Indian Army: News and Discussion

[Patriot]

Commanders Conference Begins At Western Air Command

With the underlying theme – 'Enhancing Operational Capability of Western Air Command' the annual Commanders Conference of Western Air Command (WAC) commenced at Head Quarters Western Air Command, Subroto Park today. The two day conference began with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik addressing the commanders of all formations of the Western Air Command as well as the Principal Staff Officers of the Command.

With the Command that has translated its vision into its Mission Statement –'People First, Mission Always', the conference saw Air Marshal NAK Browne, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command exhorting all the commanders to give their highest attention to the people, who are always the greatest asset of any force.

Addressing the commanders he said, "IAF is undergoing major modernization process and WAC occupies a unique position in this transformation drive. The need of the hour is speedy operationalisation of newly inducted equipment with a commitment to preserve and maintain what we already have to the highest possible standards". He further complimented the commanders for the excellent operational standards achieved during the recent Exercise Gauntlet III and exhorted them to keep operations as the main focus area.

The two day conference would have the commanders carry out a data based review as well as focus on key issues such as – Infrastructure development especially in the Northern Region including Leh, Induction of new equipment, Aviation and Maintenance Safety and Welfare of Air Warriors. Concept of Operations of Western Air Command including Operations in support of three affiliated Army Commands would also be reviewed.

Western Air Command of Indian Air Force is a unique Air Force Command as its area of operations extends from the world's highest airfields in the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan. Raised as No.1 Operational Group after independence in 1947, it was re-designated as an Operational Command in 1949. In 1963 it was fully developed as 'Western Air Command, IAF'.





http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/11/commanders-conference-begins-at-western.html

 

[Patriot]

India, Poland Embark On Military Diplomacy

Army Chief General V K Singh and Polish Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Zbig Niew Glowienka today met here, on the latter's first Indian visit with an aim to strengthen and further defence ties between both nations and take the existing military diplomacy at a new level. Glowienka took over as the Polish Chief of General Staff after the untimely death of the Polish President Lech Kaczynski and some of the country's highest military leadership during their visit to Russia in April 2010 when the Russian-made Tupolev crashed. In the accident the then Polish Army chief of staff, General Franciszek Gagor, also died.

Lt Gen Glowienka will also meet the Naval and Air Chiefs during his four-day stay in Delhi, from November 22-25, 2010.

India and Poland had discussed increasing their defence ties during the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Indian visit in September 6-7, 2010.

The first MoU on defence cooperation between New Delhi and Warsaw was signed in February 2003, and both nations have been deliberating on the technology transfer of tank recovery vehicles for the Indian Army. Poland has offered upgradation of India's Russian equipment, which includes armoured vehicles like BMP-II ICV and T-72 tanks and has also shown interest in India's air defence capability.

Meanwhile the British Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox, is on a two-day visit to India from November 22-23, 2010, during which he will visit the EADS (European Aerospace and Defence Systems) facility in Delhi. Secretary Fox will meet Defence Minister A K Antony for strengthening ties between both nations in the defence sector. Fox will also meet National Security Advisor and other union ministers. It may be noted that Eurofighter Typhoon manufactured by EADS is competing in India with five other contenders for an Indian Air Force (IAF) deal for 126 fighter jets.

The last visit by a UK Defence Secretary was in 2005 and this year in July Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and British PM David Cameron, in their joint statement, welcomed the Indo-UK defence cooperation.









http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/11/india-poland-embark-on-military.html

 

[RAM]

Defence down, Indian forces short of 15,000 officers

1,016 officers of its sanctioned strength," said Defence Minister A K Antony in a written reply.The authorised strength of officers in the army was 47,864 officers, in the navy 9,719 while the IAF has a sanctioned strength of 12,211 officers.Tough selection standards, difficult service conditions and people's belief that working for the armed forces is dangerous are some of the reasons for the shortfall, said Antony.He said a number of steps have been taken to do away with the shortage and attract a large number of youth to join the armed forces.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Defen...short-of-15-000-officers/Article1-629610.aspx

 

[Patriot]

Indian Army's munitions disposal to take three months

BY: IANS

An Indian Army operation to dispose off 17,000 pieces of scrap ammunition of unknown origin weighing some 50 tonnes begun earlier this month will last three months, an officer said Monday.

