Please read full by Maj Manik M Jolly,SM
Twitter handle - @Manik_M_Jolly
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Since all ‘experts’ are very excited to talk about why we should review the training, tactics, formation, counter ambush drills etc now, I thought let me give a counter to those who’ve never sat down in an ambush and thankfully never suffered any. Firstly, if you
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end up being ambushed upon, by even a mid level tactician, that too an opportunity ambush, you’ll rarely live to tell the tale. Forget about a well planned one by a good planner. There are many types of ambushes. But for a layman, let’s say you choose the location, site the
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Weapons, place your troops, cut off all exit grounds, place mines, bombard the area with lead and grenades and fill the entire kill zone with everything you have. Now try walking out of that ! Yes, the best counter is to fight back. But when you’re suddenly bombarded with so much
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lethal firepower and you see people getting hit all around you, the first reaction is to take cover. And from the other side, the enemy will plan an ambush where you have least cover. I speak from experience of being part of unit that killed 102 terrorists in just fifteen
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months. Highly skilled and motivated troops. And we had only one ambush on us and we lost an officer and few more injured. The team couldn’t kill anyone in retaliation that time. Later we got back, is a different story. The impact of being fired upon can’t be effectively put
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in words. It’s stunning, numbing and very shocking. Takes a second for everyone to regain composure. And if in that first couple of seconds, you and others have been hit, you really can’t do much. What anti Naxal forces need is very solid EW systems. They need great Int networks
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, and most importantly this mindless patrolling has to stop. You don’t gain much by bunching together and walking around the jungle to prove area is dominated. It isn’t ! They need better leadership and focused operations. They need new weapons and equipment. They need freedom
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to operate and strike. It’s when all these are available, then talk about tactics and drills. Don’t expect soldiers to deliver when they aren’t commanded or equipped properly. Red corridor is one of the biggest internal threats in India and by not addressing it, we are not only
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enabling the enemy but also losing brave and competent soldiers regularly. Prayers for every soldiers who lost his life and those recovering from injuries. May this be the last of such incidents and gov wakes up to take this menace head on. Jai Hind
