Tag: Armed forces

The message from Bomdilla

Just prior to Diwali was the ugly incident of Bomdilla involving the local police and jawans of an Infantry Battalion, 2 Arunachal Scouts. Scout battalions comprise of locals, following the home and hearth policy; hence this incident should never have occurred. While details of the incident have been in public domain, as also the various …

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November 13, 2018

Military hospitals can’t handle Modicare

The armed forces like other central agencies have been created with a specific purpose. Their mission, aims and tasks are oriented towards security of the nation. These tasks spread across a spectrum of activities from provision of aid in disaster relief and enforcing law and order when other agencies have failed to battle insurgencies and …

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November 6, 2018

Curious ‘defence’

It is a debilitating reality that every major defence purchase over the past three decades has been clouded by politically-induced allegations of underhand dealings ~ even though few of the alleged culprits have actually been nailed. One exemplary facet of the functioning of the armed forces had been ~ until now, anyway ~ that military …

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September 10, 2018

Supreme Court to hear plea on AFSPA dilution on September 4

The petitioners range from Section Commanders to Commanding Officers who lead section, platoon, company, battalion made of 10 to 1,000 men each.

August 20, 2018

Are armed forces ready for NFU?

There are rumours afloat that Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) for the armed forces may be released some time soon. It could be either on the orders of the court based on an appeal whose decision is awaited, or by the government prior to the elections, seeking to assuage the armed forces. This has been the demand …

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July 31, 2018

Himachal committed to welfare of soldiers, their families

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said the government is committed towards the welfare of the serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families. Himachal Pradesh government had initiated several schemes for their welfare as a token of respect for the services rendered by them for the cause of the nation, he said after performing bhoomi …

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July 27, 2018

Nuclear capable Agni-V to be inducted into armed forces

India is in the process of inducting the first batch of its intercontinental ballistic missile system – Agni-V – which will bring targets across China within its range, and is expected to significantly bolster the country's military prowess.

July 1, 2018

No shortage of funds, ammunition in armed forces: Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected reports of a shortage of ammunition in the armed forces and called Opposition allegations on the Rafale fighter jet deal “baseless”.

June 5, 2018

Operational casualty certificates on anvil

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that the government is considering giving ‘Operational Casualty Certificates’ to paramilitary forces on the lines of battle casualties in the armed forces, which will entitle families of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) jawans, who die in border skirmishes or in action against militants or terrorists, to several …

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May 23, 2018

Where the difficult is done immediately

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed 58 years of its formation on 7 May and this takes me back in time when this piece originated from my pen. My runner brought me an invite to Holi celebrations on 29 March 2002 at 755 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) under Project Setuk of BRO at Agartala, …

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May 20, 2018

Amarinder welcomes Centre’s decision not to cap educational concessions

The Central government has acceded to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh’s personal request not to cap the educational concession provided to children of armed forces personnel killed or disabled in action. An official spokesperson of the CM said Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has written to Amarinder to convey the Central government’s decision to …

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May 2, 2018

Time for review

The revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh has created quite a stir because this draconian law has been a subject of intense debate across the country for decades. This writer has been a member of the National Security Advisory Board for two terms. A question I …

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April 29, 2018

Philippines President names new Chief of Staff

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday named Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez as the new Chief of Staff of the country’s armed forces. The announcement was made by presidential spokesman Harry Roque at a press briefing. Galvez, who led troops in the five-month battle to retake Marawi city from terrorist insurgents that occupied the southern Philippines …

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April 5, 2018

Armed forces reeling under shortage of over 52K soldiers

The armed forces are facing a shortage of over 52,000 soldiers with the Army topping the list with over 21,000 vacant posts, the government said on Wednesday. According to the details provided by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre in the Lok Sabha, the Army is reeling under a shortage of 21,383 personnel, while …

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March 21, 2018

No plans to withdraw or amend AFSPA: Govt

The government has no plans to withdraw or amend “the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990”, which gives the security forces immunity and special rights in carrying out operations in disturbed areas, Union minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on Tuesday. Ahir, however, said in the Lok Sabha that a proposal is under …

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March 20, 2018

Violence in the ‘Abode of Clouds’

The Meghalaya election has claimed its first victim. Although there had been cases of arson and fisticuffs in the past, no candidate has ever been killed. This time the Nationalist Congress Party candidate from Williamnagar, Jonathone Sangma and three of his aides were blown apart by a powerful IED blast attributed to the vicious militant …

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February 25, 2018

Armed forces to get 7.4 lakh assault rifles, 5,719 snipers

In a step that will help fulfill a major demand of the armed forces, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, 13 February, approved Rs 15,935 crore worth of Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Services. Much of the amount will go in the purchase of assault rifles for the three services. According to the Ministry of …

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February 13, 2018