Indian Army: News and Discussion

[Sridhar]

Army slams lack of coordination during 26/11 attacks
New Delhi, June 22: The Army has proposed setting up of a centralised command and control centre to coordinate actions of all agencies during anti-terror operations post Mumbai attacks.

The proposal came amid the Army noting that the lack of synergy among forces resulted in the delay in eliminating terrorists who struck the financial capital of the country on November 26.

"Most of the agencies were working in isolation, in the absence of a nominated overall commander of all forces, resulting in under-utilisation of available capability," the Army said in an analysis of the anti-terror operation on November 26.

"While the operations were being conducted by the NSG, its Inspector General (Operations) arrived later on November 27 while its Director General reached much later," the Army said in its report.

It said, "Centralised command and control at national and state level needs to be established for coordinating actions of all agencies during such attacks."

The official report, prepared by the Army's Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area headquarters, also suggested that such command and control centre should be under either the State police or the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Army columns could be committed to special roles during the operations.

The control of operations, it said, was basically restricted to actual operations of Team Leader being supported by the higher commanders, as they reached Mumbai.

"The Army operations were coordinated through its control room activated at Mumbai Sub-Area Headquarters. This control room is basically established during aid to civilian authorities," the Army's analysis said.

A sub-text to the "lessons learned" during the operations stressed the need for a mobile control room, which needed to be established and it would be incorporated soon, it added.

The report also slammed the lack of synergy among intelligence gathering and disseminating agencies while the anti-terrorist operations were in progress in Mumbai.

"Collection and dissemination of actionable intelligence from captured terrorists, hostages released or escaped from the targeted buildings need to be ensured," the report said.

The operations, the report said, was handicapped by the lack of detailed construction layout of the buildings targeted by the terrorists on November 26.

"Details and construction layouts of each value targets needs to be readily available to avoid delay in finalisation and execution of anti-terror operation plans. Municipal authorities should be made responsible for providing the layouts to the police, special forces and army units during such operations," it added.

Bureau Report

Mumbai attack Army report news-Army slams lack of coordination during 26/11 attacks

 

[Sridhar]

Army slams lack of coordination during 26/11 attacks
New Delhi, June 22: The Army has proposed setting up of a centralised command and control centre to coordinate actions of all agencies during anti-terror operations post Mumbai attacks.

The proposal came amid the Army noting that the lack of synergy among forces resulted in the delay in eliminating terrorists who struck the financial capital of the country on November 26.

"Most of the agencies were working in isolation, in the absence of a nominated overall commander of all forces, resulting in under-utilisation of available capability," the Army said in an analysis of the anti-terror operation on November 26.

"While the operations were being conducted by the NSG, its Inspector General (Operations) arrived later on November 27 while its Director General reached much later," the Army said in its report.

It said, "Centralised command and control at national and state level needs to be established for coordinating actions of all agencies during such attacks."

The official report, prepared by the Army's Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area headquarters, also suggested that such command and control centre should be under either the State police or the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Army columns could be committed to special roles during the operations.

The control of operations, it said, was basically restricted to actual operations of Team Leader being supported by the higher commanders, as they reached Mumbai.

"The Army operations were coordinated through its control room activated at Mumbai Sub-Area Headquarters. This control room is basically established during aid to civilian authorities," the Army's analysis said.

A sub-text to the "lessons learned" during the operations stressed the need for a mobile control room, which needed to be established and it would be incorporated soon, it added.

The report also slammed the lack of synergy among intelligence gathering and disseminating agencies while the anti-terrorist operations were in progress in Mumbai.

"Collection and dissemination of actionable intelligence from captured terrorists, hostages released or escaped from the targeted buildings need to be ensured," the report said.

The operations, the report said, was handicapped by the lack of detailed construction layout of the buildings targeted by the terrorists on November 26.

"Details and construction layouts of each value targets needs to be readily available to avoid delay in finalisation and execution of anti-terror operation plans. Municipal authorities should be made responsible for providing the layouts to the police, special forces and army units during such operations," it added.

Bureau Report

Mumbai attack Army report news-Army slams lack of coordination during 26/11 attacks

 

[youngindian]

Unified Commanders' Conference to begin tomorrow

http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/606973/Delhi/1/20/Z


New Delhi, June 24 Integrated war fighting capabilities of armed forces will be top on the agenda at the two-day Unified Commanders' Conference beginning here tomorrow.
"The theme of the conference is victory through jointness," Defence Ministry officials said.

