Monthly Archives: August 2018

For the first time, the Indian Army has appointed a major general rank officer to look into the human rights issue and suggest means to better the track record of the force.

Major General Gautam Chauhan took charge as Additional Director General Human Rights on Thursday and will function under the Indian Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General SK Saini.

Before taking charge of the force’s first special human rights cell at the Army Headquarters, which will be the nodal body to look into any rights violations, Major General Chauhan was serving as Brigadier Operations Logistics at Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).  He was the nodal man for Covid 19 related issues for tri-services.The infantry officer from Gorkha Rifles, Major General Chauhan has also headed brigades in the North East region. He has also served in Directorate of the Military Operations (MO).

The appointment is seen as Indian Army’s commitment toward human rights. The post of Additional Directorate General Human rights was created under reforms approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of the re-organisation of Army Headquarters last year.

The human rights unit was created with a motive to ensure the Army’s compliance with human rights conventions and values. It will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports.

“To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation,” the defence ministry had stated.

The decision to have an Indian Police Service officer on board caused heartburn in a few sections of the Army and is being seen as inviting unnecessary interference by an outsider. Army headquarters stated that had having a police officer on board is critical when it comes to coordinating with different ministries and civil agencies, especially the police.

For last several years, the force has often been charged with human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North East. But the Indian army has maintained that its human rights record is above board.  — IANS

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Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, December 31

A group of protesting farmers camping at the Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-48) for the past 18 days, on Thursday, removed two-layer barricading at Shahjahanpur-Khera border in Rajasthan to move towards the national capital.

The police initially used tear gas shells to stop them but later let them go while sensing the gravity of the situation.

The farmers were, thereafter, stopped by the Rewari police near Bhudla village, about 12 km away from the border, whereas other thousands of farmers were, as usual, staying at the border till filing of the news report.

New Delhi: The India Army is set to restore the grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the highest ranking officer to die in action during the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48, ThePrint has learnt.

The grave was allegedly damaged by miscreants in the area.

The white marble grave is located in south Delhi’s Batla House Qabristan, near Jamia Millia Islamia, in the cemetery’s ‘VIP section’ that also houses the graves of other eminent figures such as writer Qurratulain Hyder and scholar Mujeeb Rizvi.

The Army wrote to Jamia Millia Islamia Tuesday seeking permission to carry out repairs on the grave. “The university wanted a letter from the Army for the record and it has been sent. We will carry out the repairs,” a senior officer told ThePrint.

The officer said a wreath is laid by the regiment concerned on Brigadier Usman’s grave on his death anniversary every year.

“This year the wreath laying did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic. Otherwise, it is done every year and the troops also clean up the area around the grave.”

Army sources had told ThePrint Monday the matter, which is a “protocol and emotional issue” for the force, was being looked into at the highest level.

Also read: 49 years later, lessons that remain to be learnt from 1971 India-Pakistan War

‘Officers visited late war hero’s regiment after three years’

Army sources also told ThePrint that an officer visited the university and met the authorities to discuss the matter. Though the university owns the graveyard property and is responsible for its maintenance, restoration or repair of graves is done by families of the deceased.

A professor from the university, who is associated with graveyard maintenance, said officers from the late war hero’s regiment had come to investigate the grave Tuesday.

Mir Ferozuddin, the grandnephew of Brigadier Usman, who is based in Saudi Arabia, told ThePrint it was “inspiring and positive” to see how the grave’s vandalism was highlighted and swift action taken for its repairs.

The life story of the war hero, who died on 3 July 1948, is set to be adapted into a biopic by director Sanjay Khan, starring his son Zayed Khan in the titular role.

Also read: Crashed PIA plane’s pilot ignored 3 warnings from ATC to lower altitude

New Delhi: India has a series of military tests and trials planned for 2021, including that of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield, an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for submarines, and drones, besides a number of missiles, including a BrahMos with an 800-km range.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said one of the key systems to go under trial in the coming year would be the AIP, which is aimed for integration with India’s fleet of six Scorpene submarines during refit.

The trials for the indigenous AIP, which will allow conventional submarines to stay under water for a longer duration, is to begin in the first quarter of the new year, the sources added.

Another important trial that will take off is the one for phase 2 of the BMD, which aims to secure the country from all kinds of incoming missiles, including nuclear, and flying objects, through a multi-tier defence system. Phase 1 of the programme was completed last year.

Also on the agenda is the full-fledged trial of the indigenous Rustom 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2021, after much delay.

