Indian Army: News and Discussion

[nitesh]

Red Fort barracks restored, rediscovered

25th anniversary
Indian army marks 25th anniversary of taking world highest battlefield in Kashmir

check this out:
The Coldest War

see the apathy
30 Armymen fight to retain plots govt awarded them in Pune

Thirty Indian Army officers (both retired and still serving) are now fighting the last battle of their lives to clear encroachers from the plots in Pune (Haveli taluka) they got at discounted rates from the government. Some of these officers have served time in Pakistani hell holes as prisoners of war and some have lost a limb or two while defending their country. Most of them were in active service in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war and all, at some point of time in their distinguished careers, were decorated with gallantry awards.

 

[nitesh]

hmm naxals are becoming bold but again thrown back

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Naxals-storm-BSF-camp-in-Bihar/articleshow/4403103.cms

Naxals storm BSF camp in Bihar
15 Apr 2009, 0805 hrs IST, TIMESOFINDIA.COM

About a 100 Naxals stormed a BSF camp in Rohtas, Bihar early on Wednesday morning.

The attack was, however, foiled by jawans who retaliated, forcing the Naxals to flee.

No one was killed, and only one person was injured in the attack, the SP of Rohtas said. The BSF camp is safe.

 

[Flint]

Is it just me or have Naxal attacks spiked recently?

 

[johnee]

Is it just me or have Naxal attacks spiked recently?

naxals in orrisa and ULFA in assam have become very active, perhaps they are compensating for lack of successful infiltration from west not withstanding the recent encounter. election time...........

 

[nitesh]

see this apathy again, why our troops can't have the things on time see this is stuck up from 3 years

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/siachen-troops-await-winter-gear.aspx

April 14: There has been a serious delay in procurement of 53,480 pieces of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) for Indian armed forces personnel posted in the Siachen Glacier — the world’s highest battlefield — where temperatures dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius in winters.

 

[nitesh]

see this apathy again, why our troops can't have the things on time see this is stuck up from 3 years

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/siachen-troops-await-winter-gear.aspx

April 14: There has been a serious delay in procurement of 53,480 pieces of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) for Indian armed forces personnel posted in the Siachen Glacier — the world’s highest battlefield — where temperatures dip to minus 50 degrees Celsius in winters.

 

[nitesh]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/assam-rifles-to-have-own-intelligence-unit/447036/

Assam Rifles to have own intelligence unit

New Delhi:

In the shadow of the blasts in the Northeast, the most recent being ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Assam last week, moves are afoot to form a dedicated and separate “intelligence unit” in

the Assam Rifles, which happens to be the oldest paramilitary force in the Northeast conducting counter-insurgency operations.

This is aimed at strengthening the intelligence network of the paramilitary force stationed in the northeastern states, the Assam Rifles, which also guards the India-Myanmar border. At present, the Assam Rifles depends on the Army for intelligence.

Sources said the recent spate of blasts in the Northeast had given momentum to the proposal to set up the separate intelligence unit.

“The pattern of exploding bombs ahead of dignitaries’ visits has been observed by the counter-insurgency units stationed in the area. To develop intelligence to preempt any untoward incident, the Home Ministry has realised that a separate intelligence unit will go a long way,” said a source.

The aim of the insurgent groups, security officials said, was to “disrupt” the democratic exercise of elections by instilling fear in the minds of the people. This tactic was seen when a bomb went off in Guwahati hours before External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was to address an election rally a few weeks ago. Earlier, similar bomb blasts were carried out ahead of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Guwahati for a security review.

Top officials from the Assam Rifles, which has 46 battalions spread over in Northeastern states, recently made a presentation to the Home Ministry on the intelligence unit, to be set up with the paramilitary force. Sources say the intelligence unit is most likely to be headed by a Colonel-rank official. He will report to the Director General of the Assam Rifles.

