Link India Military Eyes Combined Threat

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have told the countryâ??s parliament last month that he doesnâ??t expect an attack by China, but Indiaâ??s military is taking no chances.

The worldâ??s second-largest army, which celebrated its 64th Army Day on January 15, is on the cusp of implementing a major transformation in its organizational structure and war strategies to meet a possible combined threat from China and its ally Pakistan.

The change follows more than half a decade of annual exercises involving one of Indiaâ??s three strike corps and a desert corps, which have engaged in operations to fine-tune a strategy that would enable India to take Pakistan by surprise.

Under this concept, the defensive corps close to the border with Pakistan have been re-designated â??pivotâ?� corps, and have been handed enhanced offensive elements under integrated battle groups (IBG) that consist of division-sized forces comprising armor, artillery and aviation assets designed to swiftly hit Pakistan before the strike corps, located deeper inside India, would be able to mobilize.

This is supposed to offer India the so-called â??cold startâ?� option, under which the IBGs would swing into action in less than 48 hours.

Speaking to me for Indian broadcaster NDTV last week, Indian Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh explained the concept, although he refrained from actually referring to it as â??cold start.â?�

â??Our aim was to make the army more agile, more lethal, more responsive, and networked army that is able to meet with the future threats,â?� he said. â??To that extent, certain steps were laid down. One of the things we looked at was the restructuring of our organizations into groupings that will take place in battle. So, we have validated these. Certain changes have come about because of our validation in test bedding. These are coming into effect.â?�

The transformation study, carried out under Singh while he was commanding the Eastern Army as part of a previous assignment, started validating the concepts from 2010. As the Times of India noted, Exercise Vijayee Bhava (Be Victorious), for instance, practiced blitzkrieg-style operations to hit the enemy hard at short-notice. According to the paper, it essentially revolved around the armor-intensive 2 Corps.

However, the two-month-long Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, conducted in November and December of last year, not only took the concept further, but added several new dimensions to Indiaâ??s war-fighting theories. For the first time, the Army successfully used its satellites and UAVs to provide a real-time picture and information of the war zone to battlefield commanders.

In addition, real-time links between sensor and shooter were tested, which enabled commanders to make decisions instantly, even as information was being shared among platforms and personnel.

Led and implemented by the Indian Armyâ??s biggest and most lethal formation, the 21 Corps, the exercise witnessed the participation of over 60,000 troops and 300 tanks and brought together all elements â?? including air power â?? on one single platform. The air power on display reportedly included combat jets like the Su-30 MKI, Jaguars, MiG-27 and MiG-21, AWACS and helicopters.

Link Poland to Supply Additional 204 Armored Recovery Vehicles to India

January 19, 2012: The Polish largest arms producer Bumar will deliver 204 WZT-3M Armored Recovery Vehicles under a US$275 million signed earlier this week in New Delhi, Tomasz Basarabowicz reports. According to the agreement the vehicle production will be done primarily in India, by BEML, which has already produced 362 WZT-3 supplied for the Indian Army so far.


Poland will supply with sub assemblies, kits and components.

Since 1999 India has ordered 556 WZT-3M ARVs, to support the armored units equipped with T-90 and T-72 armor units deployed with the Indian Army. The WZT-3 is based on the PT-91 chassis, the Polish derivative of the T-72M.

Link Local innovation repairs T-90â??s night blindness

Chandigarh, January 29
A small innovation will go a long way in giving the Armyâ??s T-90 main battle tanks the ability to hunt and kill in the dark - and at a fraction of the cost of imported equipment. Army engineers have integrated locally made LCD monitors to replace malfunctioning imported gadgets.

A major problem with the T-90â??s imported night sight was that its visual video display (VVD) unit was not ruggedised and, hence, defect prone. This resulted in the tank becoming night-blind. This was particularly the case in the hot and dusty environs of the desert.

