'Martyr' not used in reference to causalties: Govt

Paramilitary and armed forces personnel who lose their lives in action are not described as martyrs, the government said on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said neither Defence Ministry nor paramilitary forces use the word “martyr”.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, he said, the Defence Ministry has informed that the word “martyr” is not used in reference to any of the casualties in armed forces.

“Similarly no such term is used in reference to the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, including Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, who die during their fight against infiltrators and terrorists from across the border,” he said.

He was asked whether the government intends to write martyrs in place of “killed” for such personnel.

To another question, he said it may be seen from Union Home Ministry’s Annual Report 2014-15 that the word “killed” has not been used for those BSF personnel who died during thier fight against infiltrators and terrorists from across the border.
“Rather the term “laid down their lives” has been used,” he said.