Sources said the decision has also been prompted by the fact that the 174-year-old unit also guards the almost 1,500-km-long border with Myanmar.“There have been in stances of captures and interception of explosives and weapons on this border. There have been indirect links of certain insurgent groups in the Northeast with the terror groups active in Bangladesh. This entire situation warrants an intelligence of our own,” said a senior official.

 

[nitesh]

one more attack:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...in-Jharkhand-7-killed/articleshow/4403601.cms

Maoists attack CRPF bus in Jharkhand, 7 killed
15 Apr 2009, 1102 hrs IST, IANS

RANCHI: Seven people, including five Maoist rebels, were killed when guerrillas attacked a bus carrying security personnel in Jharkhand's Lathear area, just before the first phase of parliamentary elections on Thursday. ( Watch )

The bus carrying around 80 security personnel was ambushed near Nimiadih village of Latehar district, about 140 km from here, late Tuesday.

Maoist rebels first detonated a landmine and then started firing indiscriminately. The security personnel retaliated with gunfire.

"The bus driver was killed on the spot and one security personnel died on the way to hospital. The bodies of five Maoist rebels have also been recovered," police spokesperson S N Pradhan told IANS.

Four security personnel were injured in the incident. They have been referred to the Apollo Hospital here.

In an another attack, wver 200 Maoist rebels also attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) camp near Ratnag in Palamau district, about 190 km from here, Tuesday night.

There were around 70 BSF personnel in the camp, which was set up to ensure peaceful polling. The gunbattle between the guerrillas and security personnel lasted several hours but no one was injured.

The six parliamentary constituencies that go to the polls in the first phase of elections Thursday are considered Maoist strongholds. The polling will be conducted under air surveillance by five India Air Force (IAF) helicopters.

 

[Flint]

naxals in orrisa and ULFA in assam have become very active, perhaps they are compensating for lack of successful infiltration from west not withstanding the recent encounter. election time...........

Election time obviously. They would want to invalidate the Indian state.

 

[Yusuf]

Air power for BSF: 3 planes and 8 choppers more in its kitty

NEW DELHI: Border Security Force (BSF) will soon get a boost with induction of eight helicopters and three aircraft for patrolling the borders and to transport men and material in case of emergency.

The eight Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters will be procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited while one large transport plane and two small aircraft will be procured from abroad within this fiscal.

"We will receive the first helicopter within the next two months and all of them will arrive by March 2010," Director General of Border Security Force M L Kumawat told PTI in an interview.

In its existing fleet, the BSF has six MI-17 helicopters and two Embraer aircraft.

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 44 crore for the strengthening of the BSF Air Wing by acquiring the helicopters and the transport aircraft.

The Air Wing had hit an air pocket last year due to the shortage of pilots. This brought down the serviceability of its helicopters to an all-time low. At that time, the force was not in a position to fly more than one helicopter at any given time, a problem which was overcome by signing an agreement with Indian Air Force.

"Fortunately, now we have got pilots from the Indian Air Force on deputation and things have improved to a great extent and there is optimum utilisation of pilots now," Kumawat said.

BSF has given a few helicopters to some of the Naxal-hit states for surveillance to airlift troops and evacuate those injured or sick.

"Some of our helicopters have also been used in Sir Creek area in Gujarat for surveillance against infiltrators from Pakistan," he said.

The BSF is also intensifying its vigil along the country's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh to ensure that no undesirable elements enter into the country to disrupt the ongoing poll process.

"We are fully alert along our borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. We have heightened our vigilance along the borders. Infiltration attempts are a serious matter. We have taken certain measures at sensitive areas," Kumawat said.

The BSF headquarters in New Delhi is in constant touch with its frontier headquarters across the country and various other border outposts for better coordination and operational measures.

The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border and 3,268-km-long border with Pakistan which include about 2,526 km of International Border and 742-km Line of Control.

Out of its two-lakh plus force, BSF has deployed about 45,000 personnel (45 battalions) on the India-Pakistan border from Gujarat to Jammu and Kashmir and about 60,000 (60 battalions) along the Indo-Bangla border.

