Discussing Fratricide in Armed forces: A Psycho-Social Perspective

The exploring of the phenomenon of fratricide in armed forces has suffered from a scholarly disinterest hitherto. Sociologists, psychologists, policy makers and defense authorities have shied away from exploring this fatal trend in a holistic perspective particularly in the Indian context. Though few Studies have been conducted on the theme but hardly any study has been concerned and linked to the troopers' marginalization or alienation within the system itself. The concern and emphasis so far has largely been limited to the combat strategies and effective operational planning but the individual soldier as a human being still remains under-discussed and undervalued while overemphasizing on the security system and law and order maintenance mechanism as a macro structure. Also the role of concerned defense intellectuals and the agencies in this regard are not only uncertain and insufficient but apathetic as well. This paper mainly focuses upon the fratricide as a psycho-social phenomenon and digging the various factors responsible for this growing trend, which if left unchecked can have serious implications upon the armed forces discipline, excellence and security situation and above all reliability factor and security of defense mechanism and of men in uniform while dealing with their own colleagues or officers.