Army – Page 2 – Random Ramblings

The LOC -II

In continuation to my last blog post, in this post, I cover, another regular feature on LC, which I have never seen in media reports or discussed in civilian circles . At places, there is an annual ritual of setting fire to our posts (or attempt to set the post on fire). In most of the areas along LOC, the other side is greener, literally. Their villages extend right up to the LOC while on our side we have a wide buffer zone where noncombatants are not permitted. So in the summers the area is covered by dry grass and pine needles, which readily catches fire.

As it happened , one fine day, I noticed that enemy was not firing at the post but was concentrating on the dry grass to initiate a fire. With persistent firing of tracer rounds,(tracer rounds have incendiary component to let the firer know where his rounds are going), it was only a matter of time before a line of fire started creeping menacingly, towards my post from three sides.

Such a situation gives you an opportunity to know your men. It happens that, there may be fierce looking six footers trembling in their knees while a timid looking guy may remain composed. I myself was not exactly a picture of confidence, till an unassuming NCO walked up to me ‘ke baat se. saab, post kagaz ka to bana nahin.. pathar ka hai, hum appni side se ek aag shuru kara dete’ (The post is not made of paper and we just need to start a fire in the opposite direction). Sure enough, the fire from our side was started and in a couple of hours, the situation was totally under control. By the end of the day the entire area from the post upto LOC was chaared. The lesson learnt was that as long as you had dry grass all around, you can never be at peace; the earlier it is burnt, better it would be; it did not matter, as to who set it on fire, you or the friends across.

Whatever happened on the LOC, we never thought of it as violation of cease fire , but just a routine problem in a job to be done. We just had to find the means to stay there, sustain ourselves and hold on to our defences, under all circumstances. Period. If it meant retaliation, ok, if it meant digging down, so be it.

The LOC

Of late there is a lot of discussions on ‘violation of ceasefire ‘ along the LOC. The term LC or LOC itself became popular in the country only after Kargil conflict. Otherwise ‘border’ was just ‘border’ as in Wagha Border; known for chest thumping and bizarrely aggressive drill movements by the para military forces … Continue reading “The LOC”

For the uninitiated, LOC itself means line of actual control, meaning there is no formally agreed upon international border but whosoever is actually in control of a particular place continues to be in control unless physically ejected by some external force. (sounds like newton’s first law !). That means there is no “no man’s land’ and the troops are in eye ball to eye ball contact with machine guns trained on each other. What kind of cease fire can you have in such a situation, at best a ‘Mexican stand-off’ ?

Now what triggers a fire-fight ? A trigger happy soldier? Both armies are highly disciplined professional forces and the officers exercise strict fire control. In reality, there are many things that can lead to firing across the LOC.

Someone had tweeted about troops on LOC enjoying Indo-pak cricket as much as other citizens of the subcontinent. It is true, they do enjoy. But LOC paradigm is quite different from watching a match with your family in the comfort of your home. Here’s an anecdote from an old soldier.

It was a fine day , in Apr 86, I was sitting in a ‘hawa mahal’ (a hut type of structure open on all sides and covered on top with thatched roof) in the forward defended locality. the hut had benches and a table made of pine planks , like you would find in ‘Hagar the horrible’ comic strip. I was listening to the commentary of Australasia Cup Final India-pakistan cricket match. Incidentally, those days we could catch only Pakisthani channels of TV and even Radio. Die hard cricket fans would remember Javed Miandad’s great effort. The match went to the last ball and as soon as the commentator said ‘….last ball.. and it is a six”, suddenly, the entire front erupted . It was all lit up like a diwali night, with tracer rounds from machine guns. The only difference was that while Diwali rockets were headed skywards every projectile from the Pak side was homing on to my post.

There was no damage as troops get used to confining their movements to places covered from direct fire. My CO called me up to ask what was up. It would have been too much of a coincidence if the last ball six had nothing to do with the fireworks. So, I told my CO, “all okay sir, there is no damage, they are just celebrating a win. “

Sure enough in 10 – 15 minutes, it was all quite on the western front and it was “God’s in his heaven, all’s right with the world”

So fragile was, and is, the cease fire at LOC !

risk profile :army

The piece was written during the course of a month long LRP (Long Range Patrol), at an altitude of about 15000-16000 feet, circa 1996. It was written in bits and pieces, in the scrap book, in field shelters. The immediate trigger was the number of standard operating procedures army has in place , to avoid / counter all conceivable hazards like avalanche, blizzard, flash floods, frost bite , HYPO (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema), fire hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning from ‘sigris’ and of course enemy action. At times you wonder as to which was more hazardous, whether the avalanche or the restrictions imposed by ‘measures to avoid avalanche’ .