 

[SATISH]

Yusuf already posted long back in army and Indian paramilitary thread...

 

[Yusuf]

didnt know that. Thanks. Mods pls delete.

 

[nitesh]

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Apr212009/national20090421131489.asp

Honour for the valiant
Kalyan Ray & Ajith Athrady,DH News Service,New Delhi:
Indias first post-independence war memorial may come up in Bangalore soon. Defence Minister A K Antony has agreed to extend necessary help to the State government in creating the Rashtriya Sainik Smarak (National Memorial for the Soldier).


Antony had earlier assured Chief Minister B S Yeddyruppa of help from the ministry as well as the three services, a Defence Ministry official told Deccan Herald.
The proposal was discussed at Army headquarters and would also be deliberated at the tri-service level to work out the modalities. Yeddyruppa had formally approached the ministry with the proposal on December 29, 2008.
Sources in the State government confirmed that a design for the memorial was ready with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and that the most likely site would be on P Chowdaih Road in front of Nehru Planetarium.
The monument would definitely not be as imposing as the majestic India Gate. But it would help the younger generation learn more about the sacrifices made by the martyrs for the country, the official said.
Though the Army wanted to build a similar memorial near the India Gate circle, the proposal is nowhere close to reality due to stiff opposition from the Central Vista Committee, which monitors the views overlooking the Rajpath and the India Gate.
A steering committee, headed by Rajeev Chandrashekhar MP, has been appointed to finalise the design and location for the memorial.
The other members of the committee are five war veterans, commissioners of BDA and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, chief architect of the State and the home secretary. The Chief Minister initially allocated Rs 4 crore for design and construction of the memorial. But it can go up depending on the requirements.
While details regarding the memorial are yet to be revealed, Army veterans consciously want to make it look different from the India Gate. It will definitely have a flag, insignia of the three forces, a water body and a garden where children can play. The war memorial will be the first in the country after independence to have been proposed and funded by a state government. It will be dedicated to those who upheld the Constitution as well as the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation.

 

[nitesh]

This is interesting

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/army-wants-rail-link-to-ladakh/449426/

Army wants rail link to Ladakh

Taking a leaf out of China’s aggressive infrastructure buildup along the Indian border, the Army plans to build an all weather road, new tunnels and a railway line connecting the Ladakh region with the rest of the country. One of the main points for discussion at the high powered Army Commander’s Conference that kicked off in the capital on Monday was the speedy construction of the all weather road link, which will include a new tunnel at the 16,000 feet Bara-lacha Pass, connecting Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul district with Ladakh. This will be in addition to the nine kilometer long tunnel being constructed at the Rohtang pass by the Border Roads Organisation to overcome the annual problem of closing off the crucial pass during heavy snow.

Alarmed at the rapid development of infrastructure across the border, the Army is also pushing for the construction of a rail link to the Ladakh region through Himachal. A senior officer confirmed that the need for an “all time connectivity” of the region with the rest of the country was one of the main points being discussed at the conference.

As reported by this newspaper, the Prime Minister’s Office has already given its approval to the proposal for a railway line to Leh via the Rohtang Pass and the Railway Ministry has been asked to carry out a feasibility survey of the Bilaspur-Leh route.

India has been beefing up infrastructure along the Chinese border in the Ladakh region and has reopened several forward landing bases for faster supply lines to troops posted in the difficult terrain. Over the past year, the Daulat Beg Oldi and Fukche airfields in eastern Ladakh have been reopened and the Air Force is now working to open the Neoma advanced landing ground.

Concerned over the disparity in compensation, the Army commanders will also put together a proposal for a uniform compensation package to soldiers who are martyred or injured during operations.

