Monthly Archives: August 2018

Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd)

HAVING commanded a brigade stationed at the Palel airfield at Kakching in Manipur from 1997 to 1999, my thoughts go back to the role this airfield played in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s military plans.

This disused airfield (now housing an Assam Rifles battalion) was the target of a Japanese offensive from Burma into Northeast India in the final phase of World War II. The Japanese 15th Army, comprising 15, 31 and 33 Divisions, and the Azad Hind Fauj Division were to advance along Moreh on the India-Burma border, capture the airfields at Palel and Imphal and push through to Dimapur. This offensive was intended to pave the way for the capture of the Brahmaputra valley.

These two airfields showcased British airpower. They were also to serve as launch pads for the planned British offensive for the reconquest of Burma. The Japanese wanted to pre-empt this eventuality. Overrunning Assam would also deprive the Allies of the use of the airfields (Hump Route) that were supporting US General Joseph Stilwell’s offensive in China. Netaji hoped it would trigger a revolution in India against British rule, and also within the Indian army.

In view of this objective, a small party of Japanese troops backed by Netaji’s ‘Gandhi Brigade’ infiltrated into the Palel airfield and destroyed eight parked British aircraft. This was no mean achievement considering that the mountainous terrain covered by a hostile jungle had to be traversed. The units of my brigade had operated in these jungles during counterinsurgency operations and found remnants of the war — dilapidated bunkers, human skeletal remains and spent cartridge cases at several locations.

The Japanese offensive was thwarted by stout British defence at Imphal — the battle of the ‘Pill Box’. After the defeat at Imphal, Japanese General Masakazu Kawabe informed Netaji that the orders for the retreat had been given. Bose declared that Azad Hind Fauj troops would continue the march to the homeland. This was a futile exercise as they lacked air, armour and artillery support and were totally dependent on the Japanese army for logistical assistance.

Netaji’s army played a stellar role in preparing the ground for India’s Independence. Lord Wavell, the then Viceroy, wrote in a note in 1946, ‘It would not be wise to try the Indian Army too highly in suppression of its own people.’ ‘Jai Hind’, the slogan of the Azad Hind Fauj, continues to be popular, especially in the armed forces.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27

The UT Administration will organise a polo match for the delegates of the G20 summit at the Indian Reserve Battalion ground, Sarangpur, on January 29.

A senior officer said an exhibition polo match would be played between 3 pm and 5 pm. As many as 170 delegates, including representatives of G20 countries, guest countries and international organisations will be participating in the two-day event on January 30 and 31.

“It is a matter of pride for the City Beautiful to host delegates from different countries,” said UT Adviser Dharam Pal. He called upon the residents of Chandigarh to play excellent hosts and make this event most memorable chapter of the G20 history.

Meanwhile, the first group of the delegates will be arriving in the city on January 29. They would be staying at two luxury hotels in the Industrial Area and one in Sector 35.https://a7b9bb460f9304c3e538e1eeb2688fbf.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The UT Administration has decked up various roundabouts with flags of the G20 countries.

The UT will host two G20 meetings. The first meeting of the International Financial Architecture Working Group will be held on January 30-31 and another on agricultural issues in March.

The delegates will also be shown Chandigarh’s famous spots, including Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake and the Capitol Complex. Guides well-versed with various languages will accompany the visitors and share with them the City Beautiful’s history and other information.

Attitude of Def Secy at War Memorial on Republic Day. Casually standing with hands in pocket when RM is to place wreath. IAS do not care about army sacrifices

PTI

Kolkata, January 27

Amidst demands by some opposition leaders for proof of surgical strikes in Pakistan in 2016, GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, Lt Gen R P Kalita Friday said the Army does not look at keeping any evidence while carrying out an operation.

The nation trusts Indian forces, he said declining to answer a “political question” by scribes here on recent demands by some opposition leaders demanding proof of the surgical strikes.

“This is a political question. So I don’t like to comment on that. I think the nation trusts the Indian Armed Forces,” he said at a Meet the Press programme at the Press Club, Kolkata.

Asked if the Army keeps any proof while conducting an operation, he replied in negative

“When we are going to carry out any operation, we are not looking at keeping any proof of that operation,” he said.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had expressed doubts over the cross-border military operation recently during Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi in Jammu.

“They (Centre) talk about surgical strikes and that they have killed so many of them, but there is no proof. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies,” he had said.

The party, however, distanced itself from the remark and said it does not reflect its stand as it supports all military actions that are in the country’s interests.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had termed Singh’s comments “ridiculous” and said the Armed Forces are doing their job “exceptionally well” and do not need to give any proof.

AICC general secretary for communications, Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter that the view expressed by Singh was his own and the UPA government too had carried out surgical strikes before 2014 (when the BJP-led NDA came to power). Congress had supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in the country’s interests.