LCD display units of the requisite size available off-the-shelf commercially have been used to replace the VVDs. According to available information, the TFT screens are available for just about Rs 3,500 as compared to a staggering Rs 25 lakh for the imported units.

The biggest challenge for Army engineers undertaking the project, according to armoured corps officers, was integrating the LCD screens with the sightâ??s sensors and electrical systems as well as physical dimensions.

The T-90 tanks are the Armyâ??s latest acquisition and have been inducted into frontline formations. In todayâ??s battlefield, the ability to fight at night is crucial and most of the earlier generation tanks with the Army, including the T-72, lacked this capability.

The Army had bought 310 T-90 tanks, some of which were assembled locally at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi. This was followed by two more contracts in 2006 and 2007 for assembly and licenced manufacture of 330 and 347 upgraded versions of the tank, respectively. The Army has planned to equip 21 regiments with the T-90.

While the T-90 tanks have been in service for about a decade, there have been some reports of malfunctioning or non-availability of certain electronic equipment, including those required for night or adverse weather operations. The non-availability of ammunition for its 125 mm main gun was also an issue some time ago.

Link Lt Gen R S Dayal (Retd) passed away 30 Jan

Lt Gen (Retd) R S Dayal, recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra and former Governor of Goa passed away here on Sunday after prolonged illness. He was 83 and is survived by his wife and daughter. He was cremated at Chandigarh on Monday.

He was born on November 15, 1928 and was selected for the Indian Military Academy in 1942 after doing graduation. He was commissioned in the Indian Army in Punjab Regiment and dispensed the 1st Battalion. There was 50 independent Parachute Brigade in this Battalion during the 1948 India-Pakistan war.

Dayal was a former Deputy-Governor of Pondicherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Island and also former Governor of Goa, took his last breathes at the Command Hospital on Sunday evening.

He had been suffering from prostate cancer, detected a few years ago. He was admitted in hospital few days back for terminal care after his condition depreciate.

He was the Chief Staff Officer who asked to represent the plans for Bluestar. Though being a Sikh, he did not shave his beard or cut his hair and still he wore a turban during the every operation.

Link Shimlaâ??s Annandale ground is of strategic significance: Army

The Indian Army Tuesday put a stop to campaigns to handover the historic Annandale ground in Shimla, which has been under its control for seven decades, saying the ground is of â??strategic significanceâ?�.

â??For quite some time now, reports have appeared in the media on the issue of construction of a cricket stadium at Annandale. Itâ??s of paramount strategic significance for the Indian Army from the national security perspective,â?� an army statement said here.

It said the strategic significance of Annandale as forward logistic and operational base for operations in the sector adjoining Himachal â??is being overlooked in preference for a cricket stadiumâ?�.

The 121-bigha green patch, just 3 km from Shimlaâ??s Ridge, has been a flashpoint between the state government and the army as the latter does not allow the ground for civilian use.

Three months back, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), headed by Anurag Thakur, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and the son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, started a signature campaign to get the ground vacated by the army.

Tracing the groundâ??s history, the army said: â??A portion of Annandale was being used by the Durand Football Tournament Society instituted in 1888. This was taken over by the army during World War II to be used as training campâ?¦ is used for numerous military operational and logistic activities.â?�

â??It would be prudent and will do well for all concerned to put a lid on the issue and let the serene and pristine environs of Annandale be left untouched for utilisation in the larger national interest as has been happening for almost three-fourths of a century now,â?� the statement said.

Contrary to the armyâ??s assertions, the state maintains that â??the ground was given to the army on lease and it had expired in 1982. The army should handover the land to the stateâ?�.

In the late 1990s when the state government had proposed to park the state helicopter at the Annandale ground, the army had raised objection. It later agreed to earmark a corner for the purpose.

The Annandale ground, in armyâ??s possession since 1941, is also a popular golf course.

Dhumal said the army should vacate the ground as the government needed it for a sports complex.