The conference, to be inaugurated by Defence Minister A K Antony, will deliberate on various issues relating to capabilities of services to meet security challenges before the nation, they said.

During the conference, the senior commanders will discuss the key achievements and progress made by Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and will also make presentations on major achievements and contemporary issues of tri-service implications.

The Conference will be attended by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, IDS Chief Air Marshal S C Mukul and heads of Andaman and Nicobar Command and Strategic Forces Command.

Chiefs of various tri-services training institutions like Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and National Defence Academy, Pune, besides senior officers from the Ministry of Defence will also attend.

 

[dave lukins]

7 months down the line and the talks are about 'proposed' plans for a centralised Command and control Centre. ??? A lot of water under the bridge and more atrocities could have happened since.

Each major City needs to implement a Quick Reaction Force made up of highly trained troops. Perhaps a hundred men, all highly skilled in various anti terrorism techniques. The initial attack must be contained by the already forces on the ground at the time, IE the Police. The reaction force takes over the inner cordon and the police the outer cordon. This is just a simple scenario but something must be done and soon. Talking does not save lives!! Action does.

 

[Daredevil]

Dear Daredevil you have 'stolen' some height from the this feat.. Mt Dhaulagiri stands at 8.167m

. Its our Desi Dork Media, Sir.

 

[youngindian]

A K Antony assures armed forces of adequate fund for modernization

http://news.oneindia.in/2009/06/25/ak-antony-assures-armed-forces-of-adequate-fund.html



New Delhi June 25 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony assured the top brass that funds will never be a constraint for the modernisation of the Armed Forces and their welfare.Antony however asked them on improving efficacy and efficiency of our delivery mechanisms at all levels and sought the cooperation of all senior officials to eradicate corruption and urged them to ensure 'impeccable honesty, integrity and transparency in all transactions'.


The defence Minister emphasized the need to achieve greater indigenisation in Defence Sector. He called for increased and better synergy between the DRDO and the Armed Forces to achieve at least 70 % indigenisation in our procurements within the next ten years.

He was addressing the inaugural day of the two-day conference of the unified commanders in New Delhi.

The Defence Minister asked the top brass of the all the three services to adopt and further strengthen the tri-services approach to security related issues, as victory in modern warfare can be achieved only through jointness.

'The traditional approach of combating threats with individual services acting according to their own plans must be shed. Jointness seeks the development of core competence by each service and synergising these capabilities.

Furthering his point the Defence Minister said, jointness allows each service to maximise its yield by utilising its core competences to achieve a common goal. Therefore, it is our duty to resort to joint planning and develop integrated capabilities', he said.

Referring to China Antony said, India has always tried to maintain friendly relations with that country. There is enough space for both India and China to grow into influential nations in the evolving international order. But there are complex unresolved issues between the two countries. India believes that these should be resolved through peaceful means.

On Sri Lanka, he said, for lasting peace within, Colombo needs to backup its military gains against the LTTE with a political devolution package that satisfies the aspiration of Tamils within a united Sri Lanka

Underlining the importance of the Indian ocean region Antony said, It is imperative for our armed forces to ensure that the sea lanes of communication are not dominated by any one power to the exclusion of others'.

Antony said the Government is trying its best to provide financial resources, surveillance equipment and adequate manpower to bolster Coastal Security and asked the services to make optimum use of available resources both in terms of infrastructure and manpower. He said the onus lies on security forces, intelligence agencies and coastal Post.

 

[youngindian]

PM meets Secys over OROP for armed forces

PM meets Secys over OROP for armed forces




New Delhi, June 25: Moving closer on implementing the long-standing demand for one rank-one pension (OROP) for armed forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday chaired a meeting of Committee of Secretaries who made presentation to him.

The meeting was also attended by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Defence Minister AK Antony and Union Minister Ashok Chavan.

Earlier, the UPA government had promised to resolve the contentious matter by this month-end.

In her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Pratibha Patil had said that the committee headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar had "already commenced its work and expects to complete it by the end of June 2009''.

Just before the crucial fourth phase of polling on May 7, the Defence Ministry had declared that a high-level committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary had been constituted to "reduce the gap in the pensionary benefits to officers and jawans, bringing it as close to OROP as possible''.

But slapped with a notice from the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct, the government had swiftly backtracked and denied that the government has constituted any special committee for the purpose.