In September 2016, India conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in response to a terrorist attack on an Army base in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

PTI

Kolkata, January 27

The situation along the eastern border with China is “stable” but “unpredictable” due to the absence of delineation of boundaries, said General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command, Lt Gen R P Kalita.

The Eastern Command takes care of the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.

Lt Gen Kalita also stated that the Army is constantly monitoring the activities across the border and is well prepared to meet any emerging challenges.

“The whole problem stems from the fact that the border between India and China is not clearly defined. There are different perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which lead to problems.

“However, let me assure you that the situation in the eastern border in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh is stable but unpredictable due to the absence of delineation of borders,” he told a Meet the Press programme at the Press Club, Kolkata.

There has been a fresh spike in tension between India and China after troops from the two sides were engaged in a clash along the LAC at Yangtse in the Tawang sector on December 9.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on December 13 that the Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo in the Yangtse area in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat with its firm and resolute response

Recently Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande conducted a comprehensive review of India’s military preparedness along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh after last month’s skirmishes in the Tawang sector.

“We have read reports that gradually there has been an increase in troop deployment (by China) opposite our sectors along with infrastructure development that the PLA has carried out in their bordering areas,” the GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command said.

He maintained that the preparedness level of the Indian Army remained “very high” along the LAC, and it has adequate forces and reserves in each of the sectors to deal with any situation effectively.

To a question on reports of China building alternate access to Chumbi valley in Tibet near Sikkim and how it would threaten the security of the Siliguri corridor, the senior Army officer said, “Siliguri Corridor is geo-strategically extremely important to us. Requisite measures and mechanisms are in place to ensure that there are no disruptions and maintenance of connectivity with the northeast remains intact.” Siliguri corridor, commonly known as the ‘chicken’s neck’, connects the mainland with the northeastern states. The corridor shares international boundaries with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

. One has to understand the methodology how pensions in OROP are worked out, what are the principles followed and how pensions of those who did not retire in calendar year 2018 for OROP – II are to be fixed for all the pre – Jul 2019 pensioners.
Pensions shown in OROP – II tables of Min of Def (ESW) are Average pensions for each length of service and for each rank.
If only one pensioner of any rank retired in calendar year, then his pension is taken as the Average pension.
For example your pension as Maj Gen for your length of service say 33 or more is same as the average pension of Maj Gen / R Adm / AVM who retired in calendar year 2018. It is ₹ 1,09,100 pm. How dd they come to this figure and Why is Average of pensions?
It is because all Maj Gens / R Adms / AVMs from 33 to say 39 years do not get same basic pay at the time of retirement in calendar year 2018. Those who get their rank of Maj Gen or equivalent earlier compared to his coursemates of other two services gets higher number of increment before he retires in the rank of Maj Gen or equivalent.
As you know Maj Gens of AOC, EME, Signals and even Engrs get their rank almost at 35 or 36 years of service. They hardly get two to three years in their rank before they retire. Whereas, their coursemates in Gen cadre get their rank of Maj Gen may be at 32 or 33 years of service. So they earn more increments as Maj Gen or equivalent and retire with higher pension in the rank of Maj Gen.
Therefore you need to work out the pension of Maj Gens and equivalents with QS of 33 to 39 years. You pick the pension which is highest and also the lowest of those retired in calendar year 2018. The average is thus worked out. That is the pension you and all Maj Gens / R Adms / AVMs will get for your length of service of 33 or more years. Whether you put in total service of 33 years or 38 year every one gets the same pension. This because Jt Secy to Govt of India generally retired at service of 33 years. Therefore your pension cannot be more than that of Jt Secy. The IAS member in the Central Pay Commission will ensures that.
Another principle adopted for any one length of service say 33 years or more , your pension as Maj Gen cannot be less than that of a Brigadier with 33 or more years of service.
One more aspect you got to know is the pension of those who actually retired in calendar year 2018 from Sepoys to Lt Gen HAG + is taken for each qualifying service right upto 33 or more years of service. The average pension for each length of service is worked for each rank.
For example if a Brigadier has retired with QS of 32 years of service in calendar year 2018 and no Brig with 32.5 or 33 year retired in calendar year 2018 then the average pension of Pre – Jul 2019 Brig / Cmde / Air Cmde with 32 years is found and that is fixed as Average pension of not only for QS of 32 but also to 32.50 and 33 years of service who retired prior to Jul 2019 in OROP – II.
Another aspect you should know is if a Brigadier with 31 or 30 has not retired then the pension of 31 years is taken as 3% less than Average pension of Brigadier with 32 years of service who actually retired. Pension of Brigadier with 30 years service is fixed at 3% less than that of Brigadier with 31 years of QS.
Defence pensions are complex and needs life long study.
Unless one knows these principles, one will write all non-sense to impress the innocent pensioners.