3 weeks ago
Suicides Among CRPF Personnel Hit Five-Year High in 2025
The CRPF is a big group of police officers in India who work to keep the country safe.
Sadly, some of them become so sad or stressed that they take their own lives.
In 2025, 59 CRPF officers died this way, which is the highest number in five years.
Most of these sad events happened while officers were at work, not while they were at home on break.
Officers also struggle with problems in their personal lives, like money troubles or family issues.
Speaking to family on the phone or returning from leave sometimes made them feel worse.
Many men were afraid to talk about their feelings because they feared being teased by others.
The CRPF has programs to help with mental health, but people are now asking if these programs work well enough.
It is very important to talk about feelings and ask for help when feeling sad.
CRPF recorded 59 suicides in 2025, the highest annual figure since 2021.
A total of 281 suicides occurred from 2021 to May 2026, with about 77% (216 cases) while on duty.
On-leave suicides nearly doubled in 2025 to 19, compared with 9 in 2024 and 10 in 2023.
Hanging (136 cases) and shooting (127 cases) together accounted for about 94% of all suicides.
A senior CRPF official said the main trigger remains the inability to balance professional and personal life.
- Who
- Personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in India, with data reviewed by News18
- What
- Suicides among CRPF personnel hit a five-year high of 59 in 2025, with the majority occurring while on duty
- Where
- India, across CRPF personnel both on duty and on leave
- When
- Data covering 2021 to May 2026, with 2025 recording the highest annual total; reported August 6, 2026
- Why
- Inability to balance professional and personal life, along with family-related factors such as marital discord, financial difficulties, and duty-related stress
Key facts
- Suicides in 2025
- 59 (five-year high)
- Total suicides (2021-May 2026)
- 281
- On-duty suicides
- 216 (about 77%)
- On-leave suicides in 2025
- 19 (nearly double prior years)
- Suicides by hanging
- 136
- Suicides by shooting
- 127
- Suicides as of May 2026
- 19
- Data source
- Official CRPF data reviewed by News18
Quotes
Senior CRPF Official
A senior officer from the Central Reserve Police Force
“Such cases have often been triggered after a jawan rejoined duty after leave or after speaking to family members over the phone before committing suicide. There are professional reasons as well, which sometimes also result in fratricide.”
news18.com









