Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14

Startled at how indigenously produced military equipment was costing more than the same equipment if supplied by foreign makers, the Ministry of Defence has set up a committee to examine how the Indian public sector companies arrive at the cost of each equipment supplied to the armed forces.Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman said: “I have asked a panel to look into the costing of products manufactured by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).”The Indian Air Force offered to get the price of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Tejas examined by the committee to start with. The committee, headed by the Director of Costs in the Ministry, has been asked to report back by August-end.The Army, Navy and the IAF have been complaining about DPSUs pricing higher than what the original manufacturer supplied the same equipment for. Prime examples have been the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, Tatra trucks,  Dornier-228 surveillance planes and warships, among other items.The latest trigger was the price quoted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the 83 Tejas Mark1A fighter jets. HAL, a company owned by the MoD, quoted a price of Rs 463 crore per jet in April, raising eyebrows. The Swedish Gripen jet was offered for Rs 455 crore and F-16 from the US for Rs 380 crore, and both to be made in India.The price of the Russian Sukhoi fighter, which HAL assembles at Nashik, is Rs 415 crore while the Russians supply it at Rs 330 crore. Besides these Tejas and Sukhoi prices, the committee will look at each equipment of the DPSUs.In 2012, the Tatra trucks supplied by Bharat Earth Movers Limited were found to be over-priced. These multi-axel trucks are used to transport missiles. More recently, the purchase of four warships from Russia has been hit as two of these are to be built at Goa Shipyard Ltd. The ones made in India are costing much more. The GSL will require upgrading its facilities and skills, which will add to the cost. Almost similar is the cost of Dornier 228, a plane that was originally made in Germany. It’s now much in demand and is flown by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard.The panel will also study the costing formula of artillery guns, trucks, ammunitions, missiles, etc. Calling it a “good” move, Amit Cowshish, ex-Financial Adviser (Acquisition) in MoD, said: “The MoD has every right to know the right price of equipment it gets from DPSUs.”

Jail authorities said Major Nikhil Rai Handa has been asked to inform jail staff whenever he feels any kind of apprehension inside prison.

Major Nikhil Rai Handa was arrested from Meerut after Shailza Dwivedi, wife of Major Amit Dwivedi, was found dead on June 23 near Delhi Cantonment Metro station. (Express photo)

Army officer Major Nikhil Rai Handa, accused of murdering another Army Major’s wife, moved an application in a city court, alleging he was “beaten up” in a prison van en route to Tihar Jail. The alleged incident took place on July 3, when he was last produced in Patiala House Court.

Lawyer Sanjeev Sahay, who represents Handa, alleged, “He was beaten up by some inmates and it seems there is a bigger issue involved. We have moved an application raising his security concerns and asked for a separate cell and van for his transportation.”

Metropolitan Magistrate Manisha Tripathi directed jail authorities to file a reply. Deputy Superintendent of Central Jail numbers 8-9 said Handa was only “manhandled and misbehaved with”. There is no reference to any beating in the jail report. The superintendent also said the Major has been told not to come out of his ward without permission.

“Undertrial prisoner Handa was called and heard, where he informed that he was misbehaved with and manhandled by some unknown inmates in the jail van… the accused is lodged in Reception Ward meant for new inmates, and no other inmate from any other ward is permitted to enter… However, in view of his safety and security, he has been asked not to come out of his cell without permission or reason,” said the jail superintendent.

Jail authorities said Handa has been asked to inform jail staff whenever he feels any kind of apprehension inside prison. Stating that the staff has also been briefed to keep vigil for ensuring safe and secure custody, the superintendent responded, “The accused is safe and threat perception inside the jail has been brought to the notice of the jail administration till Friday.” Tihar authorities said a copy of the application has been sent to DCP 3rd Batallion for the Major’s safety, as transportation of inmates comes under them.

Handa was arrested from Meerut after Shailza Dwivedi, wife of Major Amit Dwivedi, was found dead on June 23 near Delhi Cantonment Metro station.

