Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 7

The Army today paid tribute to Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav who was killed during an operation in the Keran sector of Kupwara district on Friday.The slain soldier was a member of the Army team that foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Friday.Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said homage was paid to the slain soldier in a solemn ceremony at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar today.“Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua and all ranks of the Chinar Corps laid a wreath to salute the soldier,” he said, adding that a wreath was also laid on behalf of the Northern Command chief.The spokesman quoted the Chinar Corps Commander as having said that such exemplary acts always served as an inspiration to the present and future generations and further steeled the resolve of all soldiers.“A group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate was intercepted by alert troops deployed on the LoC. In the ensuing encounter, Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav sustained gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries,” the spokesman saidMeanwhile, the Army continued its combing operation in the forest area of Keran, nearly 120 km from Srinagar, today. Sources said there was a possibility that the militants might have gone back after the gunfight.“There has been no contact with the infiltrators since Friday,” the spokesman said.

The police alleged that the Commandant of Assam Rifles ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits.

Col Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the Aizawl-based 39th battalion of the Assam Rifles, was arrested today by Aizwal police for allegedly being involved in a highway robbery involving Rs 14.5 crore worth of gold bars smuggled from Myanmar.The police alleged that Singh ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits in the southern outskirts of Aizawl city on the night of December 14 last year.

The incident came to light when driver of the vehicle, Lalnunfela

filed an FIR at the Aizawl police station on April 21 alleging his vehicle was waylaid by armed people from the 39 Assam Rifles who decamped with 52 gold biscuits worth Rs 14.5 crore.

The eight Assam Rifles jawans, accused of participating in the dacoity on December 14 last and now in custody, reportedly told their interrogators that they committed the crime after receiving orders from the battalion Commandant.

Singh, through his lawyer, today applied for an anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the Aizawl District and Sessions Judge Lucy Lalrinthari and he was arrested in the court premises.

He was suspended by Brigadier T C Malhotra, DIG (Range), Commander of the Aizawl-based 23 Sector of the Assam Rifles today.

When contacted, Brig Malhotra, refused to comment saying the matter was “sub-judice”.

The police had constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 22 to investigate the matter and registered cases including dacoity, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity.

The SIT has already arrested four people, including a former well-known student leader and a businessman on April 23 and 24, who were remanded to judicial custody.

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 1

The 75-km road at the China border, being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass in Dharchula subdivision of Pithoragarh district, will take two more years to complete as a rocky portion of the 25-km stretch on the road is proving to be a challenge. BRO officers told Governor KK Paul’s advisers, who arrived in Munsiyari to review the road construction work at the border last week. The Governor’s advisers, Prakash Mishra and Ravindra Singh, had reached Munsiyari to take stock of the development works in the border region.The construction work on this strategically significant road began in 2003 after a survey work on the aligned portion. The construction agency was given five years to complete the road but it took over 15 years till date and still the road was incomplete. “We have constructed 50 km of the road but the 25-km main hard rocky portion between Lakhanpur and Garvadhar is taking time for levelling. Our directorate has decided to take technical help from private companies in this regard,” a BRO officer told the advisers.Pithoragarh District Magistrate Harish Chandra Semwal said the BRO had planned to four-lane this road for which it had sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. “After the completion of construction work, this border road will not only be strategically significant for security forces but also benefit tourists. Kailas Mansarovar and Chota Kailas pilgrims will be able to reach Lipulekh Pass by buses, avoiding a steep trek to high mountains what they are doing at present,” said Semwal.He added the construction of another road from Munsiyari to Milam at the China border in the district was also in progress. The 55-km road had been completed up to 31 km and the work on the remaining portion had slowed due to the hard rocky portion that had emerged between Rilkot and Lilam villages. “The BRO has also claimed that it will complete the road by 2018,” he said.

A ceremonial border personnel meeting of Indian and Chinese troops marked the International Labour Day in eastern Ladakh on Sunday. A Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 1

The Armies of India and China today expressed resolve to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with their senior commanders holding two border meets in Chinese and Ladakh region as part of efforts to build cordial ties.Both Armies, which met on the occasion of International Labour Day, agreed to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides during two ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings (BPM) on the Chinese and the Indian side today, a defence spokesman said here.The meetings took place at Chinese BPM Hut of Moldo and TWD Garrison in eastern Ladakh, the spokesman said.“The delegation parted amid feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC,” he said.The Indian delegation at Moldo was led by Major General Sudhakar and the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Zhan Peng Zhung. At TWD, Lt Col RC Barthwal, SM and Col Song Zhan Li led the Indian and Chinese delegations, respectively.The meetings were marked by saluting the national flag of China by the delegation members. This was followed by ceremonial address by delegation leaders which comprised of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The meeting reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level along the border.Thereafter, a culture programme showcasing vibrant Chinese culture and tradition was organised.Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment.

