Indian Army: News and Discussion

[bhramos]

New Frontier: Army promoting water transport - The Times of India

 

[bhramos]

Indian Army pitches again for operational control over ITBP - The New Indian Express

 

[bhramos]

Army felicitates ex-servicemen, brave women - The Times of India

 

[cobra commando]

Soldiers from India's army are training at Fort Bragg

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Soldiers from India's army are training at Fort Bragg

The 82nd Airborne Division Band struck up "Carolina in the Morning " as a coalition color guard held the U.S. and Indian flags side by side Friday on Fort Bragg.

The ceremony on Pike Field marked the beginning of Yudh Abhyas 2013. About 200 soldiers from the Indian army will be on Fort Bragg for the U.S.-Indian exercise through May 17. The scenario calls for the two armies to work together under a United Nations mandate.

"The United States has the world's oldest democracy, and India, the largest," Brig. Jagdish Chaudhari said.

"We have a lot to learn from each other, especially in our approach to handling the modern-day challenges."

Chaudhari is commander of the Indian army's 99th Mountain Brigade.

The 82nd Airborne Division is participating for the first time in the ninth annual U.S.-Indian exercise. U.S. Army Pacific, which is based in Hawaii, sponsors the exercise.

The division's 1st Brigade Combat Team is working with the Indian army's 99th Mountain Brigade. Units represented on the parade field also included the 3rd Squadron of the 73rd Cavalry Regiment and, from India, the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Gurka Rifles, the 50th Independent Para Brigade and the 54th Engineers Regiment.

During the ceremony, Sgt. Balkrishna Dave, a U.S. soldier who was born and raised in India, read the narration in Hindi. He is assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg.

The Indian soldiers gave the British-style salute with the open palm forward as the national anthems were played.

"The relationship between the two nations is unique," said Chaudhari, the Indian brigadier. "Both constitutions commence with the same words: 'We the people.' That is the level of partnership that we share."

The U.S.-Indian exercise dates to 2004. Yudh Abhyas is Hindi for "training for war."

"This year is the largest ever conducted," said Maj. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"This is a very important time for us to conduct an exercise of this nature," Nicholson said. "America is in the 11th year of its longest war. It is a war being conducted in south Asia.

"India recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan, which will help to ensure that the stability going forward will continue after we depart with our military presence," Nicholson said.

"India has invested heavily in the Afghan economy, building roads, educating Afghans in Indian universities, offering help across all dimensions of Afghan society. We appreciate your help to create a more stable environment in this critical region of the world, where many of these soldiers you see before you have fought so long and hard."

Some regiments of the Indian army have longer histories than the United States, Nicholson said.

The exercise is important as the United States and the U.S. Army increase their focus on the Pacific, Col. Trevor Bredenkamp said. He is commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Yudh Abhyas is occurring for the first time at Fort Bragg and in the continental United States, Bredenkamp said.

Both armies will learn about each others' cultures, as well as weapons and tactics, Nicholson said. The staffs will plan together in field training exercises and command post exercises, he said.

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Government says no to compulsory military stint

The Union Government is not in favour of making military training compulsory to the youth of the country, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha that the government, though aware of the compulsory military training that certain nations around the world provide to their citizens, was not in favour of the idea as it would "lead to militarisation of an entire nation".

"With our socio-political and economic conditions, it is highly undesirable, lest some of the unemployed youth trained in military skills join the ranks of the radical forces," he said, giving out reasons for the government's stand. India's democratic polity and its Constitution that does not provide for such compulsory military training were also mentioned as the reasons. "... in our democratic set up, people are free to choose their professions... compulsion in respect of military training, it is felt, would go against the democratic ethos," Antony said.

With the armed forces getting a large number of volunteers to draw upon, there was no problem in getting adequate number of recruits. All the youth of the country, therefore, do not compulsorily need to be given military training, he said.

Among the logistics and financial constraints, Antony noted that large number of training centres with adequate facilities would be required if everyone went for military training. "The likely benefits of imparting military training to all the youth will not be commensurate with the expenditure involved. This would translate into an unmanageable figure and will also be a big drain on limited resources of a developing country," he said.

Moreover, the youth contribute to the productive workforce of the country and diversion of such workforce would be counterproductive for the nation as a whole, he said.

Government says no to compulsory military stint - The New Indian Express

 

[U Sun Dar]

Japan's Chief of Army Staff General Eiji Kimizuka visited the Eastern Command Headquarters at Fort William here Tuesday and discussed issues concerning security and enhancing military ties between the two armies.

General Kimizuka interacted with Eastern Command chief Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh during his one-day official trip to Kolkata.

