Martyr status for CAPF under active consideration

The Centre is looking into demands to accord ‘martyr’ status to paramilitary personnel who die in the line of duty. ET has learnt that the matter was discussed at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting and there was consensus on according the status to personnel belonging to Central Armed Police Forces who may lose their lives in terror attacks at least.

MHA officials refused to comment on the matter, but ET has reliably learnt that the issue is under active consideration of the government. The move comes three weeks after the Pulwama terror attack, where 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a suicide bomber who rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy bus.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue and promised that if his party is voted to power, it would grant martyr status to paramilitary personnel killed while serving the country.