Monthly Archives: August 2018

New Delhi, March 24

The Central paramilitary forces have asked the government to bring a new assessment system that would annually “weed out” unfit personnel as over 55,000 troops in their combat ranks are in the “low medical category”.

The recommendation was made after the Union Home Ministry, under which these internal security forces function, recently held a meeting with all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) at the North Block here.

The six CAPFs are the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Assam Rifles. 

The meeting was called in the wake of a recent Delhi High Court directive to increase the retirement age of jawans and officers, up to the rank of commandant, in these forces from 57 to 60 years, like that in the CISF and the Assam Rifles.

The court had called the current policy of different age of superannuation in four paramilitary forces—CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB—as “discriminatory and unconstitutional” and said it created two classes in the uniformed forces.

While all the forces, except the CRPF, said they had no problems in enhancing the superannuation age of their combat troops, they raised concern over the fallout of this move as they needed to have young blood and an agile workforce to guard the country’s borders and undertake anti-naxal and counter-terror operations.

The CRPF, which is undertaking new initiatives to enhance its operational effectiveness post the February 14 Pulwama attack, said it will be unviable for it to have accumulation of older personnel as maximum of its battalions are operationally deployed all times and have very less peacetime duties.

It sad it will have more low medical category (LMC) cases if the retirement age of personnel, up to the commandant rank, is increased from 57-60 years.

The forces, as per records accessed by PTI, told the Home Ministry that they have a total of 55,330 personnel “in the low medical category at present, owing to injuries suffered by troops during action or the irreversible wear and tear their bodies take owing to deployment in inhospitable terrains for maximum time of their tenure”.

The highest number of personnel in LMC, 22,120, are in the CRPF, the report said.

The BSF has 14,115 personnel in LMC or 5.5 per cent of its total strength, the Assam Rifles has 10,202 troops in the category (3.79 per cent) and the ITBP 5,619 personnel or six per cent of its total strength, it said.

The CISF has 2,180 and the SSB 1,094 personnel (1.37 per cent) in LMC, the report said.

The forces, after the conclusion of the meeting, recommended to the government that “in case retirement age is raised to 60 years, it may be explored if a system is put in place to make yearly assessment to weed out those who are not fit to continue in the force consistent with its objective”.

People categorised under LMC are taken out of combat tasks and given administrative duties, and only certain select cases are chosen to be boarded out completely from the force, as per the present policy.

Conforming the move for a new assessment system to PTI, a senior official of the ministry said the proposal is being “analysed at the senior-most level of the Ministry of Home Affairs.”

The data provided by the six CAPFs, said LMC cases were higher in the age group above 35-40 years and hence, it was essential to keep the “operational and physical efficiency” of these forces up to the mark, a mandatory requirement for uniformed forces. — PTI

Photo for representational purpose only. PTI

New Delhi, March 15

The armies of India and Myanmar conducted a “coordinated operation” from February 17 to March 2 against insurgents in Myanmarese territory to avert a possible threat to the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, official sources said.

However, the Indian Army did not cross the border during the operation, they said.

The focus of the operation was to crack down on the members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar, the sources said. The members of the Arakan Army had also moved close to the international border along Mizoram, they said.

The sources added that during the operation, the Indian Army beefed up the security along the border from Nagaland and Manipur to ensure that the insurgents do not cross over to the Indian side.

The Indian Army also helped the Myanmarese Army by providing them intelligence, they said. There were also inputs that some members of the Arakan Army were also planning to sneak into India.

The sources said setting up of camps by the insurgent groups was being viewed as a grave concern by armies of the two countries.

The operation was also undertaken keeping in view the safety of Indian workers engaged in the project.

After a series of meetings between personnel from both the countries, it was decided to carry out the coordinated operation. Additional troops were moved to the international border areas, besides deploying the Assam Rifles personnel.

The Assam Rifles has the responsibility to guard the international border with Myanmar.

The Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project is being viewed as India’s gateway to the Southeast Asia.

India entered into a framework agreement with Myanmar in April 2008 to facilitate implementation of the project. On completion, the project will help connect Mizoram with the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State of Myanmar.

On the Indian side, work is on to extend the Aizawl-Saiha National Highway by 90 km to the international border at Zorinpui. PTI

Shyam Sood
Rajouri, March 13

The Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked shelling on Wednesday afternoon, causing huge damage to the trade facilitation centre at Chakan da Bagh cross-LoC point in Poonch district.

Trade centre employees, security personnel and drivers from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) had a narrow escape.

Meanwhile, the trade centre authorities suspended the business till further orders as the X-ray room along with the old and new sheds were damaged badly.

