CISF Jawan Found Dead at Surat Airport in Apparent Suicide

NEW DELHI: A tragic incident occurred at Surat International Airport on Friday when a 32-year-old Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan, Kisan Singh, reportedly took his own life with his service weapon. Authorities confirmed that Singh, originally from Jaipur, shot himself in the stomach inside the airport washroom. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival.

“He was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors confirmed his death,” said NV Bharwad, the inspector of Dumas police station.

This incident comes just days after the CISF announced a notable reduction in suicides within the force. According to their report, suicides among CISF personnel declined by approximately 40%, dropping from 25 cases in 2023 to 15 in 2024. Despite these improvements, the larger trend of suicides within the country’s paramilitary forces remains concerning.

From 2020 to the present, a total of 730 suicides have been recorded across various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including Assam Rifles and the National Security Guard (NSG). Out of this, the CISF accounted for 105 of these tragic cases.

The suicide rate within the CISF, which had peaked at 18.1 per lakh personnel in 2022, saw a reduction to 16.9 per lakh in 2023 and further decreased to 9.8 per lakh in 2024, reflecting an ongoing effort to address mental health challenges among the ranks.

However, incidents like this highlight that mental health remains a critical issue, and further steps must be taken to ensure the well-being of all personnel. The CISF and other agencies continue to work on preventive measures, but this tragedy serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in supporting the mental health of security forces.