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

Political polarisation

Nikki Haley addresses a gathering on advancing India-US relations, in New Delhi, June 28. Reuters

New Delhi, June 28

Pakistan becoming a haven for terror groups cannot be tolerated and the US has already delivered the message to Islamabad, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said on Thursday.“We cannot turn a blind eye to those harbouring terrorists… Communicating to Pakistan that this cannot be tolerated,” she said while delivering a lecture at a think tank here.She also said that India and the US must be global leaders in the fight against terrorism adding “we can and must do more”.    Touching upon a variety of issues, she said freedom of religion is very important and that a nation such as “ours can only be held together by tolerance”.     On China, she said the country was important but noted that its expansion in the region has been a matter of concern for the US and many other countries as Beijing does not share democratic values.Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks at the Shangri-la dialogue in Singapore to ensure freedom of navigation and stability in the Indo-Pacific, she said President Donald Trump also believes in this vision.Haley said the US supports India’s membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group as it is a nuclear state which is widely respected.She was speaking at the Observer Research Foundation. — PTI

The low allocation for defence modernisation has led to demands to downsize the forces. We instead need to examine options that rehabilitate the ex-soldier but reduce his upkeep. The savings can be utilised for importing military hardware.

Ravi Bhushan

The Tribune had reported on June 13 that the Army Chief has given the go-ahead for cadre review.  It has been pointed out that a major chunk of allocated defence budget is spent on salaries and pensions and the money left for modernisation is not adequate to meet even essential upgradation of equipment.  The situation is challenging.The current allocation for defense is 1.57 percentage of GDP but defence experts want the outlay to be at least three percent of GDP keeping in view our heavy dependence on import-oriented modernisation. Given its functional requirements, the Army is a manpower intensive organisation. Downsizing of existing manpower is neither in the best interest of our security needs nor effective functioning of the army. In order to deliver results, the Army keeps its manpower profile young. Research shows that after the age of 35, the body starts undergoing depreciation particularly in terms of physical strength, stamina and agility.  Therefore, one may conclude that the real combat age is up to 42 to 45 years subject to normal conditions. As such, retaining manpower beyond 45 years of age, regardless of the rank they hold, has deleterious effect on the fighting capability of the force. As a result, the structure of the armed forces, particularly the Army is such that 70-80 per cent manpower is discharged from service in the age profile of 35-42.  Every year around 50,000 soldiers from Army, Navy and Air Force exit the services and seek second employment in civil life.  The prime of their youth is spent in services, frequently moving from one place of duty to another and by and large remaining disconnected from normal societal life. When they come home, they have prime responsibilities and obligations in terms of financial and social to fulfil since children have grown up by that time.A radical change came about after 1985 in terms of socio-economic background of soldiers.  Earlier, majority of the soldiers used to come from the agrarian background and after completion of their regular engagement they would return home with a modest pension and happily settle down in their family profession or business. The joint family system also helped to a large extent in getting them settled.However, after 1990s, sociometry of manpower joining armed forces has undergone a sea-change.  Though, educational standards increased, most of youth are from weaker social-economic-political background. Therefore, it has become an inescapable necessity for them to seek regular employment after leaving the armed forces. As a result, every ex-serviceman tries his best to get a regular government job. This has brought about joblessness among ex-soldiers owing to the fact that reserved opportunities in government and semi-government sectors are not good enough to absorb such a large number of ex-servicemen. Further, it would be appropriate to throw light on major three segments of ESM. First is JCO or equivalent; they are generally in the age group of 48 to 52 and financially better than ORs (Havildar or equivalent), owing to higher salary and better pension after implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission. They also get employment easily in public as well as private sector given to their supervisory status and skills.The second segment of ESM is ORs.  They constitute 90 per cent of total manpower and always remains in tow, carrying out the orders and instructions of their superiors so as to achieve organisational objectives besides routine active duties involving a round-the-clock schedule. Without this segment, existence of armed forces cannot be imagined.  This segment also faces the heat of maximum casualities in terms fatal injuries and permanent disabilities in the line of operational duty. Since the promotion to the ranks of JCOs or equivalent is limited, 70 to 80 per cent of the ORs quit and join the que for jobseekers in civilian life.But job opportunites in the public sector are limited, and they are compelled to move to private sector where they are offered nothing beyond the post of security guard. Only a few get respectable, reasonable and gainful employment in the private sector based on their skills and educational background.Three-pronged strategyThe way forward to minimise the pension bill and ensure availability of funds for modernisation and rehabilitation of young ex-servicemen is:

• The policy of pre-release course for defence personnel of all ranks must be abolished forthwith. Instead, every defence personnel leaving force in the age profile of 37-45 should be made eligible for two years last salary drawn so as to enable him to acquire skill or education or course of his choice. This may be termed as post-discharge educational grant.
• Centre and state governments should work together in providing regular jobs to ORs (Havildar and below) immediately after a soldier is released. The pension system should be abolished, in the process releasing a huge army of clerks. They should be entitled to gratuity with the formula of one month per year basis. In case, a person is unwillingness to join a regular government job, he should be given a golden handshake so as to facilitate a respectable and viable settlement in civil life.
• JCOs or equivalent should not be considered ESM for the purpose of job reservation since their salary and pension have substantially have increased.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 22

The Army has issued a formal order that looks to re-cast, right-size and restructure the officer cadre so as to make it ready for future battles. There are around 39,000 officers in the Army.A high-level committee headed by the Military Secretary—a Lieut General rank officer—has been tasked to study all aspects and submit a report by November-end. A “convening order” for cadre restructuring has been issued by Vice-Chief of the Army Lt Gen Devraj Anbu.The Tribune was the first to report in its edition dated June 13 that Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had okayed cadre restructuring. The “convening order” issued on June 18 lays down terms of reference for the committee.The recommendations of the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee (AVSC) will be kept in mind. The report submitted by former Defence Secretary Ajai Vikram Singh was accepted in 2004.The committee will make projections for futuristic growth and consequent manpower requirements.“The cadre-review exercise should not be misconstrued as a process of up-gradation of posts, or increase in number of higher ranks or be driven by competitive pressure from other services,” says the order.Futuristic projections should form the basis for induction and reduction of officers. An existing study on rightsizing will be considered. The committee will also “examine and identify likely areas for reduction, with focus on the base (entry level)”, says the order.At present, upward cadre mobility of Colonel is slow. The committee has been asked to review existing Corps and even suggest a merger. The Army wants segregation of combat and administrative manpower needs. It is also looking to empower jawans and identify posts on which they can be promoted. The issue of officers who get overlooked at the level of Lieut Colonel (about 36-37 years of age), but continue in service till 54 years of age, will also be addressed.The committee will also suggest what should be the ratio of short-service commissioned officers, who will leave after serving for 10-14 years.The review comes amid rising wage bills. In the ongoing fiscal (ending March 31, 2019), the Army salary bill is budgeted at Rs 80,945 crore and the pension bill at Rs 95,949 crore. In contrast, the modernisation budget is Rs 26,688 crore.For futuristic growth

• A committee has been tasked to study all aspects as regards restructuring the officer cadre and submit a report by November-end
• The panel will also make projections for futuristic growth and consequent manpower requirements