Army instructed to ensure 'healthy operating environment'

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New Delhi, Oct. 25: Terming as "worrying" the rise in fratricidal killings and rate of suicides in the armed forces, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, said he had directed army authorities to create 'healthy operating environment' for the forces.

Admitting that security forces were working under "stressful conditions" specially in counter-insurgency operations, Mukherjee said the army was in the process of studying the causes leading to such unfortunate incidents and taking appropriate remedial measures.

"Efforts should be made to ensure that personnel undergoing hard duties get longer rest", the Minister said while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a FICCI-sponsored seminar on 'Public-Private partnership in defence procurements'.

He said recently the army had taken measures like posting of more specialised psychiatric specialists in field formations and conducting counseling for the personnel in hard areas.