OROP notification: “The indefinite relay fast has been suspended now as we will be taking the legal recourse. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that proverbial gun was been held to the head of the government by virtue of our presence at Jantar Mantar. (Reuters)

Addresing armed forces veterans staging protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Jethmalani said he would fight their case in the Supreme Court. “I am 93-year-old and I can die any day but I assure you that it will not happen before I get you justice from the Supreme Court,” Jethmalani said. (Reuters)

OROP notification: Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the protesting veterans, claimed a case will be filed by Jethmalani on OROP demand in the Supreme Court in next 3-4 days and he will not charge any fee. He said four more cases have been filed in the armed forces tribunal. (Express photo)

OROP notification: “These cases pertain to rulings for jawans, war widows, arrears since 2006, payments for honorary ranks, rounding off of disability pension, and payments of reservists,” he said. The veterans’ protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 320th day today.

OROP notification: Protesting ex-servicemen tonight suspended their 320-day-old agitation for complete implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) as senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani assured them of leading their legal battle in the apex court. (PTI)

OROP notification: “Now that we have suspended the agitation, we believe that Parrikar will now keep his promises made to us,” said Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson of the ex-servicemen movement. (PTI)

NeW DELHI: Protesting ex-servicemen suspended their 320-day-old agitation for complete implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) on Friday as senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani assured them of leading their legal battle in the apex court.

“The indefinite relay fast has been suspended now as we will be taking the legal recourse. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said that proverbial gun was been held to the head of the government by virtue of our presence at Jantar Mantar.

“Now that we have suspended the agitation, we believe that Parrikar will now keep his promises made to us,” said Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson of the ex-servicemen movement.

Addressing armed forces veterans staging protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Jethmalani said he would fight their case in the Supreme Court.
“I am 93-year-old and I can die any day but I assure you that it will not happen before I get you justice from the Supreme Court,” Jethmalani said.
Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the protesting veterans, claimed a case will be filed by Jethmalani on OROP demand in the Supreme Court in next 3-4 days and he will not charge any fee.He said four more cases have been filed in the armed forces tribunal.  “These cases pertain to rulings for jawans, war widows, arrears since 2006, payments for honorary ranks, rounding off of disability pension, and payments of reservists,” he said.The veterans’ protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 320th day today. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had in September last year announced implementation of the long delayed OROP for ex-servicemen but the veterans have been continuing with their protest demanding “complete” implementation of the scheme.

As a military professional my focus towards the basic personal weapon of the Indian Army and the Infantryman’s mainstay was missing for almost thirteen years after I was commissioned. I was happy with the 7.62 mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR) as it was a far cry from the .303 that I had seen and fired as a youngster when my father was commanding our unit.

The issue of personal weapons finally caught my fancy when I rejoined my unit in Op Pawan (Sri Lanka/IPKF). We had a few captured 7.62 mm AK 47s which were reserved for the Ghatak platoon and for a couple of scouts while we conducted jungle bashing.

The captured AK series, worn and grimy from LTTE over use, carried a romantic aura about it. The greatest thing was that it could fire in automatic mode. Why is that important? In the jungle or urban terrain, response at close quarters is a recurring phenomenon. Automatic high rate of fire from a weapon with an enhanced capacity magazine has far greater chances of success, especially in the crucial two minutes of the first contact.

Rifle 5.56 mm INSAS. (Courtesy: ofbindia.gov.in)

In Op Pawan the Army’s leadership was dynamic in response, even though resources were still of the socialist order. Since AK 47s were not easily available the Ordnance factories quickly gave us 7.62 mm SLR 1C, a modified rifle with a slightly shortened barrel and surgically intervened breach blocks to give a burst capability. My first success in an ambush was with this weapon which I found ingenuously outstanding given the resource position of those days. The only problem with Model 1C was that it overheated very early.