Srinagar, July 29

Local youths joining terror groups in the Kashmir Valley this year stood at 110 till July 15, with the worst militancy-hit district of Shopian in south Kashmir accounting for the maximum of 28 recruits, officials said.The number of locals recruited was 126 last year and officials said they expected the figure to be higher this year. Reports of missing people have come down after Governor’s rule was imposed in the state last month, they said, but added that some youths continued to join militant ranks.Security agency officials said the highly volatile south Kashmir, comprising Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts, remained a region accounting for a higher number of youths joining militant groups, including the ISIS-Kashmir and the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an outfit which claims support of the Al-Qaida.From this region, 91 youths joined various terror groups operating in the Valley.The disappearance of Ganderbal youth Rouf, who was in fourth semester of a diploma course at a government polytechnic institute, and his subsequent joining of militant ranks was confirmed after his picture was seen on the social media in military fatigues, the officials said.If this trend continues, 2018 may end up as the worst year in terms of the number of youths joining militant groups, according to the officials. Last year, 126 youths had picked up the gun. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state Assembly and Parliament.There has been a steady rise in the number of youths taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 as compared to the period from 2010 to 2013 when the figures stood at 54, 23, 21 and 6, respectively.In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 while in 2016, the figure was 88, the data showed.This year, the youths who joined militancy included Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir University, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of the Tehrek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Tehrek-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatist groups.The list also included 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani, hailing from Kupwara, the officials said. Wani was studying in Aligarh Muslim University.They said infiltration was on the rise and some of the terrorists had managed to sneak into the Valley from across the border in Poonch and Rajouri districts of the Jammu region as well as through the LoC in Kashmir.Number expected to riseThe number of locals recruited was 126 last year and officials said they expected the figure to be higher this year. However, reports of missing people have come down after Governor’s rule was imposed in the state.

Picking up the gun

• 2018 —110
• 2017 —126
• 2016— 88
• 2015 —66
• 2014— 53
• 2013— 6
• 2012 —-21
• 2011 —-23
• 2010—- 54

— PTI

Tribune News Service

Anantnag/Srinagar, July 26

Five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured and a militant was killed in a two separate incidents in Kashmir on Thursday.Five CRPF men were injured in a grenade attack in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Around 3.45 pm, militants tossed a grenade at a CRPF bunker at Goriwan, Bijbehara, resulting in injuries to five personnel.“All injured were taken to a hospital and their condition is stated to be stable,” a police officer said.Soon after the attack, the area was soon cordoned off and searches were carried out to try and nab the attackers. The attackers had, however, fled by then.The Lashkar-e-Toiba claimed responsibility for the attack. Two members of the militant outfit were killed in a gunfight in Anantnag on Wednesday.A complete shutdown was today observed in parts of Anantnag and the neighbouring Kulgam district of south Kashmir against the killing of the two LeT militants. There were reports of minor stone-throwing from Anantnag town, where the gunfight had taken place.Meanwhile, an unidentified militant was killed during an encounter in the frontier district of Kupwara on Thursday.Sources said joint teams of the police, Army, and the CRPF launched a cordon and search operation at Handwara after an input about militants. The gunfight broke out around 1 pm when militants opened fire on the forces.“In the operation, one militant was killed,” the sources said. The forces recovered arms and ammunition from the gunfight site.In Srinagar, the J&K Police carried out surprise checking along the Residency Road on Thursday.Militants snatch 4 rifles from cops in Shopian Anantnag: Militants on Thursday evening barged into the guard post of a politician in Shopian town and decamped with four service rifles of policemen. The incident, as per sources, took place in the Bonnabazar area of the town at 8.30 pm. The politician has been identified as former Congressman Muhammad Shafi Banday. A senior police officer said: “The details of the incident are being ascertained. We have cordoned off the area.” oc20-kg IED defused in Tral Srinagar: A major tragedy was averted on Thursday evening in Tral town of south Kashmir when security forces spotted a 20-kg IED. A senior police officer said the explosive was spotted at 6.15 pm along the Handoora-Tral road and was kept in a bucket. “It was detected and defused well in time before it could cause any damage to security forces or people,” the police officer said. He said investigation had been started into the incident. TNS

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 9

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is looking towards the industry for the commercial production and marketing of a border surveillance system (BOSS) developed by it.Two prototypes of the system, developed by DRDO’s Dehradun-based Instruments Research and Development Establishment, were deployed in Ladakh for trials for over a year, sources said. Following requisite modifications and upgrading, the DRDO now wants it operationalised.“Since DRDO is not a production agency, we are looking at transferring the technology to interested parties, both in private and public sector that can manufacture the system,” a senior DRDO scientist said. “We are willing to engage up to three firms for the project,” he added.BOSS can be deployed at unmanned observation posts for remote controlled all-weather day-and-night monitoring of designated areas. It consists of a battlefield surveillance radar along with electro-optical sensors like camera, infrared, thermal imager, laser ranger and GPS mounted on a pan-tilt unit.It can detect a light vehicle at a distance of 10-12 km and a group of persons at 8-10 km while operating in temperatures from minus 30 to 55°C. Real time data and video can be transmitted over a distance of 20 km to a command post through wireless optic fiber link for up to 14 days.The Army as well as border-guarding forces like the Border Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force could have a requirement for hundreds of such systems that can be deployed at vulnerable areas along the border in different types of terrain. Besides being a force multiplier and mitigating human stress in harsh terrain and inclement weather, the multitude of technologies involved in the system like radars, optics, hybrid power sources, electronics and communication, mechanical sub-systems and image processing also has spin-offs for the local industry.The BOSSThe border surveillance system (BOSS) consists of a battlefield surveillance radar along with electro-optical sensors such as: camera
infrared sensors
thermal imager
laser ranger
Global Positioning System10-12 km is the distance up to which it can detect a light vehicle8-10 km is the distance up to which it can detect group of people

The Army chief asked the students to never lose hope, “even if you witness failure in class or in life”.