The grouse of ex-servicemen is that all political parties have used OROP to garner votes but have never implemented it after coming to office. The government had obviously announced the setting up of the committee to counter the BJP's strong 'Jai Jawan' tune in its manifesto.

The defence community of 14 lakh serving and 23 lakh retired military personnel, after all, swells into a sizable votebank of around 1.5 crore people if family members are taken into account.

The UPA government, however, is promising only a partial implementation of OROP at best, with the Defence Ministry itself acknowledging that full implementation is simply not feasible "administratively''.

The Defence Ministry, however, admits that a case does exist for bringing the quantum of pension of pre-January 1996/October 1997 pensioners at par with post-January 1996/October 1997 and pre-January 2006 ones because the gap between the pensions of past and present retirees has considerably widened after the 6th Pay Commission.

This will entail an additional financial burden of only around Rs 500-600 crore annually, with the government keen to reduce the present four categories of pensioners to only two broad ones of pre and post January 2006 retirees.

"Full OROP implementation, in turn, could mean an annual outgo of around Rs 1,200-1,300 crore, apart from payment of arrears in the range of Rs 4,000 crore,'' said an official.

 

[youngindian]

India turns up heat with chilli bomb

India turns up heat with chilli bomb - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 25, 2009



India's security forces are planning to mix one of the world's hottest chilli powders in hand grenades to control riots and during insurgency operations in the remote northeast, a defence official said today.

India's defence scientists say they will replace explosives in small hand grenades with a certain variety of red chilli to immobilise a person without killing him.

"We are working on a project on how to use the hottest chilli in different applications in defence forces," said R.B. Srivastava, a senior scientist at the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Scientists said the chilli found in the country's northeast generates so much heat it was enough to startle a person for a while when used as a weapon.

The bhut jolokia chilli is said to generate 1,000,000 heat units on the Scoville scale, a measure of hotness, at least a thousand times more than a common kitchen chilli.

The Scoville scale was named after American scientist Wilbur Scoville, the first to measure the heat component in chillies.

The chilli will also be used as a food supplement for soldiers deployed in cold weather conditions to raise their body temperatures, Mr Srivastava said.

Scientists are also hoping to use a coat of the chilli powder in fences around army barracks as its pungent smell keeps wild animals away.

Pepper spray, which contains a chemical derived from peppers, is another commonly used riot control agent in many parts of the world.

 

[youngindian]

ITBP to send all-women mountaineering team to Mt Everest

National : ITBP to send all-women mountaineering team to Mt Everest : 607939




New Delhi, June 25 The ITBP is planning to send an all women mountaineers team, exclusively trained in adventure sports and expeditions, to conquer the world&aposs tallest peak Mount Everest.
"If ITBP, which has its major deployment at high altitudes and mountains will not prepare and send such a team to the Everest then who will? We will bring together the best women from the force in this effort," Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Vikram Srivastava said.

The force is also sending a women Inspector Bhanita Timugapi with an expedition to Mount Everest in August this year.

The force will soon get a full-fledged women component of atleast 480 trained personnel presently training at the its training centre at Panchkula in Haryana. Adequately skilled and interested women would be taken out of this upcoming component and then further trained in the rigours of mountaineering, Srivastava said.

The ITBP, a border guarding force on the Sino-Indian border had scaled the Mount Everest in 1992, 1996 and 2006 while atleast 20 men from the 50,000-strong force have been on the summit earlier.

Women personnel joining the ITBP have to compulsorily undergo basic training in mountaineering, adventure sports and weapon handling as the force has its major deployment at high altitudes.

 

[Calanen]

India plans hot chilli grenades

India plans hot chilli grenades

Chillis
Indian scientists say the chillis will immobilise but not kill people

Indian defence scientists are planning to put one of the world's hottest chilli powders into hand grenades.

They say the devices will be used to control rioters and in counter-insurgency operations.

Researchers say the idea is to replace explosives in small hand grenades with a certain variety of red chilli to immobilise people without killing them.

The chilli, known as Bhut Jolokia, is said to be 1,000 times hotter than commonly used kitchen chilli.

Scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are quoted as saying the potent chilli will be used as a food additive for troops operating in cold conditions.

And the powder will also be spread on the fences around army barracks in the hope the strong smell will keep out animals.

Other forms of pepper spray are commonly used for crowd control in many parts of the world.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | India plans hot chilli grenades

 

[youngindian]

this thread is already posted by me mate ,in "indian army news update"

 

[venkat]

can we send these grenades to australia, so that indian students can use them to protect themselves against all kinds of attacks?:blum3:

 

[LETHALFORCE]

This will be the deadliest grenade made.