 

[nitesh]

http://publication.samachar.com/pub...1|4090475|4091193|4091153|4091955&nextIndex=3

Biggest infiltration in a decade in J&K
Sudhi Ranjan Sen
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, (New Delhi)

Elections have begun and terrorists, it appears, are making every attempt to disrupt them. A major infiltration, in fact the biggest in recent times, has taken place in Gurez, also known as the crown of Kashmir.According to the forces, 150 terrorists are believed to have sneaked in and their preparation is alarming.Another indication of the mammoth task for security agencies in the run up to elections 2009 where several top leaders are reportedly on the terror radar.Fierce gun battles are heard in Kupwara and Lolab valley, perhaps one of the first indication that this is not routine.The security forces, which are on search operations to find their whereabouts, have made some startling finds, including snow boots, ice-cutters and 50-odd satellite phones.These are proof that the terrorists are well trained and prepared for a long haul.Intelligence Sources have told NDTV that infiltrators belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujhadeen and Lashkar-e-Toiba. All three organisations, with the help of the ISI, have pooled resources to train the terrorists in PoK."We find that what happened in March was perhaps an attempt to pre-empt the Indian Army deployment all along the passes because generally because of excessive snow it is humanly difficult to come through," said General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Army Staff.The Army has so far killed 22 terrorists. Though it says the number was expected and troops are ready to handle it, the level preparation and planning by the infiltrators has the top brass worried."We are concerned about infiltration, some also have been intercepted and neutralised," DG, BSF M L Kumawat said.There is clear evidence that Pakistan continues to support these terrorists despite its constant denials.But the big questions is whether or not the Pakistan establishment is supporting the terrorists willingly, because it was least expected, or whether it has just lost control over terrorist which it trained, armed and used against India for so long.

 

[chandrahass]

India to build rail line to Ladakh .

India to build rail line to Ladakh region

New Delhi, April 26: The ambitious and strategically crucial project to link mountain-locked Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country by train has moved a step closer to fructification with the Railways finalising the feasibility report in this regard.

The first rail link is proposed to be between Leh and Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and six passenger trains and nine goods trains are planned on the 498 km-long section.

"The feasibility report of Leh-Bilaspur rail link project is almost ready and it will be submitted to Railway Ministry shortly for scrutiny. After the scrutiny, the report would be sent to the Planning Commission before being sent to Parliament for final approval," said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with the feasibility study.

The project is strategically crucial as it is part of India's efforts to improve infrastructure in the border region considering that China has already built a rail link to Tibet.

China has also improved connectivity with Pakistan via the Karakoram highway which runs close to the Indian border.

The proposed Leh rail project came up for discussion at the Army Commanders' Conference here recently in the context of improving supply lines along the border like China has done.

According to the study, the Leh-Bilaspur project, which is estimated to cost about Rs 22,000 crore, 6,000 passengers are expected to travel daily in the section, once the line is operational.

Bureau Report

 

[Flint]

An Indian army soldier displays arms seized from a militant during a press conference in army headquarters in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir, 25 April, 2009. One Pakistani militant named Moin-ul-Shah was arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from his possession, officials said

 

[Flint]

Indian army soldiers display seized rocket propelled grenades (RPG) & Chinese made grenades during a news co;erence inside a military garrison in Srinagar April 25, 2009. India army's Brigadier General Staff (BGS), Gurmit Singh, told a news conference that a huge consignment of arms and ammunitions was recovered and one Pakistani militant was arrested after a gun battle with separatist militants who sneaked into Indian Kashmir from Pakistan Kashmir earlier this month.

 

[Flint]

Indian Army soldiers displays seized arms & ammunition at an army base in Srinagar, India, Saturday, April 25, 2009.

 

[Flint]

Syed Moinullah Shah, a Pakistani terrorist belonging to Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen, the largest terrorist group fighting in Kashmir and Brigadier Gurmeet Singh, right, look on during a press conference organized by the Indian army, at an army base in Srinagar, India, Saturday, April 25, 2009. Indian army arrested Shah in Indian Kashmir and recovered arms and ammunition from him, a top army officer said on Saturday.