PROMOTION : 1995 BATCH IPS

G. Nageswara Rao has been promoted to the rank of DIG(GP8900) in the CBI. He is 1995 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre.

AFSPA : WHAT IS IT

I WONDER : DO PMF OPERATE UNDER THIS ACT OR THEY OPERATE UNDER DISTURBED AREA ACT ???? ARE THE ATROCITIES OF PMF/POLICE REALLY A RESULT  OF THIS ACT????

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958

An Act to enable certain special powers to be conferred upon members of the armed forces in disturbed areas in the State of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur.

Be it enacted by Parliament in the Ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

1. (i) This Act may be called [The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958].

(ii) It extends to the whole of the State of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "armed forces" means the military forces and the air forces of the Union so operating

(b) "disturbed area" means an area which is for the time being declared by notification under section 3, to be a disturbed area;

(c) all other words and expressions used herein, but not defined and defined in the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950), or the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950) shall have meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.

3. If the Governor of Assam or the Chief Commissioner of Manipur is of the opinion that the whole or any part of the State of Assam or the Union Territory of Manipur, as the case may be, is in such a disturbed or dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil powers in necessary, he may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare the whole or any part of the State or Union territory to be a disturbed area.

4. Any commissioned officer, warrant officer, non commissioned officer or any other person of equivalent rank in the Armed Forces may, in a disturbed area,

(a) if he is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for the maintenance of public order, after giving such due warning as he may consider necessary, fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the disturbed area prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons or the carrying of weapons or of things capable of being used as weapons or of fire-arms, ammunition or explosive substances;

(b) if he is of opinion that it is necessary so to do, destroy any arms dump, prepared or fortified position or shelter from which armed attacks are made or are likely to be made or are attempted to be made, or any structure used as a training camp for armed volunteers or utilised as a hide-out by armed gangs or absconders wanted for any offence;

(c) arrest, without warrant, any person who has committed a cognisable offence or against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed or is about to commit a cognisable offence and may use such force as may be necessary to effect the arrest;

(d) enter and search without warrant any premises to make any such arrest as aforesaid or to recover any person believed to be wrongfully restrained or any arms, ammunition or explosive substances believed to be unlawfully kept in such premises and may for that purpose use such force as may be necessary.

5. Any person arrested and taken into custody under this Act shall be made over to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station with the least possible delay, together with a report of the circumstances occasioning the arrest.

6. No prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act.

7. (1) The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Ordinance 1958 is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have done or taken under this Act, as if this Act had commenced on the 22nd day of May, 1958.

http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/2006/10/afspa-1958-read-bare-act.html

PM ‘assures’ withdrawal of AFSPA

The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), a tribal party, today claimed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured them that the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, would be amended so that tribals were not harassed by paramilitary forces.

INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma told reporters that the assurance came when they met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in Delhi last month.

Pointing out that the act provided unlimited powers to the paramilitary forces, he alleged that about 1,500 tribal youths were arrested by paramilitary forces over the years on “false” charges. The act is in force in 40 police station areas since 1997.

Debbarma also said the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, formed in 1985 to safeguard tribals culturally and economically, had failed to accomplish its mission due to non-availability of funds and adequate powers.

“We have demanded more autonomy on the lines of the Bodo Territorial Council so that funds were directly received by the tribal council. More legislative power should be given to safeguard the interests of tribals, who constitute one third of the population in the state,” Debbarma said.

The INPT leader said the Centre had assured to send a team to review the functioning of the council. — PTI

 

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091111/main4.htm

Depressed ex-IAF man attempts suicide

CHANDIGARH: A retired squadron leader of the Indian Air Force reportedly shot himself with a licensed .32 bore revolver in an attempt to commit suicide at his Sector-43 residence on Tuesday morning.

Dhanna Singh, 65, is admitted in PGI emergency, where his condition is stated critical. Police said the bullet had lodged itself in the upper portion of the victim’s face after passing through the jaws.

Though the exact reason behind the extreme step could not be ascertained, cops said Dhanna Singh had been under depression ever since his son, Raghujeet Singh, had committed suicide around four years ago.

Police sources said Raghujeet had ended his life by jumping in front of a moving train near Ludhiana reportedly due to a matrimonial dispute.

After retiring from Indian Air Force nine years ago, the victim had settled with his family in Chandigarh. His wife, Harbans Kaur, said the 65-year-old had entered the kitchen to apparently prepare his meal on Tuesday morning. However, he reportedly complained of a pain in the stomach and entered his room. ‘Though I heard a shot, I first thought it’s a cracker,’ Kaur said. Upon rushing inside the room, she saw her husband bleeding profusely and immediately called the police.

Kaur runs a creche at her residence. She told the cops that Dhanna Singh had started remaining aloof and they used to interact very little. Kaur expressed her ignorance about the victim owning a revolver with live cartridges.

The SHO of police station-34, Uday Pall, said they had seized the weapon along with one empty shell and five live cartridges from the spot.

The injured Dhanna Singh was rushed to GMCH-32, from where doctors referred him to PGI. Sources said a surgery was required to remove the bullet.

Police have registered a case of attempt to commit suicide against the retired officer at Sector 34 police station.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Depressed-ex-IAF-man-attempts-suicide/articleshow/5217143.cms

India wants warships it lent to Sri Lanka back

The Indian Coast Guard is uncertain about getting back two warships that it leased out to the Sri Lankan Navy in 2007 on an annually renewable contract.