Operation Saiyam was begun in Ludhiana district Nov 10 in association with Punjab's civic authorities and the police. The authorities found the dangerous scrap at a dry port in the industrial hub of Ludhiana in 2004 but it took nearly six years to start the process of disposing it off.

'The requisition for the disposal of the munitions was received by the army in June 2004. Although the preparations for conducting Operation Saiyam were carried out four times, it could not take off because of one or the other reason. On Jan 6, 2009, we got the final sanction from the ministry of defence to start Operation Saiyam,' Major General V.K. Bhatt, chief engineer of the Chandimandir-based Western Command, told reporters here.

'The operation is going on at the Mattiwara forest area from 8.30 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. everyday. There are three phases of this operation. The first is to transport the munition from the dry port to the disposal area. The second is the physical disposal and third is the sanitisation of the area,' he added.

There are two villages – Shekowal and Kalewal – in close proximity of the disposal site. Everyday at 8.30 a.m., 738 residents and 2,500 animals of these villages are evacuated by the police to nearby gurdwaras and other safe places to avoid any untoward incident.

'We have to halt the operation from Nov 24 to 28 as there are two marriages scheduled in the villages. The operation will take over three months,' Bhatt said.

As for the source of the ammunition, Bhatt said: 'The material was imported into the country in the grab of metal scrap to be recycled into steel. It was stored in five containers, four of which were 20 feet long and one was 40 feet in length, at the dry port, which is located amidst a populated area in Ludhiana.'

'The scrap weighs around 50 tonnes. It consists mainly of mortar bombs, projectiles, grenades, rockets, detonators, artillery shells of various calibers and other unknown munitions of foreign origin. The scrap was imported through a Gulf nation but its origin cannot be established with certainty,' Bhatt added.

According to Indian Army officials, incidents have been reported since 2004 of explosive material, ammunition and discarded bombs being found in scrap imported by Indian industries.

Operation Saiyam will cost Rs.13.5 million and the authorities have levied this penalty on the eight private individuals who imported the scrap. Around 50 army officers and 40 police officers are involved in the operation




http://idrw.org/?p=1481

 

[Patriot]

US Afghan pullout: India reaches out to Tajikistan

BY: The Indian Express Limited

With an eye on withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan starting July 2011, India has reaffirmed its bilateral ties with Tajikistan.

During a four-day visit to Tajikistan this month, Army Chief General V K Singh offered a field ambulance unit, military training in counter-terrorism and mountain warfare, and more seats for officers' training in India.

General Singh, the first Indian Army Chief to visit Tajikistan, was in Dushanbe from November 13 to 16.

At a chance meeting with General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, Chief of Staff of Afghan National Army, he exchanged notes on increasing Taliban footprints in Northern Afghanistan, particularly Badakshan province.

The two military chiefs discussed the threat from Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan and the scenario post-US Army withdrawal. US President Barack Obama has stuck to the July 2011 deadline to begin the pullout from Kabul.

An ethnic Tajik and also the Afghan Interior Minister, General Bismillah Khan was undergoing medical treatment in Tajikistan.

In Dushanbe, the Army Chief offered a field ambulance unit for the Tajik Army that had last month lost some 60 men to skirmishes with Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorists in Rasht Valley, bordering the restive Ferghana Valley in Central Asia.

The field ambulance unit comprises some 70-odd medical personnel to provide surgical and medical back-up on the front. India is already helping operate a hospital in Farkhor, just two kilometres from the Tajik-Afghan border, across the Amu Darya river.





http://idrw.org/?p=1485

 

[black eagle]

Commanders Conference Begins At Western Air Command

With the underlying theme – 'Enhancing Operational Capability of Western Air Command' the annual Commanders Conference of Western Air Command (WAC) commenced at Head Quarters Western Air Command, Subroto Park today. The two day conference began with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik addressing the commanders of all formations of the Western Air Command as well as the Principal Staff Officers of the Command.

With the Command that has translated its vision into its Mission Statement –'People First, Mission Always', the conference saw Air Marshal NAK Browne, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command exhorting all the commanders to give their highest attention to the people, who are always the greatest asset of any force.

Addressing the commanders he said, "IAF is undergoing major modernization process and WAC occupies a unique position in this transformation drive. The need of the hour is speedy operationalisation of newly inducted equipment with a commitment to preserve and maintain what we already have to the highest possible standards". He further complimented the commanders for the excellent operational standards achieved during the recent Exercise Gauntlet III and exhorted them to keep operations as the main focus area.

