Monthly Archives: August 2018

The Indian Army’s 3-Corps and some of its officers have been accused of killing three Manipuri youngsters in 2010. The case is pending in Gauhati High Court

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 9

In what may set the alarm bells ringing for security agencies, the number of local youths picking up arms in the Kashmir valley in the first seven months of this year has already surpassed the figures for the entire 2017.Police figures suggest that at least 128 youths have so far joined militant ranks this year. Last year, 126 youths had picked up arms, then the highest since 2010.While security forces are trying to woo back local militants, it seems to have had little impact on the ground. The highest number of recruits, nearly 90 per cent, has come from volatile south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.Nearly two dozen new militants, mostly ill-trained in warfare, have been killed in various operations, a police officer said.J&K Police’s two wings — intelligence and zonal police — separately keep count of militancy-related data. Once a youth goes missing, either the family approaches the police or his picture with a gun surfaces on the social media. The police then crosscheck with sources before listing the youth as a militant.Twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama account for nearly 70 new recruits.The spurt in militant recruitment in south Kashmir follows two major gunfights on April 1 that left 13 local militants, including top local commander Saddam Paddar and professor-turned-militant Mohammad Rafi, dead. This year, the security forces have killed nearly as many militants in hinterland and the Line of Control in various operations. “We have carried many successful operations this year, but youths continue to get lured to militancy, which is worrisome,” a police officer said.The local recruitment started picking up after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in 2016.A majority of these youths have joined Hizbul Mujahideen, followed by Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Azhar Masood-led outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has taken in at least 25 new recruits.“At least nine have joined Al Badr, which was almost defunct,” a police officer from south Kashmir said.Educated being lured 

• In Jan, PhD scholar Mannan Wani joined militancy
• 2 months later, MBA Junaid Sehrai took up arms
• In May, KU asst prof Mohd Bhat joined militant ranks. He was killed in Shopian 36 hours later
• IPS officer’s brother Shamsul  Mengnoo, pursuing BUMS, also joined militancy

The Indian soldier’s wait for an essential part of his kit — a good-quality combat boot — doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

In a recent article, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag (retd) wrote about the poor quality of combat boots soldiers have struggled with for decades.

“India manufactures some of the best shoes in the world, but the Indian Army wears the worst combat boot in the world, which has remained unchanged in design for 130 years, except for the DMS sole. That it costs only Rs 500-600 in the open market is a reflection on its quality!” Panag wrote.

But despite the fact that Indian manufacturers have been exporting boots, even to the US Army, ThePrint has learnt that the search for lighter and more durable combat boots is likely to be long-drawn. This is because the 13 lakh-strong Army is waiting for its last order of the old type of combat boots to be delivered — around 3 lakh pairs of ‘High Ankle DVS’ boots — by 2019.

A High Ankle DVS (Direct Vulcanized Sole) boot is a military combat boot, which, according to the Ordnance Factory Board website, can be used in all type of terrains and seasons.

Also read: In a first, India & Pakistan will be in wargames in China and Russia, troops leave next week

Also adding to the delay is a nod from the defence ministry to farm the existing order to private companies, a policy that the government adopted last year when it de-regulated a number of non-lethal equipment. Sources said private companies have also bid for the first time to make more flexible and better-designed, lightweight combat boots with polyurethane (PU) soles.

Modern combat boots are of different types, depending on the weather conditions of where the troops are placed. These include those with flame resistant material to those with shock-resistant rubber soles made with materials such as Gore-Tex, a lightweight fabric offering increased comfort and durability.

Other popular combat boots include hot-weather mountain combat boots, cold-weather boots for extreme conditions, and intermediate cold wet boots, for varying geographies and weather conditions.

Root of the problem ::

Alongside essentials like battle equipment and uniform, manufacturing combat boots for the Army has traditionally been the monopoly of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Last year, the Ministry of Defence changed this, deciding to open up several of these products to procurement from the open market.

The various types of boots issued through the corps of ordnance are boot DMS (with a rubber sole), boot drill (with leather sole) and boot jungle — the last of which are basically canvas boots with rubber soles issued to troops operating in mountains and jungles.

There has been criticism and complaints from various quarters about the poor quality of OFB-manufactured boots, which many former officers and experts confirmed to ThePrint.

Panag himself said: “The quality of boots was not up to the mark with international standards. The boots were uncomfortable and most of the troops bought their own boots.”

He said despite boots being such an essential item, and the various demands for better quality over the years, governments and the Army itself failed to prioritise their procurement.

Another former Army officer, who did not wish to be named, said the boots were of “inferior quality”.

“They were heavy, the leather was hard; we often had to soften them with Dubbin, and the soles used to come off frequently,” the officer said.

“Time and again, there were questions raised on why the combat boots had to be manufactured by OFB — because they were, anyway, sub-contracting it to other smaller manufacturers. There was a whole Kanpur lobby at work here. This should have been opened for procurement from the civilian market long back.”

The officer added that the general quality of products from the OFB had only deteriorated over time.

Complex procurement process ::

Another reason for the delay in fixing this obvious problem is the Army’s long and complex procurement process.

Explaining the process, a former official said the Army first raises a proposal a couple of times, which then goes through the defence secretary and the defence minister.