Nothing much has changed in the last 16 years and I haven’t changed anything but for some annotations for civilian friends, since it is a typical military format.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TO AVOID BED CASUALTIES IN ARMY

General

1. Consequent to a comprehensive in-depth study carried out by (Management of Information System (MIS) Army HQ, it has been revealed that over 90% of fatal casualties in the army, in peace time, occurs in bed. Even in stray cases where the victims lost consciousness else where the actual death occurred only in bed. Hence forth all these casualties will be termed as bed casualties. While it is an indisputable fact that bed casualties can be totally done away by avoiding beds all together, a point to be taken note of is that human beings are more inclined to adapt a horizontal configuration wheresoever and when ever possible. As a humane approach to the issue, it is proposed to make ‘going to bed ‘ as safe as possible.

Aim

These instructions lay down guidelines for minimizing bed casualties in the army.

Responsibility

Minimising bed casualties will be a command responsibility and commander at all levels will be held accountable , meaning end of the career, for any lapses.

Bed Hours

It is an obvious fact that minimum hours in bed (named bed hours) will ultimately result in minimising bed casualties. It is desirable that bed hours are restricted to 4-6 hours per day and bed hours for various personnel in the unit be staggered to minimise risk of bed casualties at a any given time.

Communication

5. In the age of information and communication, this factor cannot be overemphasized. All personnel going to bed should be provided good communication. However due to paucity of resources in the first phase, communication will be provided only up to battalion commander level. Meanwhile to tide over the situation, line beddings(line bedding, for my civilian friends is an essential item of a soldier’s kit, mainly for tying up his bedding but used multipurpose like, putting up a bivouac, making a stretcher, communication between fire trenches etc) will be used for inter bed communication. Master general of Ordnance (MGO branch has confirmed availability of sufficient stock of line bedding (LP) in their depots. MGO branch will issue separate instructions for demand issue and replacement of these items.

Rescue Party

6. All personnel going to bed will be covered by a rescue party located in situ, ab initio ; they will also be provided communication as Para 5 above. The details of duties of rescue party will be incorporated in the unit SOPs.

Medical

7. A thorough medical check up will be carried out in respect of all personnel before going to bed and after waking up. Units will maintain records and these records will be put up to visiting senior officers.

First Aid

8. Any personnel having any complaint while in bed will immediately be pulled out of the bed and brought to sitting or standing position. Meanwhile help will be called for.

Bunker Collapse

9. There have been instances where in personnel have been choked to death due to bunker collapse while in bed, in the field areas. The Engineer in Chief Branch has been tasked to explore the feasibility of replacing the CGI(Corrugated Galvanized Iron) sheets with paper and the ballies with sarkanda to prevent such occurrences (any takers for AVSM)

Hospitals

10. MIS has also pointed out that most of the bed casualties occurs in hospitals. It is proposed to remove all beds from hosp and convert the hospitals to STCs ( Standing Treatment Centers). Medical directorate has been tasked to work out the modalities.

Standing Court of Inquiry

11. All Station HQ (Formation HQ where Station HQ is not co located) will order standing C of I to investigate all cases of bed casualties

Reports and Returns

12. To efficiently monitor the entire op, it is directed that all commands forward a report as per format att (not to all) every qr. The first report should reach this HQ by 01 apr 1996.

Conclusion

13. These instructions are only some basic guidelines to minimise bed casualties . Imaginative and innovative methods have to be evolved keeping in view the overall picture in mind. With a concerted effort, Indian army would prove to be a shining example in this field, for the entire nation.

Travails of A Tambi in Jat Regiment

(The article was published in the Regimental magazine JATVEER, years back, titled “travels of a thambi” [an inadvertent spell check] The magazine had to be dug up by my daughter, dusted, reclaimed , typed out again and finaly I had to be coaxed to upload it here.) In IMA, when the allotment of arms was … Continue reading “Travails of A Tambi in Jat Regiment”

(The article was published in the Regimental magazine JATVEER, years back, titled “travels of a thambi” [an inadvertent spell check] The magazine had to be dug up by my daughter, dusted, reclaimed , typed out again and finaly I had to be coaxed to upload it here.)

In IMA, when the allotment of arms was announced I was a bit apprehensive as well as elated; elated because my first choice was JATs and basically I had no doubts about finding my place in the battalion. However being from the south of Vindhyas I was a little worried if the latitudinal difference may result in an attitudinal difference, complicating matters. Whatever be, I told myself that I should have no problems with JATs or they with me. After all I knew Hindi well, or so I thought. I could play a good game of basketball and I had learnt enough about soldiering in NDA and IMA.

The reality struck as soon as I reported to the Unit. The Hindi I knew had not prepared me for a satisfactory verbal communication in the Unit. I learnt that “adjutant saab yaad kar rahe hain” meant that I had been summoned forthwith and that “gaari aa rahi hai” meant that the vehhicle had been waiting for me over an hour. The real shock came when I overhead my helper telling someone that “saab ko kuchh bhi bera nahi, saab ka disciple thik rakha bari mushkil hai”. What he meant was that I understood nothing and that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to ensure that I was at the right place at the right time in the right dress.

The play fields required no verbal communication and I thought I would fare better. At the basketball court, I never had any illusions about the limitations imposed by my height or the lack of it. At five seven I never aspired to be part of the national team but I could always make my presence felt in the court by speed and skill. Here I found that not only was every player a six footer, but I remained a clear six inches below the plane where the ball was in play.

