of 1967.

This statement comes in view of the “misunderstanding and misrepresentation of facts related to unfortunate death of Agniveer Amritpal Singh”, the Army said. Singh, an Agniveer, had died by suicide while on sentry duty in Jammu’s Rajouri Sector on 11th October 2023.

The White Knight Corps, announcing the incident on 14th October, stated, “The cause of death being a self inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with the existing policy.” Following this, there had been allegations that the Army had discriminated Singh because he was an Agniveer soldier.

“Armed Forces do not differentiate between the soldiers who joined prior to or after implementation of the Agnipath Scheme as regards entitled benefits and protocols,” the Indian Army asserted.

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It also informed that as per its data, the Indian Army has been losing 100 – 140 soldiers to suicide per year since 2001. For such deaths, as per the existing law, no funeral honour is accorded but priority is given to disbursement of financial assistance/relief, as per entitlement, including immediate financial relief for conduct of funerals.

Armed Forces are known for adherence to the policies and protocols and will continue to do so as hithertofore, it stated, while requesting the support of all sections of the society while it follows its established protocols.