Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Distress deaths

The increasing incidence of army men killing their superiors is disturbing. This is a sad reflection on the behaviour in all ranks of the army hierarchy. That discipline has become a casualty is unfortunate.

However, enforcement of discipline alone will not help matters. A grievance redress mechanism needs to be put in place and soldiers should be treated in a humane manner. Sustained counselling will prove beneficial.

P.K. Varadarajan,
Chennai

It is unfortunate that the number of distress deaths in the Army is on the increase. It is an indicator of the falling standards in the recruitment of officers and men. The low training standards churn out soldiers who are unable to cope with their tough assignments mentally and physically. It is time the policy makers introspected on what we were and what we have become. Otherwise, the armed forces will become just another uniformed organisation. And the men will continue to shoot one another rather then the enemy.

P.S. Rai,
New Delhi

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