New Delhi, Oct 15: The Army claimed on Sunday that Agniveer Amritpal Singh killed himself while doing sentry duty by shooting himself, and that military honours were not provided to his funeral since deaths caused by self-inflicted wounds are not accorded such honours. According to the Army, it does not make a distinction between soldiers who joined the army before or after the Agnipath system was put into place.There have been claims that because Singh was an Agniveer soldier, military rites were not accorded at his funeral. Singh died while performing sentry duty in the Rajouri sector, according to a statement released by the Army’s White Knight Corps, which is based in Nagrota, owing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Army said in a statement on Sunday night that some “misunderstanding and misrepresentation” of the events surrounding Singh’s tragic death had taken place. According to the Indian Army, Agniveer Amritpal Singh’s suicide by shooting himself while on sentry duty was a “grave loss to the family and the Indian Army.”According to the statement, “in accordance with the established practise, the mortal remains were transported under Army arrangements along with an escort party to the native place for the last rites after conduct of medico-legal procedures.” According to the Army, in terms of eligibility for benefits and protocols, the Armed Forces do not distinguish between soldiers who enlisted before or after the adoption of the Agnipath system. According to the statement, “the Armed Forces accord due respect to unfortunate instances of death arising from suicide/self-inflicted injury, irrespective of the type of entry, along with deep and enduring empathy with the family.”However, such circumstances are not eligible for military funerals under the current Army Order of 1967, which is in style. Since then, the relevant policy has been continuously followed without discrimination, it said. The Army reported that since 2001, there have been an average of 100 to 140 troops lost each year as a result of suicides or other self-inflicted injuries. In these situations, military funerals have not been provided. According to the statement, financial help and relief payments made in accordance with entitlements—including emergency financial support for holding funerals—are given top priority.Such tragic occurrences of loss weigh heavily on the family and the Forces community as a whole. The Army stated that during such moments, it is crucial and incumbent upon society to protect the respect, privacy, and dignity of the family while also sharing their sorrow. “Armed Forces have a reputation for adhering to policies and procedures, and they will do so going forward. The Indian Army requests the assistance of all societal groups as it adheres to its established procedures, it said. (Agencies)