The two day conference would have the commanders carry out a data based review as well as focus on key issues such as – Infrastructure development especially in the Northern Region including Leh, Induction of new equipment, Aviation and Maintenance Safety and Welfare of Air Warriors. Concept of Operations of Western Air Command including Operations in support of three affiliated Army Commands would also be reviewed.

Western Air Command of Indian Air Force is a unique Air Force Command as its area of operations extends from the world's highest airfields in the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan. Raised as No.1 Operational Group after independence in 1947, it was re-designated as an Operational Command in 1949. In 1963 it was fully developed as 'Western Air Command, IAF'.





http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/11/commanders-conference-begins-at-western.html

moderators please move this to the air force section... Thank you...

 

[neo29]

India deploys new border divisions to counter massive Chinese advantages

As China's belligerence in terms of Kashmir policy and claim over Arunachal Pradesh grows despite increased bilateral trade relations and common interests in climate and trade talks at global forums, India is stepping up its efforts to strengthen its border security. It has now deployed two new army divisions – comprising more than 36,000 men – to defend its north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Apart from adopting a new policy of regarding Kashmir as a disputed territory, China recently took to calling Arunachal Pradesh as southern Tibet to strengthen its territorial assertion over the state.

The Times of India Nov 23 cited Indian Defence ministry officials as saying the two infantry mountain divisions included 1260 officers and 35011 soldiers, and that it will be fully "operational with specialized equipment" by 2011.

Similarly, the first battalion of Arunachal Scouts, a paramilitary force, will be up and running by May 2011. A Sikkim Scouts will also be set up. The two mountain-fit, son-of-the-soil forces will help the army protect the Sino-Indian border in the two states.

BBC News online Nov 23 said the new, 56th Division will be based in the nearby state of Nagaland to guard the eastern flank of Arunachal Pradesh from Chinese attack through Burma. The other new formation, the 71st Division, will be based in Assam to protect central Arunachal Pradesh.

Already the Indian Fifth Mountain Division guards western Arunachal Pradesh while another division is responsible for protecting the eastern part of the state.

The report cited a staff officer with the Indian Army Chief General VK Singh, who pushed very hard for the new divisions, as saying the new formation was India's response to the "huge Chinese build-up" in Tibet over the last three to four years.

India has also cited China's "superb" communications system, especially after the completion of the Lhasa train line in 2006, and its far superior airlift capability as reasons for the border-strengthening moves.

The BBC report said the formation of the two new divisions means that India's deployments in the eastern sector of its border with Chinese ruled Tibet now matches the five army divisions that existed in 1986-87, when the two countries nearly went to war. It added that's both the sides scaled down their deployments after they signed a "Peace and Tranquillity" treaty in 1993 as part of a confidence-building package.

Chinese reaction
While China is yet to officially react to the Indian move, its official Global Times newspaper Nov 23 cited Chinese experts as dismissing what it called "the defiant move" as a misstep on New Delhi's behalf. "Such a move aims to add chips to the upcoming China-India talks on border disputes," it quoted Wang Dehua, an expert on India at the Shanghai International Studies Center, as saying.

It seems that "those hawkish groups in New Delhi are getting above themselves after the US voiced support for India's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council," Wang was further quoted as saying.

It also cited Sun Shihai, an expert on Asia Pacific studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying, "By making such a move, India showed its unwillingness to make a concession during the demarcation talks."

China and India are to hold the 14th meeting between their special representatives on border issues on Nov 29-30. China's official Xinhua news agency recalled that the two countries had designated special representatives for demarcation work in 2003 and signed a political guideline on demarcation during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in 2005.Their last meeting was held last year in New Delhi, with the two sides agreeing to push forward the framework of the talk process and to make common efforts to keep peace and calm in their border areas.

idrw.org

 

[anand_6869]

Defence down, Indian forces short of 15,000 officers


http://www.hindustantimes.com/Defen...short-of-15-000-officers/Article1-629610.aspx

I think that all this officer shortage seems to be pure hype the intake even thru CDS and SSB is very less many tens of thousands try out and barly a handfull are selected I myself tried out multiple times and didnt get selected the written exam is extremely tough but the selection process , exercises and psycho analysis tests you are subjected to are out of this world, only the best are selected based on a very stringent selection criteria,,, so I decided to take the Jawan route .... as per my observations all this shortage is barely visible in the forces the Subedars and Hawaldars just have a few higher responsibilities and handle the additional responsibilities very well they seem to be capable of more higher responsibilities the Officer dosent seem extremely overburdened and unable to control his men , with the competent NCOs out there he dosent have to be in a tight fix and a good percentage of gaps can be filled by experienced NCOs who are equally capable as any chap who applies for CDS I guess all this shortage hype may be to encourage more youth to apply so even better officers can be selected...