ARMY ORGANISES EDUCATIONAL CUM MOTIVATIONAL TOUR OF NORTH INDIA FOR STUDENTS OF BARAMULLA

The Dagger Artillery Brigade Commander, flagged off an Educational cum Motivational Tour being conducted by 46 Rashtriya Rifles for 25 students of St Josephâ??s Higher Secondary School, Baramula on 01 Feb 12 to North India (Amritsar, Chandigarh, Delhi and Agra). The tour intends to enable these students to bask in the glory of rich cultural heritage of our Nation and to expose the young generation to the true benefits of peace and development, integrating them into the Nationâ??s main stream.

The tour will provide an opportunity to these young boys to appreciate the harmonious co-existence amongst the people from different religions in various parts of India. It will also help them see for themselves, the ongoing developmental activities in other states and the manner in which peace has helped different regions of India to develop and prosper.

The tour has a comprehensive aim of fostering brotherhood, feeling of unity and creating awareness of our nationâ??s multi faceted identity. This tour will certainly go a long way in strengthening the ideals of integrity, cohesiveness and awareness amongst the youth of this region, by giving them a glimpse of the prosperity and cultural heritage of our Nation.

The principal, teachers and the parents of these children were highly grateful to the Army for providing their wards with such an exposure and opportunity.

HELPING DISABLED GET BACK ON THEIR FEET

Prevailing sociopolitical disturbances in Kashmir valley for last 20 years has played a major role in increasing the number of computes to a staggering figure. Lack of immunisation facilities for Polio in the past and mutilating cold injuries have also contributed to physical challenges amongst the natives. With the aim of alienating the physical dependence and associated psycluatric of physically challenged individuals, joint efforts were made by RMO, 14 RR (GARH RIF) and Bhagwan Mahavir Viglang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) of Rajasthan to provide needy individuals with artificial limb supports.

Individuals in batches of four were escorted to regional office of BMVSS in Srinagar over a period of 15 days. There disabilities were assessed by the experts and suitable limb supports satisfying orthopedic criteria’s were provided free of cost to the poor and needy. The transportation and refreshment of individuals were taken care of by the Battalion.

A total of 13 individuals were provided with limb supports which included 7 artificial limbs, 5 crutches and one polio caliper. The quality of limbs is such that a person can walk comfortably, ride a bicycle, run, jump, dance and even climb a tree. The social philosophy of BMVSS is to provide free supports to poor and initiative of Army in this regard was highly appreciated. All the parents expressed true happiness, gratitude and satisfaction and praised Army for helping disabled get back on their feet and revolutionizing their lives.

STUDENTS OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, ITI BANDIPORE AT VODAFONE BPO

The importance of young generation to our society and economy has stayed undiminished over the years. Indeed without providing livelihood security to the youth of valley, we cannot achieve the goal of inclusive growth in its true sense. This can be achieved only by engaging the youth in the activities by which they can skill equip themselves and can constructively participate in the growth of economy which in turn will lead to prosperity.

Skill development programme being run at ITI, Bandipore is another step forward to bring the youth of valley to the centre stage and to make them participate in nation building activities by using their skills for the overall growth of the state, as the youth are the workforce of state who can contribute in economic growth. This programme is being run under the aegis of army with collaboration with DRF (Dr Reddy’s Foundation) which is giving training in various fields like ITES, CRS and Hospitality to the youth who are constrained by low income, inadequate skills, irregular employment, absence of opportunities for training and development, indebtedness and weak bargaining power at the economic / social level and getting them placed with various companies. The programme started on 16 Dec 2011 for a duration of two months with a strength of 85 students. It is a venture - a first of its types in which all the stake holders (Civil Administration and Army) have held hands together to skill equip the youth of a remote town of Bandipora for a better future. The whole course was divided into various heads like Induction Stage, Interactive Training Stage, Field Visit and Survey, Parent’s counselling Industrial Interface, Guest and Alumni Lecture.

