REMEMBERING HEROES: A widow along with her son receiving the gallantry award for her husband from Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil during the Border Security Force Raising Day function in New Delhi on Friday. At left is BSF Chief A.K. Mitra . Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Friday expressed concern at increasing fratricide in the Army and paramilitary forces. The Government was taking measures to keep security personnel stress-free, he said at the 41st Raising Day ceremony of the Border Security Force at the Chhawla camp here.

More and more cases of suicide and fratricide were coming to light. "We need to take some positive steps to arrest this trend urgently."

Besides giving counselling to overburdened security personnel, the Government was planning to increase the number of personnel to reduce the pressure on the troops. "We are committed to this and soon some concrete measures will be taken. In order to guard our borders, we have to increase the number of officers and men in our forces."

The security forces would train their personnel to remain mentally fit and stress-free to face the challenges. The Government would construct residential quarters for soldiers in border areas so that they could live with their families.

"We are in the process of developing our police and military forces." Mr. Patil presented the President's Police Medal for gallantry to the widows of Assistant Commandant S. K. Bameta, inspector Dalbir Singh, head constable D.D. Sharma and head constable Mustaq Ahmed Mir, and awards to other BSF officers and personnel.

The Karnataka Government gave a special award of Rs. 40 lakh to the BSF's 106 Battalion for its support in the operation against forest brigand Veerappan.

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