“The shelling started around 1 pm when the cross-LoC trade was in progress between Poonch and Rawlakot. Two shells fell on the trade centre while two others landed in its vicinity, forcing the people to take shelter at safer places, including bunkers,” said Fareed Kohli, custodian, trade facilitation centre.

“The X-ray room along with the electric wiring in the old and new sheds have been damaged and it’s not feasible to carry out the routine work under such tense situation. So, we have decided to suspend the trade till the situation becomes normal or till further orders.”

Kohli, however, said 31 trucks from Pakistan-occupied Kashmirthat reached the immigration centre would be sent back at the earliest.

“Pakistan resorted to unprovoked heavy shelling in the afternoon when the cross-LoC trade was in progress. The shelling started immediately after 35 trucks crossed the LoC while 31 trucks from PoK reached the immigration centre. No injury or loss of life has been reported,” said Ramesh Kumar Angral, SSP.

“The Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation for two hours till 12.30 pm in the Krishna Ghati sector and again around 1 pm in the Chakan da Bagh area of Poonch district. The Army retaliated strongly,” said Lt Col Davender Anand, PRO, Defence.

Fighter jets fly close to border 

Jammu: An air alert was sounded along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday after Pakistani fighter jets were detected close to the LoC. Defence Ministry sources said the Indian air defence systems detected the Pakistani jets 10 km inside the LoC on the Pakistan side in Poonch. “This is the first time after the Indian Air Force scrambled to push back Pakistani fighter jets, which entered our air space in the Nowshera sector on February 27, that Pakistani fighter jets flew this close to the LoC,” said an official. ians

New Delhi, March 9

A day after a former Navy Chief, Admiral L Ramdas (retd), flagged the misuse of defence forces in electioneering, the Election Commission (EC) today asked all parties not to use pictures of any defence personnel in their posters and campaigns.

The EC has reminded the parties about its December 2013 letter in which it said photographs of any defence personnel should not be associated with advertisements, propaganda and campaigns.

Sources said the move came about after many retired officers pointed out how pictures of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman were being used in campaigns. — TNS

An Army soldier takes position near the encounter site at Badra Payeen area of Kralgund, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, March 7

A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kralgund area of Handwara in the north Kashmir district late Wednesday night following information about the presence of some terrorists in the area, a police official said.

He said the cordon was maintained during the night and contact was established with them in the morning after the forces zeroed in on the location.

There was an exchange of firing between the two sides, in which one terrorist was killed, the official said.

He said the slain terrorist was identified as a Pakistani national, known as Anwar, who was affiliated to the JeM.

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter, he added. — PTI

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, March 10

The Army nabbed a smuggler from the fence gate on the Line of Control (LoC) at Basooni village in the Balakote sector in Poonch district on Saturday. The Army recovered Rs 10-lakh fake Indian currency and 2 kg of heroin-like substance from him.

The youth, identified as Mohd Zaffar, resident of Dabbi village, was directed to stop by troops of the Gorkha unit manning the gate no. 488.

“Instead of stopping, the youth tried to escape, but was apprehended,” said sources, adding that a bag was recovered from the spot. It had 2 kg of a heroin-like substance and Rs 10 lakh in fake Indian currency (in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000).

Poonch Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh K Angral said, “A detailed investigation has been started and soon more arrests can’t be ruled out in the case.”

Dabbi village is the last Indian village along the LoC in the Balakote sector. Similar smuggling attempts have been reported from the area in the past also.

Military intelligence personnel questioned Zaffar who was later handed over to the police.

The police have booked Zaffar under Sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act and Section 489-C (possession of counterfeit currency notes) of the Ranbir Penal Code.

New Delhi, March 5

Former Defence Minister AK Antony today accused PM Narendra Modi of spreading misinformation on Rafale fighter jets and politicising the armed forces and urged the ruling party to stop using the military for political agenda.

Antony came to AICC headquarters today to counter Modi’s charge that the Congress-led UPA government had delayed the procurement of Rafale. He kept reading from the recently tabled CAG report in Parliament to make his case and said the original order for multi-medium role combat aircraft was placed by the then NDA government in 2001 and until 2004 the NDA government had not reached a conclusion on whether to procure the jets from a single vendor or through tendering.

“The PM is spreading misinformation. He said Congress compromised national security and delayed Rafale procurement because it was not getting commissions. I want to ask the PM is it not true that the past NDA government delayed the procurement until four years starting 2001 when the proposal for MMRCAs was first made?” he asked.

On Digvijay Singh terming the Pulwama attack an accident, Antony said: “In our times the actions of the defence forces were briefed by defence forces. I urge the PM and Amit Shah not to politicise the armed forces. Our forces are beyond politics and religion.” — TNS

Squadron Leader Aarti Singh, wife of Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht, who was among the six personnel killed in a chopper crash near Budgam in J&K, and other family members during his cremation at Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Friday.