The entire group was taken to Vodafone BPO in Srinagar as part of their training under the head of field visit and survey which was their fourth field visit after KISHANGANGA PROJECT, CAFÉ COFFEE DAY and TAJ VIVANTA at Srinagar. These visits have given a different and broader outlook to them in respect of work culture and ethics of coorporate world. In words of Mr Shafiq Ahmed Bhat, it was their first expereience when they have got a chance to speak to employees of vodafone BPO who explained them about the work of various people working there as tellecallers and technical assistants. Another student of hospitality, Miss Shaheena Banoo shared her experience about their visit to Taj Vivanta where they were introduced to the various fields of hospitality industry which covers a wide range of organizations offering food service and accommodation, which is divided into sectors according to the skill-sets required for the work involved like accommodation, food and beverage, meeting and events, gaming, entertainment and recreation, tourism services, and visitor information. The whole of the students came back with fire in their belly to do well and work

ARMY CONDUCTS VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH OF VALLEY

In their endeavor to channelize the resourceful energy of the youth in constructive manner the Chinar Corps is conducting vocational training cadre on welding for unemployed youth of the valley under the aegis of Chief Engineer Chinar Corps at their engineering unit location at Old Airfd. This cadre gives opportunity to the youth of the society to seek employment in the industries or set up their own small business for earning livelihood leading to achieve a better financial status.

The second training cadre on welding is being conducted by the engineering regiment for a duration of four weeks from 06 February 2012 to 03 March 2012 for 27 unemployed youth from South Kashmir having a minimum educational qualification as 8th standard. The lodging and food is being catered by the Army for the training. The cadre would be conducted under guidance of qualified tradesmen (experts) of the unit in their well equipped workshop. At the end of course they will be assessed by Technical team detailed from ITI, Srinagar and each individual would be given a qualifying certificate, which would help them in future employment.

The cadre includes training on metal welding & cutting, pipe welding, arc welding, brass welding and Gas welding as well as handling of cutting machine. The vocational training would not only help the youth to inculcate a sense of confidence and achievement but would also simultaneously help in cementing the relation between the army and local populace.

‘WATAN KI SAIR’ EDUCATIONAL CUM MOTIVATIONAL TOUR TO GOA

A Motivational cum Educational Tour ‘Watan ki Sair’ was flagged off today in colorful ceremony organized by 14 Rashtriya Rifles amidst high civil dignitaries, police officials, sarpanchs, panchs, locals and high ranked Army officials.

The 15 days tour will take 20 students from remote villages of Bandipur on an educational and motivational tour to Jammu, Delhi, Belgaum, Goa and back. The tour has been organised with an aim to bring these children closer to the rich and diverse culture of India and to garner experiences from other parts of the country which they can share with their friends back home.

A cultural programme was organised to grace the occasion where the children of AGS Aragam, the Bandipur Rock Star Band and cultural group from Hamdard Education Society, Srinagar presented a thrilling performance. Speaking on the occasion, Brigadier Anil Puri congratulated the children and exhorted them to utilize this opportunity and learn good things from the places they visit so that they become responsible citizens of the country.

Link The Secret Secret Service : How Indian Army's Military Intelligence Directorate works

On the topmost floor of Sena Bhavan in Delhi are the headquarters of one of India's 21 intelligence agencies, the Indian Army's Military Intelligence Directorate (MI). The building, located behind South Block, is the closest India gets to the Pentagon. Its warren of corridors and cramped offices helps India's military spies maintain a veneer of anonymity.

It was the MI that warned Sheikh Hasina about a coup brewing in the Bangladesh Army. The incident brought the agency's role into focus. Set up in 1950 as a small army department primarily to investigate corruption within the force, MI has made its share of blunders. It survived the embarrassment of the 1978 Samba spy case, where it falsely implicated three Indian Army officers as being Pakistani spies. The agency gathered momentum in the 1990s especially after the Kargil conflict with Pakistan. The army chafed at the poor quality tactical intelligence provided by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and R&AW. It boosted MI's mandate.