Coming to the aspect of professional soldiering, the issue requires a little anecdote to bring out the attitude of JATs toward training. It was a long drawn training exercise wherein the division was required to advance across multiple obstacles. After a particulary hard day of assault, the company was required to dig in for the night. One of the platoons, I noticed was taking it a little too easy and in the morning I was surprised to find the platoon in fully prepared defences. I realized what had happened only when a JCO of the neighbouring Unit, a battalion of the MADRAS regiment complained that our men had quietly occupied their defences for the morning inspection.

My Platoon Hav was nonchalant, “ke baat se, hum ne ‘stand to'(morning inspection or a state of readiness) kar lia, abhi aap kar lo” I was nonplussed. Here was a regiment that had won the ARA (Army Rifles Association) Championship for the year, and yet the men were taking the training so casualy. Again I recalled that even in the formation the Unit won most of the sports and training competitions, which was not possible without dedication and hardwork.I later realized that “The Chaudhary” did not like to follow rules and regulations just because “ Rules are to be followed”. You have to have a tactical objective or a Prize. it was not that things did not get done. You can show him the objective and he will reach there, but it is extremely difficult to explain to him why he cannot smoke a bidi in the excercise area when there were no live bullets being fired.

All these incidents happened in the first year of my service. The language barrier was the easiest to overcome. About games I soon realized that it was not just basket ball, but even while playing football, the JATs believed in keeping the ball high. The logic was that the higher you kick the ball, more time you get to reach under the ball. Ultimately a fine game of soccer is turmed into a game of endurance. Again it was a difference in attitude. Strengh was worshipped. Winning a game with strength was better appreciated than scoring points through skill. This attitude is best demonstrated in boxing in which winning by knock out is more apreciated than winning through points. Once you understand this attitude, it is fun to be in th Unit. Before I conclude, let me confide about a shortcut to impress the JATs.

This is one field in which I could reach nowhere near the the acceptable standards. It is about how much raw milk and ghee one can consume.

Gen Thimayya writes in his memoirs that, in 1947, while the Indian and the Pakistani commanders were busy discussing the situation on the borders, their helpers were equally absorbed in a discussion on the quality of milk on either side. All said and done, looking back, today I can say with pride, “if I am given an option again, again I will opt for the JATs.”

Status of Army in a democracy

A news item in Hindustan times————————————————Army officers, studying in MHOW, allegedly broke window panes and ransacked furniture of the Sri Aurobindo College of Medical Sciences (SACMS), Indore, late Monday in retaliation against medicos allegedly attacking two of their colleagues earlier in the day. ‘The officers, yet to be identified, created ruckus at the college as … Continue reading “Status of Army in a democracy”

A news item in Hindustan times
————————————————
Army officers, studying in MHOW, allegedly broke window panes and ransacked furniture of the Sri Aurobindo College of Medical Sciences (SACMS), Indore, late Monday in retaliation against medicos allegedly attacking two of their colleagues earlier in the day.

‘The officers, yet to be identified, created ruckus at the college as they went there on some 30 to 40 motorcycles, pelted stones, entered the college hostel and ransacked furniture in the rooms and the mess,’ said Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Maheshwari.

‘They however dispersed as police arrived,’ he said.

Earlier in the day two army officers had picked up a fight with medicos while they were dropping a student of SACMS to the college hostel, officials said.

Following the fight police was posted at the college.

‘Acting on the complaint of Lt Ramandeep Singh Negi, Banganga police Monday registered cases against 10 students of SACMS under various sections of Indian Penal Code and arrested Ayush Gupta and Akash,’ a police officer said.

SACMS administration said that they had also lodged a complaint against the army officers alleging that they had forcibly entered the hostel premises at around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

‘We have lodged a complaint against the army officers at the Banganga police station and expect prompt action,’ said SACMS COO G.S. Khanuja.

—————————————————————————————————————-

It is a familiar story for anybody who knows Mhow.

the civvies street is very quick to point out that we live in a democracy and army cannot flout the laws of the land and civil police are the sole authority for enforcing law.

fair enough.

what i would like to tell my civilian friends is that, in a so called democracy, army personnel have none of the rights that a civilian takes for granted. They cannot strike work like trade unions, cannot go on mass casual leave like our pilots, cannot bring a system to a stand still like our political parties, local or national. when a lawyer is roughed up, the judicial system comes to a halt, when a pilot is sacked, all air traffic is frozen, when a truck runs over someone , the local basti (often encroachments with the blessings of a political party) blocks the highway. And army personnel are not ‘locals’ anywhere, so they cannot expect local support anywhere; they are apolitical and so have no political support; they cannot be involved in business activities and so no money power either.

When someone misbehaves with an army officer, he is expected to report to the local police, who also knows that army has no rights in a democracy. He is expected to swallow the insult and move on. A war-horse hitched on to a wagon and made a work-horse for a day, cannot be expected to be used for war again.Well, these are the young officers who got the Kargil back for you. A million shiv sainiks or congresswallahs could not have done that.

This country does not deserve this army.