By the Nineties I found myself attending meetings in Army Headquarters about the upcoming wonder, the 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle and family of small arms associated with it. It had artificial furniture and plastic see through magazines which looked very fancy. The feel appeared good and it was a novelty. I felt a change from the aging 7.62 mm SLR would be advantageous. Although I had an experience with 5.56 mm caliber, in the thick jungles of the Wani in Sri Lanka I continued to live by some dictums which I had learnt at the academy but never applied in my mind thereafter. In one instance I saw one of my ‘bhullas’ (Garhwali soldiers) peppered with six rounds fired by an LTTE cadre from an M-16 (5.56 mm) assault rifle. M-16s were popular in Sri Lanka; in fact anything could be popular after the 7.62 mm SLR. But this ‘bhulla’ was running around attending to casualties and least concerned with his injuries. Six bullets in his abdomen did not trouble him until I forced him to start acting like an actual casualty. That is the day I lost confidence in the 5.56 mm variety of small arms. It is true that the terminal effect is dependent on the range at which a bullet is fired and the amount of explosive content it contains. Yet, somehow a mindset seemed to grip me on this.

Indian Army soldier with AK-47 rifles. (File Photo/Getty)

Why am I discussing all this? The reason is simple; the INSAS family which never really matured is now on the way out. In J&K too it is the AK-47 which is depended upon. But the easing out can only happen once the leadership of the Indian Army can finally decide what family of small arms it wants as its next generation small arms weapon system. Reportedly, this issue will be discussed at the ongoing Army Commanders’ Conference this week. It’s been discussed before but a dilemma seems to be gripping the minds of the leadership. The higher leadership comes from my generation which was taught that in battle it is far advantageous to maim or injure your adversary rather than kill him. That forces the adversary to deploy men to tend to the casualty, carry him out to a safe place, evacuate him to the rear areas and thereafter perhaps care for him for life. All this is heavy in resources at all stages, and resource depletion of your adversary is what you always aim in conflict. However, conventional conflict it appears is passé; hybrid is in and it caters for both situations – conventional and sub conventional. I can hold my own in a debate to justify the return to 7.62 mm caliber with an appropriate architecture and composition of the ammunition. The 7.62 mm also has a psychological effect on the adversary when the nature of fatal inflicted injuries is observed. However, anyone who knows small arms also knows that the parameters in consideration have to be weight (of weapon and ammunition), the recoil effect (can’t have a horse buck at the shoulder), the range, the comfort of carrying and firing (ergonomics) and the length of the barrel. Throw in a couple more such parameters and the designer has more issues than he can handle. For me, recoil is a very important factor. In burst mode one can’t afford only the first bullet hitting the target and the rest going astray.

I am not sure if there is a case for a compromise caliber such as 6.8 mm which some foreign analysts speak of. An examination of this would also be interesting. The Indian Army’s dream personal weapon of twin caliber capability with changeable barrels to cater for different calibers has resulted in the acute delay in the final decision. There appear to be no takers for this variety which the General Staff had desired.

AK-47 assault rifles. (File Photo/Getty)

Many in the media are attempting to analyze the benefits of different calibers and other characteristics of small arms. This is interesting and a welcome change because the romance of military technology is usually associated with armour and artillery systems and not infantry weaponry. An issue which no one appears to have considered is the equipping of Infantry and other Combat Arms personnel with specialist small arms of a higher technical order than those of the personnel of other Arms. No doubt in conventional operations it is primarily infantry personnel who will require to use these weapons extensively in offensive/assault mode. Those away from frontlines would primarily be involved in defensive operations in rear areas. However, if the Hybrid variety of operations is considered there may be equally robust operations against well entrenched terrorists in rear areas. The issue to be considered should be the cost effectiveness of going in for one type of product across the board. No doubt uniformity in personal weapons contributes to the overall management of maintenance and logistics but this aspect need not be given undue consideration. The equipping of infantry units with a state of the art weapon which near about meets the dual parameters of both conventional warfare and hybrid operations would be the most recommended option.

Some inexperienced analysts are speaking of 1000 meter range for infantry small arms; they also appear to be mixing all this with the need of sniping which is a completely different domain. Effective ranges for infantry small arms have almost always revolved around the 300 meter mark with increase to 500 meters with stabilization due to a bipod and some more due to tripod stabilization. A target acquisition device in the form of a latch on telescope and an accuracy enhancer in the form of laser assistance are almost mandatory in the modern world.