Today, the organisation comprises just over 700 officers, including women officers, and over 3,000 men. It is still tiny when compared to r&aw and IB, whose staff is over 25,000. MI's operating budget, too, is a tiny fraction of the well-entrenched IB and R&AW, though all three agencies have somewhat overlapping mandates vis-a-vis trans-border tasks.

The director-general, MI, a lieutenant general-rank officer who reports directly to the army chief, is indispensable when it comes to furthering Indian Army's diplomacy and exchanging intelligence with friendly countries like Myanmar, Israel, Afghanistan and Vietnam.

MI was initially tasked with generating only tactical or field intelligence in all countries bordering India. Its geographical mandate was set to 50 km from the border. These limits were quickly crossed in the mid-1990s when the organisation began playing an increasing role in countries within the subcontinent and its outer periphery.

MI operatives moved into Tajikistan and later Afghanistan in support of the Ahmad Shah Massoud-led Northern Alliance that overthrew the Taliban in 2001. Besides furthering national strategic goals, MI officials say these 'third country operations' allowed the agency to peep into countries of their immediate interest. MI was also active in Myanmar, which nurtured insurgent groups. In 1998, an MI operative impersonated a Khalistani terrorist and infiltrated a gun-running Myanmarese insurgent group. He led them into a death trap in the Andaman islands. Operation Leech, as the operation was called, marked the start of the Indian Army outreach to the Myanmarese junta in the 1990s. It also aimed to offset China's expanding footprint on India's eastern border.

Bangladesh is another country that has figured high on the MI scanner, particularly because of the safe sanctuaries provided to insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the United National Liberation Front of Manipur (UNLF) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation of Assam. Within months of the Hasina government taking over in 2009, the entire leadership of the ULFA and UNLF was handed over to Indian authorities.

MI's mandate also includes counterterrorism in the north and North-east and generating pinpoint intelligence for small team operations. It is also tasked with counterintelligence in the army, which entails detecting spies in military areas.

MI survived the post-Kargil loss of turf to two new intelligence agencies, the National Technical Research Organisation and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). dia took away some of its signal monitoring capabilities and foreign military attaches who used to report to MI. A measure of the turf wars between India's spy agencies is brought out by the pithy remark of an MI official: "Let us remain low profile, we don't want to tread on too many toes."

J &K STUDENTS MOTIVATIONAL TOUR (WATAN KI SAIR) REACHES TO ORANGE CITY
RASHTRIYA RIFLES MADE MOTIVATIONAL TOUR TO NAGPUR

An educational & motivational tour (Watan Ki Sair) organised by Mystic Sector Rashtriya Rifles for the students of Doda & Kishtwar districts of J & K, is under way from 24 Jan 2012 to 05 Feb 2012. The team comprising 23 students, 02 teachers, 01 Army officer, 01 JCO and 02 ORs, was flagged off by Brig SS Prasad, Sector Commander, Rashtriya Rifles HQ on 24 Jan 2012 from Thatri (Doda).

Mystic Sector Rashtriya Rifles is deployed in Doda and Kishtwar Districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The area is remote and backward having limited connectivity with the balance of the state. Remoteness is further compounded by the fact that the area is mountainous and rugged which further limits the mobility. Furthermore, the area was heavily infected with terrorism and was breeding ground for major tanzeems operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

All these factors coupled together have had an adverse effect in the development of basic public amenities and infrastructure to incl education, basic health care, administration, roads, etc in the area. Deployment of Security Forces saw a marked improvement in the area as it not only successfully curbed terrorism in the area but also was able to assists the civil administration in development of the area by conduct of various OP SADBHAVANA activities. Educating and moulding the younger generation to wear them away from militancy has been one of the areas in which a lot has been done by the Army. Projects like construction of school buildings, addition of rooms in existing schools, provision of furniture, books, computers and study materials, etc have been undertaken by the army regularly. Keeping the same ethos in mind army has been planning many educational and motivational tours for the children of this state. These tours aim at opening up the mental horizon of these children by making them see the rich culture and tradition, development, peace and harmony existing in this great nation, thus inculcating a sense of belonging and national integration amongst the children of this area.

