Paramilitary, Army martyrs 'not comparable': Government

NEW DELHI: Personnel of paramilitary forces and the Army are "not comparable" when it comes to providing facilities to the martyrs, owing to differences in their retirement age and service rules, the government said today.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju was responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha about whether the Prime Minister and Home Minister had announced that all paramilitary forces personnel who get killed in terror or Naxal attacks would be given benefits at par with Army martyrs.

" Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Army are not comparable on a one-to-one basis as there are differences in their retirement age, service rules among others," he said.

The minister, however, added that a number of benefits are given to the CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, including to the family members of those who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty.

These benefits include ex-gratia lump sum compensation of Rs 35 lakh for death on active duty (during operations) and Rs 25 lakh for death on duty and liberalised family pension facilities among others to the families of paramilitary personnel.