"The two discussed issues concerning security, enhancing military ties between the armies and other issues of mutual interest," according to a defence press release.

General Kimizuka is on a four-day visit to India from Sunday.

 

[arnabmit]

Ohkay... That's why so many police were deployed on E.M. Bypass...

Japan's Chief of Army Staff General Eiji Kimizuka visited the Eastern Command Headquarters at Fort William here Tuesday and discussed issues concerning security and enhancing military ties between the two armies.

General Kimizuka interacted with Eastern Command chief Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh during his one-day official trip to Kolkata.

"The two discussed issues concerning security, enhancing military ties between the armies and other issues of mutual interest," according to a defence press release.

General Kimizuka is on a four-day visit to India from Sunday.

 

[bhramos]

Kolkata: Indian Army's first woman jawan Shanti Tigga was found hanging in a railway hospital in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Tuesday, police said.

A senior police officer said prima facie it appeared to be a case of suicide.

The 37-year-old Tigga's body was found in the toilet of a cabin at the Alipurduar Railway Hospital.

Tigga, attached to the 969 Railway Engineer Regiment of the Territorial Army and posted at the Chalsa Railway station, was last week found tied to a post by the railway track at Deopani village and later claimed that she was abducted by unknown people.

She was admitted to the hospital after that.

"It appears to be a case of suicide. She was provided security and there were guards outside the cabin," the senior police officer said.

Her son, who was also in the cabin, raised an alarm after she did not come out of the toilet for long.

The guards found her hanging after they broke open the door to enter the toilet.

Joining the Indian Railways in 2005, Tigga successfully cleared tests to join the Railway Engineer Regiment of the Territorial Army. Six years later, she became the first woman jawan of the Indian army.

A police officer said a probe was on against Tigga following accusations that she had taken money from people on the pretext of getting them jobs.

- See more at: Indian navy hit by another sex scandal | ummid.com

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Rest In Peace..

Terrible News..

=================================
=================================

First female jawan honoured

Another high: President Pratibha Patil honouring Indian Railways' SPR Shanti Tigga, a member of the Territorial Army, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Ms. Tigga, 35, is the first female jawan in the defence forces. — Photo: PTI

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Days after abduction, first woman jawan found hanging in hospital

THE Territorial Army's first woman jawan, 35-year-old Sapper Shanti Tigga, was found hanging in a hospital cabin today — four days after she was allegedly kidnapped and left tied to a pillar by the railway tracks.

She was kidnapped on May 9 after duty and rescued the next day by a train driver. She was admitted to Alipur Duar Railway Division Hospital on May 11.

Police had reportedly found her story of abduction inconsistent and called her for interrogation several times, Today, at 4.30 pm, when her son came to pay her a visit, he found the door of the hospital cabin locked from inside. When she did not answer his knocks, the door was broken open in the presence of police and railway officials. Tigga was found hanging with a towel tied around her throat.

A family member said she was under a lot of stress because she was called for interrogation several times by the Additional SP of Jalpaiguri. "She just couldn't take the toll after being abducted and beaten up," the family member alleged.

Tigga had joined the Railways in 2005 on compassionate ground after her husband died. The mother of two had joined the 969 Railway Engineer Regiment of Territorial Army in 2011, beating her male counterparts in physical tests.

- See more at: Days after abduction, first woman jawan found hanging in hospital - Indian Express

 

[Ankit Purohit]

very sad RIP

 

[Ray]

Very unusual and mysterious.

One wonders what could be the reason?

 

[pmaitra]

Very sad.

RIP - and I hope we are taking good care of our lady soldiers.

 

[ladder]

Indian Army asks all units to take steps against drug trafficking

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the arrest of an Army Colonel in connection with a narcotics smuggling case, the Indian Army has issued an advisory to its units to take steps to curb any such illegal activity.

An advisory has been sent to all the units and formations on the issue of drug trafficking for "curbing tendencies and activities" in that direction, sources said here on Friday.



In the advisory, the Army has also expressed concern over the increasing use of drugs in the society, they said.

The advisory comes against the backdrop of the arrest of a defence ministry public relations officer at Imphal and six others in Manipur, with illegal drugs worth Rs 15 crore, meant to be smuggled out to bordering Myanmar.

On the arrest in Imphal in February this year, the Army Headquarters had said that the group was ferrying tablets of the banned pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that can be abused as stimulant, among other contraband, in three vehicles towards Moreh, a border town in Myanmar. The other drugs included Respifed, Omkop, Hilcold, Polyfed and Actidin tablets.

Army officers besides the civil police in Manipur are probing the case and are expected to file their report in this regard soon.