The AK 47 type of options of burst rapid and controlled burst fire along with single shot continues to be the favourite. Indian infantrymen operate very largely in the mountains and jungle terrain and therefore the weight of the weapon and its ammunition must remain important considerations. A weapon upwards of 4 kg would not be acceptable. In fact sub 4 kg with all latch on accessories is the figure one would be satisfied with. 25-30 round magazines would be desirable when burst modes are adopted. The 20 round 7.62 mm SLR magazine was robust and less prone to malfunctioning; an improvement on that is what is looked for rather than the rather disappointing plastic magazines with conventional spring mechanism that the INSAS went in for.

Whatever it be, the Indian Army has remained in various stages of self-doubt while equipped with the INSAS family. Let us hope that with renewed interest in a new family of weapons and slippages now causing virtual panic the senior hierarchy will finally come to a decision on a subject which should be considered as important as the acquisition of aircraft, tanks and guns.

About the writer

LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN

A Sherwoodian and a Stephanian, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & BAR (Retd) is proud of his educational background as he is of his parentage and his Regiment. A second generation soldier whose father was also a General Officer of the Indian Army, the Hasnain family is fiercely loyal to its Regiment – The Garhwal Rifles. One of Indian Army’s highest decorated General Officers, he was awarded honours for command of troops in every command assignment. The Hasnain family has 10 decorations to its credit, the maximum in any military family with the PVSM being awarded both to father and son, one of the rare achievements. The General has exposure to diverse military situations through service in Operation PAWAN (IPKF in Sri Lanka), Operation MEGHDOOT (Siachen Glacier), Eastern Ladakh, Punjab insurgency, Line of Control (J&K) and the North East. Even abroad he was a witness to the horrific situation in the near genocide in Rwanda(Central Africa) as part of United Nations Forces. The crowning glory was his command of 21 Corps (Strike) and 15 Corps (J&K), ending his career as the Military Secretary of the Indian Army where he introduced his famous HR mantra – ‘Play Friend Not God’. Now associated with two major Delhi based think tanks Vivekanand International Foundation and Delhi Policy Group, the General brings his musings to the public synthesizing his military experience and strategic outlook to express ideas on a range of issues. He speaks frequently at corporate conferences, international institutions such as the Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the training establishments of the three Services, besides the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussorie, National Academy of Customs Excise & Narcotics, Faridabad.

The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for close to 16 lakh defence pensioners even as it leaves out those who would take voluntary retirement in future.

In a statement, the union government said that the benefit will be given with effect from July 1, 2014 and pensions will be re-fixed for those who retired before July 1, 2014 in the same rank and with the same length of service.

The benefit, it said will also be extended to family pensioners including war widows and disabled pensioners.

However, as in the past when the government notified OROP last year, it again made it clear through the union cabinet decision that “personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP” and that “It will be effective prospectively”.

This has invited sharp criticisms from the ex-servicemen fraternity even as Constitution of Judicial a committee headed by former Patna High Court Chief Justice L Narasimha Reddy has been formed to look into any anomalies in implementation of OROP. The committee will give its report in six months. The arrears will be paid in four half-yearly installments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment.

While in future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years, the government said that the financial implications on account of grant of OROP including Pre-Matured Retirees (PMR) cases would be to the tune of Rs 10925.11 crore for payment of arrears and annual financial implication would be Rs 7488.7 crore. Till March 31, 2016, 15.91 lakh pensioners have been given the first installment of OROP, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which amounts to Rs. 2,861 crore.

MoD has sad that the information is being gathered for processing on priority basis, the cases of nearly 1.15 lakh pensioners who have not got their installments due to gaps of information such as the length of service being assessed and others.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar with Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hekmat Karzai during a meeting at South Block in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI

New Delhi, April 26

Ahead of the Heart of Asia conference on peace and stability that will host for the first time, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai here on Tuesday.

“Beginning with the bilaterals. Before Heart of Asia meeting, FS meets Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The meeting comes ahead of the much expected bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.

On Tuesday afternoon, India will host the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process conference aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Apart from India, the Heart of Asia initiative involves 13 other countries – Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.

There are 17 supporting countries – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iraq, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain, the US and the European Union (EU) – as well as 11 regional and international organisations supporting this process, including the UN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).