BSF troopers turn to yoga

Aizawl — The Border Security Force (BSF) is turning to yoga to keep its troopers fighting fit.

When A. Jayapaul, a former commandant of the Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram (TCM) frontier of BSF, saw his “boys” suffering from stress, he decided to opt for yoga therapy.

“We have already introduced yoga during the morning physical training for 500 troopers in the Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram as well as Kolkata region informally,” Jayapaul, a yoga enthusiast himself, told IANS.

Psychiatrist John M. Ralte Long said here that separation from family and relatives could cause mental depression, which could lead to suicide and homicide among security forces.

BSF personnel often complain of hypertension, heredity diabetes and other psycho-physical complications due to the nature of their job, which is to guard the country’s land borders.

After introducing yoga to personnel in the Tripura area, the troopers started winning medals in the all India BSF athletic competition, Jayapaul claimed.

Said Anil Kumar, a trooper posted in Tripura: “After practicing yoga, I won a gold medal in the marathon event at the BSF national level competition.”

Added Jayapaul: “The boys are under duress. The rise in the number of suicides in the different forces is an issue of concern. I believe yoga can go a long way in relieving tension.”

“We have asked the defence ministry to make it (yoga) formal at least for personnel deployed in the far-flung northeast region,” he said.

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