PTI

Indian Army asks all units to take steps against drug trafficking

 

[ladder]

Army clerk arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan

JAIPUR: A 43-year-old upper division clerk in the army's South Western Command in Jaipur has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). BK Sinha had flown to Nepal at least four times over the past two years at the ISI's expense, allegedly to pass on strategic information to a Pakistani agent there.

Army clerk arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan - The Times of India

 

[ladder]

Kupwara: Army foils infiltration bid, JCO killed

Peerzada Ashiq, Hindustan Times Srinagar, May 18, 2013

A junior commissioned officer was killed and a soldier injured on Saturday morning while repelling a bid by four heavily-armed militants to enter Kashmir valley from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Machil sector along the Line of Control, an army spokesman said.

Army spokesman Lt Col Ankur Vashist told the Hindustan Times that the gunfight started when the jawans of 55 Rashtriya Rifles came face to face with the militants at around 2.38am.

In the ensuing gunfight near Dingeri Post, more than 130km north of Srinagar, JCO Arun Kumar was killed and jawan Solanki Raju grievously injured.

"The infiltration bid was successfully foiled. All the militants fled back to PoK, leaving behind their stores," Vashist said, adding though Pakistani soldiers did not provide covering fire to the intruders but the infiltration bid could not have happened without their knowledge.

"As summer has set in, attempts to push in militants from across the border will also increase," the spokesman said.

This was the second major infiltration bid this year, after an attempt on May 8 to push militants into the valley from PoK was foiled too.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in January this year, when Indian soldier Lance Naik Hemraj Singh was beheaded and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh's body mutilated in a raid---allegedly masterminded by Pakistan army---along the LoC by a group of militants.

Meanwhile, a combing operation launched on May 7 against a batch of militants that has intruded into the valley from the PoK recently was still on.

More than 700 soldiers are scouring a vast area straddling Kupwara and Handwara in north Kashmir in search of the militants who have so far succeeded in hiding themselves in dense forests and mountain crevices.

http://http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Srinagar/Kupwara-Army-foils-infiltration-bid-JCO-killed/Article1-1062012.aspx

=============================================================================================

RIP

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Rest In Peace..

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

FOL supply cut may hit Army's mobility

The country's 13.3 lakh-strong Army, which is the world's second largest standing Army next only to the Chinese PLA, may face mobility issues in the coming days following a reported move by the Centre to effect a 40 per cent cut in the fuel, oil and lubricants -- called FOL in defence parlance -- supplies to the Armed Forces.

Military sources attributed it to an audit recommendation, which also resulted in lower allocation in the 2013-14 Defence Budget.

In fact,the Army relies on oil marketing companies (OMC) like the Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum for its fuel, oil and lubricant supplies, besides the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for its aircraft.

"The cut in the fuel, oil and lubricants, is estimated to be around 40 per cent this year," an Army officer told Express.

"This could only mean that there will less movement of the convoys and lesser training sessions for the troopers, considering that the nearly 30,000 light vehicles such as jeeps and cars, 10,000 trucks, 4,200 armoured tanks, 1,900 infantry combat vehicles and the 6,600 artillery gun vehicles depend on FOL for their mobility," the officer, posted at the Army headquarters (HQ), pointed out.

His concern in this regard was confirmed by the Army officers posted on the ground.

The Army receives the FOL supplies from the OMCs at over 100 locations across the country, while the IAF and the Navy get it from the 50-odd and 10-odd locations respectively.

And the Armed Forces' FOL requirements include petrol, diesel, LPG, superior kerosene oil and other lubricants.

The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) pays the full market price to the OMCs for the supplies as they are not provided with any subsidies unlike the civilian sector.

Meanwhile, this year's Budgetary estimates for FOL clearly show the impact of the cuts that have been effected.

The Army's revised Budgetary estimates for 2012-13 for petrol alone was Rs 193 crore, but it has been allocated only Rs 160crore for 2013-14, which means a slash of nearly Rs 33 crore.

Similarly, the Army's revised Budget last year for diesel was Rs 755crore, but this year's Budgetary allocation came to only Rs 730crore, again a cut of Rs 25crore.

While the total revised estimates for FOL last year was Rs 1,775crore, the Army got only `1,738 crore for 2013-14. In comparison, the 90,000-strong Navy's Budgetary allocation this year towards FOL is slightly better than the Army's.

FOL supply cut may hit Army's mobility - The New Indian Express

 

[ladder]

Military sources attributed it to an audit recommendation, which also resulted in lower allocation in the 2013-14 Defence Budget.

What did the audit find out to recommend 40% cut?