The Facts
Four Indian army soldiers were killed in a shooting while sleeping in a barracks inside the Bathinda military station in Punjab early Wednesday morning.
Punjab police ruled out the incident as a terror attack, instead calling it a case of "fratricide" — [in a military context, an armed services member killing a member of the same side.] While the military base has been cordoned off and sealed, an investigation is underway to establish what happened.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Bathinda killings have once again raised the question of why fratricide incidents occur in the Indian armed forces so often. Because guarding the border comes at a high human cost, there is an urgent need to professionally analyze the issue and adopt measures to positively address soldiers' high-stress levels. This is of concern to defense forces but has implications for India's national security in general.
Narrative B
While the number of fratricides within the Indian armed forces is concerning, it's disingenuous to claim that nothing is being done. The government has fully recognized the issue and has implemented a multi-pronged strategy to address it, which includes not only improving the conditions of personnel but also introducing mental health initiatives. While fratricide cannot be eradicated overnight, the rate at which it occurs has already declined in recent years.