Capable of carrying the synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness systems, depending on mission objectives, the UAV is a medium-altitude long-endurance system.

The current stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh has brought to light India’s dire need for indigenous drone systems against a country that has become one of the world’s largest exporters of armed UAVs.

The early part of 2021 will also witness fresh trials of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) Nirbhay, which has a range of 800-1,000 km.

The maiden trial of the 800-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, meanwhile, is scheduled for mid-2021. The 400-km variant of this missile was successfully tested earlier this year.

Even as developmental trials take place, the services will continue with their firing exercises and re-validation of the missiles in their arsenal, the sources said.

Also Read: Ballistic missile submarine Arighat in final stages of trials, to be commissioned early 2021

Many trials in 2020 after Covid lull 

The year gone by also witnessed a number of key tests.

The coronavirus pandemic led to a lull, but the pace picked up after September. Among the major tests in 2020 was that of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on 7 September.

India is only the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to have the technology. The successful trial paved the way for India to develop missiles that can travel at six times the speed of sound.

This was followed by a test-firing of the nuclear-capable ‘Shaurya’ missile on 3 October, and the supersonic missile-assisted release of a torpedo on 5 October.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also successfully conducted three flight tests of its indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Dhruvastra from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha, in July. This is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Meanwhile, the indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Uttam, has completed 100 hours of testing with additional 25 hours on Tejas aircraft for air-to-air mode and its sub-parameters.

On 9 October, the new-generation Anti-Radiation Missile (RUDRAM) was successfully tested on a radiation target located off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.

The year 2020 also saw the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) achieve a major milestone on 13 November, with a direct hit onto a Banshee pilotless target aircraft at medium range and medium altitude.

Also Read: How Army’s artillery modernisation plan, stuck in a rut after Bofors, is picking up pace

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 30

Air Vice Marshal Ajit Singh Lamba, who was decorated with the Vir Chakra for gallantry in teh1965 Indo-Pak war and an aviator who continued to fly even when he was in his eighties, passed away at Bangalore on Wednesday after battling cancer. He was 85.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in April 1955, he served with No.7 Squadron during the 1965 war. As a Hunter pilot, he flew 15 operational sorties, of which 11 were in close support of the army in the Kasur and Lahore sectors. On several of these missions he led formations of Hunter aircraft and showed great skill and determination in seeking out enemy targets and pressing home his attacks in spite of intensive ground fire and the presence of enemy interceptor aircraft, his citation states. In spite of heavy opposition, he successfully destroyed several enemy tanks and vehicles. His achievement in the destruction of enemy guns and armour near Harbanspura railway station was especially noteworthy because of the heavy defences surrounding these locations, the citation adds.

A graduate of the Test Pilot Course at Farnborough in the UK and later the National Defence College, he commanded No.22 Squadron, the Swifts, from July 1972 to January 1975

After two tenures at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore as Chief Test Pilot, he was posted as the Air Officer Commanding, 9 Wing at Halwara from January 1981 to January 1984. He served as Commandant ASTE from August 1986 till his retirement in 1991.

Having spent about 60 yeasr in the cockpit, including 36 during his service with the IAF, Lamba had flown over 100 different types of aircraft, logging about 7500 hours. He continued to fly even after retirement and also took part in flying displays during various editions of the Aero India as well as various expeditions.

A Legendary & Gallant #IndianBrave AVM Ajit Singh Lamba, #VirChakra (1965 War) passed away earlier today 30 December 2020 at Bengaluru
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the finest Air Warrior and Test Pilot of #IndianAirForce, he kept his Flying status active till the very end ️

A veteran of #IndoPakWar1965, AVM Lamba was awarded #VirChakra for air combat missions over Pakistan during the war.
As a Test Pilot, his feats including flying over 100 different types of aircraft, including aerobatic displays #AeroIndia from 1996
Blue Skies forever Sir! ️

ANOTHER 1965 HERO GONE

AVM AJIT SINGH LAMBA VIR CHAKRA

A Legendary & Gallant #IndianBrave AVM Ajit Singh Lamba, #VirChakra (1965 War) passed away earlier today 30 December 2020 at Bengaluru
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the finest Air Warrior and Test Pilot of #IndianAirForce, he kept his Flying status active till the very end ️

A veteran of #IndoPakWar1965, AVM Lamba was awarded #VirChakra for air combat missions over Pakistan during the war.
As a Test Pilot, his feats including flying over 100 different types of aircraft, including aerobatic displays #AeroIndia from 1996
Blue Skies forever Sir! ️