 

[Rage]

I think that all this officer shortage seems to be pure hype the intake even thru CDS and SSB is very less many tens of thousands try out and barly a handfull are selected I myself tried out multiple times and didnt get selected the written exam is extremely tough but the selection process , exercises and psycho analysis tests you are subjected to are out of this world, only the best are selected based on a very stringent selection criteria,,, so I decided to take the Jawan route .... as per my observations all this shortage is barely visible in the forces the Subedars and Hawaldars just have a few higher responsibilities and handle the additional responsibilities very well they seem to be capable of more higher responsibilities the Officer dosent seem extremely overburdened and unable to control his men , with the competent NCOs out there he dosent have to be in a tight fix and a good percentage of gaps can be filled by experienced NCOs who are equally capable as any chap who applies for CDS I guess all this shortage hype may be to encourage more youth to apply so even better officers can be selected...

Anand, I'm curious. Tell me more about your experience. Because I plan to write the CDSE as well.

What regiment are you in? and where are you based? And how is this different- or not- compared to previous years.

 

[Anshu Attri]

Pakistan army soliders killed in Kargil 1999

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AsYdZaad5RJ0dDBRajBLQXVuc3ptb2pZd3BvSEdXNkE&hl=en&authkey=CLrg5u8F#gid=0

 

[RAM]

Indian army instructors to teach at Royal Military Academy, UK

Indian Army instructors could shortly be snapping out commands — for the first time ever — at one of the finest training institutions in the world: the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Surrey, UK. The British defence ministry is weighing a proposal to swap instructors between Sandhurst and the India Military Academy, Dehradun. Hayden Allan, special adviser to the UK defence minister, said the UK was working on the bilateral arrangement, hoping to open a new chapter in long-term defence exchanges with India.


The move will be a change for the IMA too as it has never had foreign instructors before.The UK intends to swap captain-level instructors, drawn from the very best of the two armies.Ordering cadets to do press-ups and pull-ups at Sandhurst will be a coveted assignment for any Indian instructor. Started as the Royal Military Academy in 1741, Sandhurst has trained generations of army officers of our former colonial ruler.


But at least two former Indian army chiefs, General Maharaj Sri Rajendra Sinhji and General JN Chaudhuri, were trained at Sandhurst.
Not surprisingly, so too were a number of Pakistani army chiefs, including Gen Ayub Khan, who went on to become the country's dictator. Other famous figures from Sandhurst include the late British prime minister Winston Churchill, the Sultan of Brunei, King Hussein of Jordan and Princes William and Harry.The UK's keenness to swap army instructors are a reflection of India's lofty status in London's defence diplomacy.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India...oyal-Military-Academy-UK/Article1-632494.aspx

 

[Patriot]

Indian Army to train in high tech warfare – General AS Lamba

BY: himachal.us

Shimla: With newer technologies changing the warfare threat perceptions, outgoing ARTRAC commander Lt General AS Lamba today emphasized on change in training methods and strategies and change building forces capabilities for new and emerging technologies.

General Lamba, who was on his way to take up his new assignment as Vice Chief of Army Staff, was interacting with senior army officers after inspecting an impressive Guard of Honour at Annadale before departing for Delhi.

Quoting Army Chief VK Singh about 'an army is as good as it trains' he said, "transformation in training is about total change; change in how the army deploys and employs forces; change in its ability to adapt to a wider range of missions across the full spectrum of warfare and change in leadership development process."

Speaking ARTAC (Army Training Command) he said that it carried the onerous responsibility of evolving and articulating operational doctrines, concepts and philosophies as an expression of Indian Army's fundamental approach to war-fighting in the emerging operational environment.

While at ARTRAC, General Lamba has articulated the new Indian Army Doctrine and has strongly advocated joint training exercises for the three forces for improving combat effectiveness.

For a million strong and the second largest army, training will remain a huge challenge for ARTRAC for which the Training Institutions would gradually transform into Centre of Excellence, he said.