Keeping the same spirit in mind this education-cum-motivational tour is being conducted for these students of remote and far flung villages of districts Doda and Kistwar. During tour, the children introduced to the rich traditions, culture and heritage of our great nation. The visit would go a long way in moulding these young and innocent minds towards aligning their outlook with the national mainstream.

The team reached Nagpur on 01 Feb 2012. The students were thrilled to see the Maharajbag Zoo, while the scenic beauty of Ambajhari Lake and Seminary Hills mesmerized them. The boys from the â??Heaven on earthâ?? loved and cherished the fact that they are standing precisely at the Centre of the Country at Zero Mile stone, a monument locating the geographical centre of India. The students of Doda and Kishtwar districts loved the city of oranges which is a perfect blend of cultural/traditional values and modern amenities.

The team will depart tomorrow on 03 Feb 2012 from Nagpur to conclude the tour at Thatri (Doda) J & K on 05 Feb 2012.

ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY 24 RASHTRIYA RIFLES FOR
RECOVERY OF AMBULANCE AT VILL POSHKAR IN KANGAN

At around 11 A.M. an ambulance, JK 01 F 9182 of Primary Health Centre, Wangat rolled down about 20 feet below the road at village Poshkar in Kangan due to heavy snow fall. The ambulance carried a three year old patient Shazia, along with her father, sister and the driver who was transporting the patients from Wangat to Kangan. The driver Mohd Yusuf of Wangat has been admitted in Sub District Hospital, Kangan.

On coming to know of this, 24 Rashtriya Rifles (BIHAR) extending their cooperation to the AWAAM undertook the recovery efforts, unshaken by the inclement weather and heavy snow fall. The exercise lasted for about five hours and ended with the recovery of the ambulance. The Block Medical Officer, Kangan and locals appreciated the efforts of the Army.

ARMY ORGANISES MEDICAL CAMP AT DANGERPURA

A Medical Camp was organised by 13 Rashtriya Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles at Dangerpura on 06 Feb 12 on a grand scale to ensure health and medical care for the civil population of Sumbal tehsil. In addition to the med camp, 13 Rashtriya Rifles (KUMAON) also conducted Ex-servicemen rally under the aegis of Zila Sainik Kalyan Board for the benefit of Ex-servicemen of Bandipora and surrounding areas. Problems of Ex-servicemen and related issues were discussed during this rally.

A team of doctors attended to all health related complaints of the local populace in Sumbal tehsil. The team of doctors included army doctors and civil doctors including a lady doctor. A large number of patients including males, females and children derived benefits from the camp organised by the Indian Army.

Commander, 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles exhorted the locals to obtain maximum benefits from such medical camps organised by Army on regular intervals. The camp was welcomed whole heartedly by the locals. The unit organising the camp has been involved in large number of other welfare projects to help the locals, which in turn has earned a lot of Goodwill and appreciations from all. The locals expressed their gratitude towards the Army for reaching out to the local populace. This noble deed by Army further strengthens the bond between Awam and Jawan.

SADBHAVANA TOUR FOR ELDERS OF URI TOWN BY KALA PAHAR BRIGADE

Seven Eleven Gorkha Rifles under the aegis of KALA PAHAR BRIGADE organized a tour for elders of Uri to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer from 07 Feb to 21 Feb 2012 as part of â??SADBHAVANAâ?� with the aim to acquaint them to the diversity and richness of the culture and heritage of our great Nation. The tour will provide a glimpse of the dramatic growth and development being undertaken in our country. A total of 20 Elders (10 Males and 10 Females and 04 teachers in the age group of 30 to 45 years residing in the remote villages of Uri Sub Division will form part of this team.