“After the approval of the defence minister, the ‘request for information’ is invited, and based on the response, the ‘request for proposal’ is invited. Then the technical evaluation bids are opened, user trials are carried out, and only after that the commercial bids are opened,” the official said.

“Then it goes to the pricing and negotiation committee. In between, the proposal can oscillate between the Army and the MoD several times. This is a process that can take years,” the official said.

Another problem is that of the government’s inability to spend more, this official said. “There is a private company in Kanpur which manufactures good quality boots, which are exported to other countries, including the US. But they are much more expensive than the ordnance factory boots, and won’t find a place among the lowest bidders,” the official said.

However, former defence secretary Shashikant Sharma dismissed claims of government apathy. He said there were indeed some logistical difficulties, but funds were never a problem.

“It is unfair to say that the government did not do enough for providing basic necessities to the Army. I can’t say what happened before 2011, but the government was sensitive to the needs of the Army,” he said.

Army spokesperson Col. Aman Anand told ThePrint that the reason for the delay in procurement of High Ankle PU boots are complexities in the procurement process, a change in the competent financial authority for giving a go-ahead to the order (the Army can give a go-ahead to orders up to a certain amount, beyond which the MoD steps in) and several unwanted representations from various vendors for boots.

However, the former official quoted above said the Army is at fault for the delay.

“By ordering such a large number of boots in one go, the financial powers have gone to the MoD, and hence, there are chances it would be delayed again. For instance, if six lakh boots were ordered in one lot, the Army vice-chief would have retained the financial powers and the procurement could have been faster,” the official said.

Boots can nullify armies ::

A US Department of Defense report titled ‘Improvement of the US Army Intermediate Cold Wet Boot” on cold-weather footwear states that injuries caused to frontline troops due to poor footwear is recorded back to the 1700s.

“Even during World War II, 87 per cent of all US military cold-induced injuries were incurred by front line infantrymen, and in many cases, the combat effectiveness of entire infantry units was nullified,” the report had said.

o mark 72nd Independence Day, the army installed two artillery guns at Fauji Chowk in Bathinda. The landmark is named after naib subedar Nand Singh, with a statue in the background, who was bestowed the Victoria Cross for his heroics in the World War II. He was also awarded Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously, for fighting Pakistani aggressors in J&K in 1947.

Jammu, August 9

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Command chief, accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, visited the Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform) at Reasi to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation on Thursday.General Officer Commanding, Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform), briefed the Northern Command chief on the security situation and the counter-terrorist grid. The Army Commander interacted with soldiers and exhorted them to remain vigilant and counter the designs of anti-national elements.Lt Gen Ranbir calls on VohraSrinagar: Lt Gen Ranbir Singh met Governor NN Vohra here on Thursday. The Governor and Army Commander had discussions to review issues relating to internal and external security management, particularly the recent pattern of infiltration attempts across the Line of Control. TNS

As many as 600 terrorists are stationed at various launching pads, dotted along the Line of Control and right up to Jammu, Intelligence agencies have said. These terrorists are poised to infiltrate into the country, said the inputs. A Home Ministry official told Zee News that these terrorists have the backing of Pakistan Army. He said some of these groups also comprise Pakistan Army jawans who are ready for BAT action on the Indian Army.

This is for the first time, since India’s surgical strikes in PoK, that terrorists are present in such a large number along the border. Sources said this has again laid bare now Pakistan’s words and actions don’t match. Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting, had the Army’s support which led him to a victory in the country’s general elections held recently. Khan had said he was keen to see Indo-Pak relations improve.

However, terrorist presence along the LoC now belies his comments. In Gurej sector, the launching pad has 67 terrorists. There has also been a movement of 96 terrorists in Machal sector, 112 terrorists in Keran sector, 79 terrorists in Tanghar sector. In Naugham, 52 terrorists have been spotted with Pakistan Army men. In Uri sector, 26 terrorists, comprising LeT and JeM recruits, have been seen.

Likewise, 26 terrorists belonging to LeT have been spotted at the launching pad in Rampur sector. In Poonch, the movement of 43 terrorists has been observed. They belong to LeT, Hizbul and Al-badr. In Krishnaghati sector, 21 terrorists have been spotted along with Pakistan Army presence. As many as 40 terrorists are present in Bimbhar gulley, ready to attack the Indian Army. There are six terrorists in Naushera sector and they all belong to either LeT or JeM. In Sunderbani sector, 16 terrorists are lying in wait.

Sources said that in July, the militants made 47 attempts to infiltrate of which they succeeded 28 times. They are the most active in Machal and Keran sectors, said intel inputs.

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, August 12

The police have booked two members of two WhatsApp groups and an admin over objectionable posts. An FIR has been filed against a member and the admin of a group. The case was registered on the complaint of Ranjit Kumar, a resident of City Centre. He had complained regarding posting of a message showing disrespect to Dr BR Ambedkar in a group. A case was registered against Janvir Rinku, who was accused of putting the message, and administrator Munish Agrawal for not removing the post from the group even on the request of the complainant.In another case, the police have filed an FIR against Makkhan Singh of Patiala on the complaint of Ranjit Rana, a resident of Narayan Nagar. The complainant told the police that Makkhan Singh had sent an obscene photograph of a goddess in the group. A case has been registered and further investigations are on.