Excellence in the art and science of war' remains the credo and the guiding spirit behind Army Training Command remains', he added.

Recently he also was instrumental in holding a seminar on Media-Military Synergy which set benchmarks in fostering mutual understanding with the media.

ARTRAC command looks at transforming war-fighters to operate successfully in the realms of high technology environment.

The Army is provisioning state of art infrastructure and equipment to simulate battlefield as also addresses the fields of e-Learning and distant learning in training establishments for proliferation to the entire environment which make learning more accessible beyond the legacy systems.






http://idrw.org/?p=1673

 

[RAM]

Muslim general to defend LoC

NEW DELHI: Lt General S A Hasnain on Saturday took over as the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Srinagar based 15 Corps. He replaces Lt Gen N C Marwah. Hasnain is only the second Muslim officer to command 15 Corps, a crucial shield against Pakistan's offensive intent. He comes from a family of soldiers. His father, too, was commissioned in the 4 Garhwal Rifles, annd retired as a Major General.

Considered as an expert in both conventional and counter-terrorism operations, the new GOC of 15 Corps is one of the most experienced officers, having commanded most of the formations in the volatile Valley for more than a decade. Lt General Hasnain will be responsible for guarding the Line of Control (LoC), checking inflitration and for subduing the threat of insurgency. The last Muslim officer to have commanded the 15 Corps was Lt Gen M K Zaki.
On Friday evening, Lt General Hasnain called on Governor N N Vohra, where infiltration was high on the agenda during the discussion.

He gets the charge against the backdrop of fresh attempt to revive militancy in the border state and a growing chorus for pulling out armed forces from the Valley. Though his last assignment was the leadership of 21 Strike Corps, one of the Army's three offensive divisions, based in Bhopal, he is no stranger to troubled Jammu and Kashmir, having held important positions during his earlier stints. His past tenures in the Valley included a stint with the Uri Brigade, close to the LoC. He had also commanded the Dagger Division in Baramulla in 2008.

He is the only officer who has commanded all major formations in the Valley -- Brigade as well as Divisions. He led the Uri Brigade to rush aid when a devastating earthquake had hit the Valley. He has put in more than 10 years in the Valley.




Read more: Muslim general to defend LoC - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...end-LoC/articleshow/7044783.cms#ixzz17Bnc5eJB​

 

[Rage]

NEW DELHI: Lt. General S A Hasnain on Saturday took over as the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Srinagar based 15 Corps.

Lt. Gen. S A Hasnain is a good man for the job. He's spent the bulk of his three decades in service in the state.

He knows Baramullah well, having commanded the 'Dagger' division for over 10 years.

What I like about the man is that he's well-read. And he certainly knows how to project 'soft power'.

 

[Patriot]

Tactical Battlefield Communication System for Indian Armed Forces

he Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju has said that the Indian Armed Forces will soon have in place a Tactical Battlefield Communication system. Inaugurating a two day seminar on "Converged Info-structure for a Transformed Force" here today, Shri Pallam Raju said that the Tactical Communication System (TCS), a project of the Corps of Signals, is well on the way after some initial delays.

Calling upon the private industry to partner with the Armed Forces, Shri Pallam Raju said that the TCS "is being progressed under the 'Make' category and provides the Indian Industry an excellent opportunity to seek its share of defence production". Underling that the defence equipment manufacturers and development agencies cannot leave the mission critical performance to chance, he asked the industry to set up state-of-the-art testing facility for quality assurance.

In view of the distinct strength of the Indian I&CT industry, Shri Pallam Raju said that the Armed Forces expect "substantial participation by the private sector". "In order to synergise and enhance the national competence in producing globally competitive defence equipment without time and cost overruns, the government is exploring all viable initiatives such as formation of consortia, joint ventures and public-private partnerships", he said.

In his address, the Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh said that the battle space is slowly but surely shifting from Platform Centric to Network Centric Warfare. "A strong, robust and secure information grid is therefore a prerequisite for this. The information grid must always act as a force multiplier and an enabler for the soldier as well as the Commander in the battlefield", he said.

The Army Chief said that the drive towards network-centricity began a few years ago and has already been operationalised. "Once equipped, I see our Armed Forces increasingly harnessing the power of data and voice networks to blend decision makers, sensors and shooters into an efficient and lethal mix of flexible, coordinated and a fast moving combat force that uses information as a weapon to strike with pinpoint precision, and bring unprecedented firepower to bear with a much smaller strength in numbers", he said.