“Work hard, never lose hope. You are the future of our country. Whenever failure comes, work even harder. Only hard work is the key to success,” he said.

Rawat also told the students to never look down on the people who fail. He also said that he hopes most of the students will join the Army.

The students, 17 boys and 3 girls, came from a week-long trip to north India during which they will also go to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

“Most of the students wants to join the Army and the school wanted them to have a real exposure of army life. We wanted them to know the real army life. The students are between the age group of 13 to 17 years old and are from Class 7 to Class 12,” said their teacher Suman Bahidar.

Bathinda, July 1

The Chetak Corps on Sunday celebrated its 40th Raising Day at the Bathinda Military Station here. Since its raising, the Chetak Corps has gone through a series of transformations to reach its present state as a highly professional and operationally effective formation.The Chetak Corps was raised in Bathinda on July 1, 1979, and the raising was completed on December 31, 1979, under the command of Lieutenant General ML Tuli, the founding father of the Corps. The Bathinda Military Cantonment was formally inaugurated on April 25, 1980, by the then Chief of Army Staff General OP Malhotra.The celebrations began with Lieutenant General PC Thimmaya, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps, laying a wreath at the imposing war memorial ‘YODHA YAADGAR’ in remembrance and to honour the brave soldiers of the Chetak Corps who made the supreme sacrifice of their life for the nation.The Corps Commander urged all ranks to continue to serve the nation with the same pride and motivation in keeping with the highest military traditions of soldiering. This was followed by traditional military festivities involving all ranks and their families. — TNS

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, pays tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Kargil Vijay Diwas, in New Delhi on Thursday. The forces’ chiefs called on Sitharaman at the Parliament House complex. Sources said it was aroutine meeting. Significantly, it came on a day the results of Pakistan elections were declared. PTI

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17

In what could change the 200-year-old British-established military rank structure, an Indian Army internal note says the minimum rank for officers at the time of retirement should be Major General. It suggests the number of regular commissioned officers be reduced, the rank of Brigadier be done away with while quicker promotions be given to all officers.A nine-page note has been submitted to the cadre review committee headed by the Military Secretary, a Lt General-rank officer. Sources said these were only proposals and suggestions, and that the committee would take a call after due deliberations.It’s the first review of the 39,000-strong Army’s officer cadre since 1984. On June 18, the Army ordered a study to restructure the force and a report has to be submitted by November-end. The Tribune was the first to publish this in its edition dated June 23.At present, the minimum retirement rank is Colonel, which is a selection post. Those who fail to make it during the first selection done after 15-17 years of service are promoted after 26 years. There are about 4,100 Colonel-rank and 280 Major General-rank posts in the Army.“It is essential that every regular Army officer is able to reach SAG (senior administrative grade) posts,” says the note. “At present, the IPS has over 26 per cent officers in SAG and above (that is higher administrative grade) while the Army has only about 1 per cent.”While Major General is a SAG-level post, those of Brigadier and Colonel aren’t. There about 1,050 Brigadier-level posts, a step between Colonel and Major General. “It is advisable the rank of Brigadier be dropped. The command of a brigade (some 4,500 strong) and division (some 14,000-15,000 strong) both be assigned to a Major General,” the note says.

Align the Army with the ideal cadre structure for group-A central services adopted by the Department of Personnel and Training in 2010, says the note.

The first Rank of Lieutenant be given during last year of training.  The rank of Captain should become the first rank at Commissioning.

An officer be made a Major after five years in service instead of 6-8 years. Similarly, an officer be promoted as Lt Col, Colonel, Maj Gen and Lt General after 10 years, 14-15 years, 20-21 years and 28-29 years, respectively.

At present promotions are done after 13 years, 15-17 years, 32-33 years and 35-37 years, respectively. An officer gets promoted as Brigadier after 22-26 years of service.

The note says, “There is a need to consider reducing strength of officer cadre.”

Some 25-30 per cent vacancies be given to direct entry Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO).

At present, the JCO rises from the non-officer ranks after serving for 20-22 years, a direct entry system is already under discussion.

“Having a large officer cadre has been the biggest hurdle in fulfilling the aspirations,” it says.