The tour was flagged off by Commander KALA PAHAR BRIGADE on 07 Feb 12 in a colourful ceremony at Sridhar Complex, Uri. Mr Ashiq Hussain, SDM, Uri and other civil dignitaries, Sarpanches from villages around Uri were also present during the ceremony. The tour members will reach Delhi on the evening of 09 Feb 2012 and visit the famous monuments/historical places of India i.e Jama Masjid, Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Birla Mandir, Akshardham Temple, India Gate, Shakti Sthal, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Raj Ghat. Thereafter, the tour will depart for Agra on 12 Feb 12 and visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. The tour will reach Jaipur on 14 Feb 12 and will visit the Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Ram Nivas Bagh and Albert Hall. They would also witness a movie at the famous Rajmandir Cinema and a Light and Sound show at Amber Fort. The tour will reach Ajmer on 17 Feb 12 and pay homage at the shrine of Ajmer Sharif.

The tour, apart from all the fun and frolic, will be instrumental in providing an insight into the rich and varied culture of our country. It will go a long way in building a sense of belonging and foster a feeling of Nationalism amongst the locals. The tour would also kindle an urge in the hearts of people for development & continued peace.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE BY ARMY

Inclement weather and heavy snowfall lead to road Chokiwal â?? Nastachun Pass â?? Tangdhar being blocked at number of places. Eight Sumo vehicles along with passengers including a pregnant women were stranded at Nastachun Pass. The Army troops along with GREF detachment deployed at Nastachun Pass came forward to help the distraught persons and provided shelter, warmth and food. Besides this, all available Army and GREF resources and equipment were pressed into service to clear the road and allow the stranded passengers to resume their journey.

ARMY AND INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY OF J&K ORGANISES BLOOD DONATION CAMP AT BAPURA, BANDIPORA

Blood donation camp for civilians and soldiers was organized by 14 Rashtriya Rifles in collaboration with INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY OF J&K on 07 Feb 2012 at the remote village of Bapura, Bandipora .

A conducting team comprising of two doctors and 17 technical assistant staff of Red Cross with two ambulances arrived for conducting the blood donation camp. The theme of the camp was â??NO ONE IN KASHIMR SHOULD DIE FOR WANT OF BLOODâ?�. A total of 50 civilians & 28 soldiers of 14 RR including the Commanding Officer voluntarily donated blood at the Camp. The civilians included youths of Ali Sports Academy, Bandipora under the leadership of Faisal Dar (International Kick Boxing Player) and students of Skill Development Programme, Bandipora which is being run by 14 Rashtriya Rifles in collaboration with Dr Reddyâ??s Foundation (DRF). The camp has set a unique example wherein the â??AWAM & JAWANâ?� donated Blood matching shoulders with shoulder for the noble cause of saving lives in Kashmir.

Secretary Red Cross Society of J&K Mr A J Chaket, Sarpanchs and Panchs of Erin, Sumlar & Bapura village, Mrs Rekha Negi wife of CO 14 Rashtriya Rifles and officers of the Unit were present on the occasion to encourage and boost the morale of the blood donors. The camp was a success due to the hard work of Capt Aditya Pachisia, Medical Officer of 14 Rashtriya Rifles and Maj Sandeep the Coy Commander of the area. The camp will go a long way in promoting blood donation in Kashmir so that valuable lives can be saved.

DNA profiling plan to cover 1.13 million army personnel
TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 03.36AM IST

The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) will soon undertake a project for the DNA sequencing of nearly 1.13 million soldiers of the Indian Army.

Director General of AMFS Lt. Gen. HL Kakria told reporters here on Wednesday, "We are starting with a pilot project involving collection of blood samples of 1,000 soldiers and analysis and confirmation of their tests. The project will be implemented on a national scale thereafter."

Deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA, is a nucleic acid containing the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of living organisms. DNA profiling is accepted as the most advanced and reliable method of establishing identity of living individuals as well as dead bodies and body remnants.

Kakria, along with top officials from the AFMS' three wings, is in the city to attend the 60th Armed Forces Medical Confrence and the golden jubilee celebration of the Armed Forces Medical Research Committee (AFMRC), which is the apex body that plans health policies and commissions research for improving health of the troops.

"This year, 167 research projects of periods ranging from two to three years will be given to different officers," he said. The topics vary from the health of the soldiers in high altitude, on land, in aviation, in different climatic dispersion or underwater. From 2009 to 2011, the AFMRC commissioned 125, 134 and 177 research proposals, respectively.

Kakria inaugurated a state-of-the-art DNA profiling centre and repository, set up at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, at the department of forensic sciences of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). "As of now, the armed forces in the United States and Israel are known to have such facilities," he said.

"The centre was a long-felt need because we want to know the identity of our each and every soldier, especially those deployed in the forward areas," he said. "At times when something unfortunate like death in the battlefield or in action happens, we find it difficult to establish identity of the body. With the DNA profiling it will be easier to know the identity," he added.

Kakria said, "Post-pilot study, blood samples of all soldiers will be collected by doctors working at their respective field units. These samples can be stored up to 21 years at the repository of the profiling centre here. The samples will be tested at the centre by using modern equipment and machines."

"Over the time, the project will be extended to the air force and navy personnel," he said. "There is no time-frame set for completing the project considering that it's a long-drawn process of collecting samples from various formations and units... The project is important for everybody and certainly for the vulnerable groups deployed in the forward areas," he added.

As of now, the AFMS has no plans to get into other medico-legal aspects involving the DNA profiling centre. "We are restricting ourselves to identification, although in future the facility may be used for genomic profile and AFMRC research projects," Kakria said.

Referring to the prevailing thrust of research under AFMRC, Kakria said, "Lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes, and cancer are taking greater attention compared to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) instances, which have gone down drastically in the armed forces."

Asked to comment on the problems faced by the ex-servicemen comprehensive health scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries due to inadequate health staff, Kakria said, "There is no deficiency of officers, nursing officers and jawans in the AFMS. While the ECHS is not for the armed forces, we are helping them in handling the rush, which the authorities may not have anticipated when the scheme was launched."

He said that the ECHS network was being enhanced with 199 more ECHS polyclinics being commissioned. The AFMS also has chalked out a plan for medical examination of all personnel below officer rank, he added.

India, Indonesia to hold maiden combat drill
TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 03.47AM IST

As part of their expanding bilateral strategic ties, India and Indonesia are all set to launch their first-ever joint combat exercise later in February after holding their first army-to-army staff talks in last April.

Crack troops from the two armies will hold the counter-terror exercise at the Indian Army's specialized counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school at Variengte in Mizoram from February 20 to March 4.

"The exercise will also witness top military observers from Indonesia. We are boosting military ties with Indonesia, a key state in south-east Asia, as part of the overall strategic partnership. We had also hosted their president as the chief guest during our Republic Day celebrations last year," said an official.

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY ARMY TO CIVILIANS

On 07 Feb 2012 at approx 1145 hrs , due to bad weather and slippery road conditions, a civil Tata Sumo slipped off the bridge near Karalpura of Kupwara District injuring six passengers on board. The injured civilians were evacuated to the Sub District Hospital at Karalpura by troops of VAJR DIVISION from where two individuals in critical state were further evacuated to District Hospital at Kupwara.

Army personnel also assisted the locals in recovering the Tata Sumo from the Nala. Timely action by troops of the Army helped in saving lives of the injured civilians. The assistance provided by the Army has been much appreciated by the locals of the area, especially the families of the injured persons.