The Signal Officer-in-Chief Lt Gen P Mohapatra cautioned that the newer technologies also increased vulnerabilities of the forces. "Security must therefore remain a key central issue to the transformation process", he said.

The proceedings of the two-day seminar are being web-cast live on the Army Intranet and video conference with the Command Headquarters. The seminar also showcases the rich history of the Corps of Signals, which is celebrating its Centenary this year.



http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4876

 

[RAM]

Indian Army, BITS Pilani plan collaborative research news

Indian Army and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani will actively collaborate in research in frontier areas of technology such as robotics, artificial intelligence and computer simulation to improve the Army's command and control and surveillance systems.The Army's association with BITS Pilani is part of its plan to increase technological capabilities through engagement with premium institutions in the country, Chief of Army Staff General V K Singh said at the Pilani campus of BITS today.



This would also help the Army attract talent from the top technology institutes in the country."It is the intent of the Indian Army to do its utmost to ensure that we collaborate with premium institutes such as BITS Pilani to utilse the full potential of technological knowledge and expertise. We are looking forward to a lasting fruitful association with BITS Pilani," General Singh said.Just as technology has revolutionised the Army, General Singh said, it is equally important to upgrade technology on an active and continuous basis so as to ultimately benefit the armed forces.

"We are proud to be called upon by the Indian Army to collaborate on science and innovation. We wholeheartedly welcome this opportunity and look forward to the association.
We invite Army officers to take advantage of our postgraduate programmes and gain access to our innovative and effective work integrated learning programmes that have successfully enhanced the knowledge and capabilities of 16,000 professionals in the past," Professor B N Jain, vice chancellor of BITS Pilani, said at the ceremony.



http://sify.com/finance/germany-off...hird-party-sale-news-default-kmgwatfidje.html

 

[nitesh]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...y To Receive Upgraded Schilka Tanks Next Year
Indian Army To Receive Upgraded Schilka Tanks Next Year

"The tanks used gas turbine engines that consumed over 90 liters of fuel per hour," Jain says. "Today, we have replaced them with diesel engines that consume just nine liters per hour. We are also putting new cameras on board with . . . thermal imaging capabilities. This will add more teeth to the platform."

 

[youngindian]

DNA profiling of armymen soon

New Delhi, January 02, 2011

The Indian Army will start DNA profiling of its soldiers this year for their identification in case of mutilation of bodies during an operation, attack or mishap. "We will begin DNA profiling of soldiers from this year as the profiling centre and data bank are almost ready," Lieutenant General Naresh Kumar ,Commandant of Army Hospital Research and Referral, said.

Being set up at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, the centre will collect the blood samples of the troops who are involved in hazardous tasks including fighting militancy and store them in a DNA data bank.

The DNA profiling centre is being established to help in identification of bodies mutilated beyond recognition.

"Now that this centre and DNA data bank are almost ready to take off, we will be able to easily recognise the mutilated dead bodies that we get during war time, from an episode of avalanches or from blast sites.

"In such situations, we sometimes end up getting just a body part making it difficult for us to identify the jawan we lost and even to conclude the number of casualties that have occurred in such episodes," Major General Mandeep Singh, ADG, Medical Research, Armed Forces Medical Services, said.

"We are contemplating introducing the DNA profiling for our fresh recruits. But first we will try its efficacy with a sample population in Pune," Major General Singh said.

He said, "We lost many of our people in the Kashmir ammunition depot blast in 2007. Recognition of the bodies was a difficult task because the blast tore them apart. We got body pieces. If we had a data bank, recognising the dead would have been easier."

The need for DNA profiling was felt in the United States after the 9/11 attacks.

With regard to the US military, all enlisted and commissioned military personnel must provide blood samples which are preserved on special blood spot cards that are then stored, as the modern 'dog tags', for use in the event of an individual being killed, injured or missing in action, according to a Harvard Medical College paper.

The blood spot cards provide a source of a reference DNA sample to be used in identification of "the unknown soldier", or as in the case of the 9/11 Pentagon attack, to return the remains of the victims to their families.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/DNA-profiling-of-armymen-soon/H1-Article1-645523.aspx

 

[SpArK]

Photos : Vice President Inaugurates NCC Republic Day Camp-2011​

 

[SpArK]