VINAY KUMAR
NEW DELHI :Amid controversy over no guard of honor at the funeral of Agniveer Amritpal Singh in the Indian state of Punjab, the Indian Army said that the agniveer died by suicide. The army further admitted that there was “some misunderstanding and misrepresentation of facts” around his death.
A week ago Agniveer recruit Amritpal Singh, hailing from Punjab and all of 19 years, died by self-inflicted injuries while posted on sentry duty in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.  Political slugfest erupted as Amritpal Singh was not given an Armed Guard of Honour during his last rites.The Indian Army said that Amritpal Singh had died by suicide by shooting himself, clarifying that military honours were not extended to his funeral as deaths arising out of self-inflicted injuries are not given such honors.
Ever since the BJP government at the Centre announced Agniveer recruitment scheme in June last year, it has been mired in controversies.  Known as the Agnipath Scheme, it was announced by the Centre on June 14, 2022. The soldiers recruited under this scheme are described as “Agniveers.’’  Under this scheme, the three wings of the Armed Force have recruited youths in the age bracket of  17.5 to 23 years for four years. The scheme has a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
As serving in the armed forces remains a dream career for a large number of young people and their families consider it a matter of rare respect and honour to serve the nation. Armed forces service also remains an emotive issue. Political parties were quick to point this out in their reactions as Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that she was shocked to learn Amritipal Singh was cremated without the army’s guard of honour. She demanded intervention of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought necessary directions to accord military honours to all martyred soldiers.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also echoed similar sentiments. “Does being an Agniveer mean that their lives don’t matter as much,’’ he said on X (formerly Twitter). “The bereaved family had to request the local Punjab Police to give our young boy a guard of honour. Is this why @BJP4India started this policy? Is this how we will treat our Agniveers, different from the rest of our soldiers? Does the Central Government have any answers for his inhuman treatment of our young martyr? Shameful!’’ the Congress leader said.
The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which rules Punjab, Raghav Chadha, who is a Rajya Sabha member, said the policies of the BJP-led Centre “raises serious questions.’’ He said that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, will be giving Rs. One crore as Samman Rashi to the family of Amritpal Singh and will also accord the status of a martyr to him.
The Army stated that it does not differentiate among soldiers based on whether they joined the force prior to or after the implementation of the Union Government’s Agnipath scheme. The scheme envisages recruitment of  soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the  three services of the armed forces. All recruits are hired only for a four-year period.
`Unfortunate instances of death arising out of suicide/self-inflicted injury, irrespective of the type of entry, are accorded due respect by the Armed Forces along with deep and enduring empathy with the family,’’ the Army stated.  “In consonance with the existing practice, the mortal remains, after conduct of medico-legal procedures, were transported under Army arrangements along with an escort party to the native place for the last rites,’’ it said.  The Army added that such cases, however, are not entitled to military funerals as per the extant Army Order of 1967, in vogue. “Policy on the subject has been consistently followed ever since, without any discrimination,’’ the Army said.
It also pointed out that as per available data there has been an average yearly loss ranging between 100-140 soldiers since 2001 where deaths occurred due to suicides/self-inflicted injuries, and military funeral in such cases was not accorded. The Army said the disbursement of financial assistance/relief, as per entitlement, is given due priority including immediate financial relief for conduct of funerals. The Army’s Nagrota-headquarterd White Knight Corps said that a Court of Inquiry would be held to ascertain more details on Amritpal Singh’s death which is currently in progress. The Agniveer recruit had died on October 11.
(The writer is a senior journalist based in New Delhi)

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