 

[Arjak]

Dont know if the project wd be successfull........it sounds awkward and crappy to me........tear gas,pepper spray etc are already there........cdn't understand how it wd be used in countdrinsurgency

 

[dave lukins]

I think you will find that if this 'weapon' is used in a riot, there will be serious consequences for innocent bystanders in houses, shops and other dwellings, it will most certainly damage the well being of the aged, infirm, and the young. This chili bomb cannot discriminate between the guilty and the innocent and there will be deaths if it is used.

 

[Calanen]

can we send these grenades to australia, so that indian students can use them to protect themselves against all kinds of attacks?:blum3:

I think that the Indians need to use real grenades on the people doing the attacks, and even then, it may not be enough.

 

[Sridhar]

Actually this is a old news catching the western press now

Now, 'Chilli smoke' grenades to dig out holed up terrorists


Tags: Chilli smoke , Grenades , Terrorists
Buzz up!vote now


Published by: Deepak Rana
Published: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 at 11:16 IST

Click Image to Enlarge
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New Delhi, Dec 21: Next time terrorists plan to take hostages, they may have to think twice as the security personnel could be armed with hand grenades laced with chilli powder drawn straight from hills of Northeast.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed this "chilli smoke" grenades which may become useful for bringing out the holed up terrorists.

The grenade, yet to be put to use, has been christened as Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) in which the DRDO has used extract of dried capsicums and a complex mixture of essential oils, waxes, coloured materials, and several 'capsaicinoids' which give burning sensation in the eyes.

"The chemical grenade like the tear gas will only irritate eyes, respiratory tracts and skin.

"OC, is an inflammatory agent and causes an almost immediate swelling of the eyes and breathing passages," W Selvamurty chief controller, Life Sciences and Human Resources, DRDO, told newsmen.

"There is an intense burning sensation in the eyes, throat and the skin happens when the agent is inhaled. The respiratory tract is inflamed and breathing is restricted, being limited to short and shallow breaths," he said.

Psychological effects such as disorientation and fear may also occur, Selvamurty said.

Now, 'Chilli smoke' grenades to dig out holed up terrorists :: Samay Live

Chilli smoke grenades to draw out enemy
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 23
In its latest innovation, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed ‘chilli smoke’ grenades, which would enable the Indian forces to bring out holed up terrorists.

The chilli smoke grenade, which is yet to be put to use, has been christened as Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). Disclosing this, chief controller of DRDO Dr. W. Selvamurthy said chilli smoke grenade would only irritate eyes, respiratory tracts and skin.

Dr. Selvamurthy, who was in Dehradun today to attend a symposium on ‘Defence Technologies for Imaging and Communication 2008, said, “OC, is an inflammatory agent and causes an immediate swelling of the eyes and breathing passages. Hence, this grenade would be handy in fighting with terrorists, particularly when they have taken hostages.”

Asserting that high intensity war seems unlikely today, Dr. Selvamurthy said that DRDO has prepared a roadmap for making devices and equipment, which could be used in counter insurgency operations, fighting terrorism, checking drug trafficking, maintaining law and order and surveillance etc. “With considerable increase in terror strikes and especially after the Mumbai attacks, now the impetus is on enhancing the screening technologies and equipping our soldiers with modern warfare, so that they could fight with terrorists with minimum causalities,” he added.

Dr. Selvamurthy said besides developing ‘concealed weapon detection’ device, which could make it possible to detect any object on the other side of the wall, DRDO is laying emphasis on developing modernised and effective equipment, including light weight bullet-proof jackets, face masks, electronic surveillance and goggles, for the protection of the soldiers.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Dehradun Plus

here is an atricle by Ajai shukla

The Naga Chilli: Spicing up DRDO research
Ajai Shukla / Tezpur (assam) May 04, 2009, 0:27 IST

The Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) offers intellectual challenges, but not an adventurous image. A DRDO director is perceived as a man in a white coat working in a laboratory or gazing at computer monitors. But the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Tezpur, tucked away in the northeast, is far removed from these stereotypes. DRL’s Director, Dr RB Srivastava, will spend time next month sitting in the jungle on a machaan, observing how rampaging elephants react to his revolutionary new weapon: the Naga chilli, or bhoot jolokia, which DRL had proclaimed in 2001 as the hottest chilli in the world.


