Sri Vijaya Puram | January 20, 2026
Angshuman Roy, State Youth President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has expressed serious concern over what he described as a steadily rising number of suicide cases in the Union Territory over the last four years, and has sought urgent intervention from the Administration.
In a letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman, Roy stated that suicide has emerged as one of the most distressing social issues facing the islands.
Citing data from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India reports published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Roy said the suicide rate in the islands stood at 39.7 per one lakh population in 2021. According to him, the rate increased to 42.8 per one lakh population in 2022, placing the Union Territory among the highest in the country. He further stated that the rate rose to 49.6 per one lakh population in 2023, with an estimated total of around 200 deaths by suicide recorded during that year.
Roy stated that the figures indicate a clear upward trend in suicide cases over successive years and reflect what he described as gaps in mental health support systems, employment opportunities, community engagement, and timely crisis intervention mechanisms in the islands.
According to the letter, Roy pointed out that young people are particularly affected, citing academic pressure, unemployment, social isolation, and the lack of easily accessible psychological counselling as major stress factors.
Roy urged the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to strengthen mental health infrastructure across the islands, ensure the availability of trained counsellors and psychological services, and launch community awareness initiatives to reduce stigma around mental health issues. He also called for coordination with civil society organisations to establish accessible support networks for people of all age groups.
He expressed hope that the Administration would accord priority to the issue in the interest of protecting the lives and well-being of the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