Chilli power is measured in Scofield Heat Units (SHUs); a spicy Indian green chilli logs in at about 100,000 SHUs. Most people, even Indians, would be reduced to tears by eating anything above 200,000 SHUs. The Naga chilli, DRL discovered, measured 855,000 SHUs, far higher than the reigning champion, the 577,000 SHU Californian Red Savina chilli. When the sceptical Chilli Pepper Institute in the USA examined this claim in 2005, they found the DRL had underestimated. The Naga chilli actually measured over a million SHU.

DRL, Tezpur is harnessing all this spice into military applications, such as high-effectiveness tear gas. Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) asked DRL to explore the possibility of using Naga chilli to keep wild elephants away from villages and fields. The DRL’s solution — a nylon rope coated with Naga chilli placed across paths leading towards human habitation — will be tested in May and June.

Dr Srivastava laughed as he told Business Standard: “The WWF says I will have to be on the machaan when we test the chilli garland. I told them, God knows how the elephants will behave!”

DRL is also experimenting whether Naga chilli, as a food supplement, might help soldiers cope with high altitude environments? The laboratory is also working out ideal cultivation practices — how much water, how much shade, etc — that will add more zing to this chilli.

The Naga Chilli: Spicing up DRDO research

 

[Sridhar]

A tribute to the unknown soldier

A tribute to the unknown soldier

Rahi Gaekwad

Armed forces film archives tell the story of the Indian Army role in World War II

About 62 short films, documentaries are being screened

The films laud the achievements of Indian regiments

MUMBAI: Many will perhaps remember the nail-biting moments when a Sikh soldier bent precariously over a landmine in the Oscar-winning The English Patient, set partly in post-World War-II Italy.

A rich piece of history lies embodied in the character of the Indian soldier fighting in the Allied forces.

The Films Division in Mumbai opened a rare chapter in history on Thursday. About 62 short films and documentaries sourced from the archives of the Armed Forces Film and Photo Division (AFFPD) are being screened over the next two days as part of the World War II Film Festival.

The story of the Indian Army’s contribution in World War II is the story of the War itself. Whatever be India’s differences with Britain, this was India’s war. Independence Day 1947, India Strikes Back, A Day with the Indian Troops in Egypt, The Battle of Kohima, On the Road to Mandalay and The Madras Guards are some of the movies from the black-and-white collection on the list.

Made by British production houses and Bombay Talkies, among others, the films laud the achievements of the various Indian regiments sent to Burma, Italy, Malaya, Egypt, France, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries.

Indians volunteered in large numbers and were among the first to get the Victoria Cross, the equivalent of Param Vir Chakra.

There is intrigue and fascination, as the imperial lens captures the moments with the Indian Army. There is something awesome about the rustic Indian handling mechanised weapons with ease. And there is praise for the physical strength he uses to tame difficult terrain, the strength required to do farm work in India stands him in good stead.

In a way, the films are typical of colonial narratives.

Native food, sports, pleasures are a source of fascination, even amusement. So, the shape of the Indian bread, chapatti, is seen as “strange.”

“The Indian soldier is a very thrifty person. Every month he is able to send a [considerable] amount to his missus and the kiddies,” the narrator informs.

There are even compelling stories that bring home a very indigenous history, a poignant one being the Army’s efforts during the Bengal Famine of 1943. Truckloads of food, labelled ‘Food for the people,’ soldiers cooking and serving cadaverous men, women and children, bathing and treating them, show the humane side of the Army and India’s reality at once.

Major General (Retd.) D’Souza, 89, said to be the only surviving officer from the war period, inaugurated the festival. He highlighted the need for a national war memorial for the Indian soldiers. “Indian troops took part in every single theatre of World War II.” He also urged the youth to watch the films to get themselves acquainted with history and the conditions of the soldiers.

The Hindu : National : A tribute to the unknown soldier

 

[Flint]

Not a bad idea - obviously it will be used for mob/riot control.

 

[Flint]

If I'm not mistaken, an army officer doesn't even tell his wife about his where about. That's what believe. But yes, giving away information on social sites is dangeruos. I hope it's not happening.

Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. the officer's family does know about his whereabouts (atleast his station of posting).

Western militaries are far more liberal about such things. British troops can openly post on blogs describing their tour of duty, and even criticize the army, or the country.

Indian army personnel are forbidden from speaking to the press unless in some official capacity (as spokesperson).