The two vessels, Coast Guard Ship (CGS) Varaha and CGS Vigraha, equipped with helicopters and rapid-fire machine guns, were leased out when Colombo was preparing for the offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

But now the Sri Lankan Navy appears to be clueless about the Coast Guard’s demand for returning the warships and renamed the Varaha as Sagara and the Vigraha as Sayurala.

Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Captain Athula Senarath said on phone from Colombo that his country was grateful to India for making the two vessels available to it.

The government might find it hard to put diplomatic niceties aside to accommodate the Coast Guard. It also does not want to lose more ground to China and Pakistan, which have been catering to Sri Lanka’s military needs.

A senior defence ministry official, who did not wish to be identified, confirmed, “They (The Coast Guard) feel the Sri Lankan Navy doesn’t need the vessels, with the LTTE dead and gone.”

The source said the government was likely to provide new replacements to the Coast Guard for the ships given to Sri Lanka.

While the government has sanctioned 55 more warships and 45 aircraft for the Coast Guard after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, it is no secret that these assets cannot be inducted overnight.

“Orders have been placed with various shipyards, but deliveries will take at least two years to complete. In that sense, we are still grappling with a shortage of assets,” said a Coast Guard source. The Coast Guard is responsible for securing territorial waters extending to 12 miles off the Indian shores. It does so under the supervision of the Indian Navy.

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-wants-warships-it-lent-to-Sri-Lanka-back/H1-Article3-475046.aspx

Body AFMS has its eyes set on NABH accreditation

LUCKNOW: The Armed Forces Medical Services is eyeing the prestigious National accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Services (NABH) accreditation for its hospital. Applications for as many as seven of the 129 hospitals coming under AFMS is pending with the Quality Council of India.

"Gap-analysis for these seven hospitals is over and the hospitals are upgrading their facilities to meet the standards set by NABH," said director general AFMS, AVSM, VrC, VSM, PHS Lt Gen NK Parmar. He is in the state capital to join the 10th AMC Reunion And 50th biennial conference being hosted by the Headquarters Central Command, Lucknow.

Lt Gen Parmar added that AFMS was going in a phased manner to earn the NABH certification for its hospitals and Lucknow was surely in the lineup. He, however, said that AFMC had plans to develop its independent accreditation policy in the long run.

VSM, director general medical services (army), and Col Comdt Lt Gen SR Mehta was also present in the brief media interaction. Lt Gen Mehta said that Indian army's medical corps was emerging as a big opportunity for those seeking employment in the sector.

"The army has avenues for 484 doctors, 650 nurses and 2,300 assistants and paramedics... Then there is about 4-5% of average deficineny in the existing posts.. so if young medicos and nursing students are interested in this `opportunity of a lifetime'.... it's time for them to apply," he said.

Notably, this is crucial in the era of retrenchment and bans on fresh recruitments in the name of recession.

Lt Gen Mehta also said that two new diploma courses had been started by the Army Medical Corps for its students. These are diploma courses in blood transfusion, physiotherapy and operation theatre technician. Duly approved by the state medical faculty, these courses are running their first batch as of now. Asked to comment in this regard, state medical faculty, Dr Rajesh Jain said, "these courses are of great use to paramedics in the army and will give them an edge when they retire." 

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Body-AFMS-has-its-eyes-set-on-NABH-accreditation/articleshow/5217426.cms

Indian to get anti-tank missiles from US

NEW DELHI: India is negotiating with the Untied States to acquire state of the art Javelin anti-tank missile worth several million dollars for large-scale induction. Earlier, India was planning to purchase the Israeli anti-tank missile, Spike. But the missile failed at the trials in Rajasthan deserts. Sources here said the negotiations with the Americans were at advances stage. Both sides may seal the deal by the end of this month coinciding the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington. Media reports suggest that the induction of Javelin could affect India’s indigenously developed Nag anti-tank missiles, which were cleared for production this July after two decades of trials and research. The Indian Army has ordered 443 Nag missiles and 13 missile carriers. Since the Nag was on the drawing board for several years, the army started desperately looking for new generation anti-tank missiles to penetrate modern day tanks, reports said. The Indian Army currently has old Milan missiles, a European product, and the Russian Konkours, both of which are manufactured in India under licence at the Bharat Dynamics Limited.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\11\11\story_11-11-2009_pg20_3

Myanmar promise on flushout

A member of the Manipur Polo Association presents a kangjei to a Myanmarese delegate in Imphal on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, Nov. 10: Myanmar today assured India that it would not allow militants from the Northeast to take shelter in the country and carry out subversive activities from its soil.

The assurance was given by a strong delegation of the Myanmarese army to the Indian army during a meeting at Leimakhong army cantonment, the headquarters of the 57 Mountain Division at Leimakhong in Sadar Hills this morning.

This is the 38th Indo-Myanmar bi-annual liaison meeting. A 15-member Myanmarese delegation led by Brig. Gen. Tin Maung Ohn attended the meeting.

The delegation arrived yesterday and will return tomorrow.

The Indian army delegation was headed by chief of staff of the 3 Corps, Maj. Gen. S.S. Pawar. The meeting reviewed the security scenario along the international border and cooperation and relationship between the two countries.

After the meeting Gen. Pawar termed the meeting fruitful, cordial and smooth. Both sides exchanged views on working on security measures required for controlling insurgency in both countries and to check cross-border movement of insurgents.

The meeting also discussed the need to flush out Northeast insurgents from Myanmar. “The Myanmarese delegation assured us that insurgents from the Northeast would not be allowed to work from their soil. They also assured us that they have started working on this,” Gen. Pawar said.

This is for the first time that the Myanmarese army has given a categorical assurance to India that the country would not allow militants from this side of the border to take shelter in the country and intends to flush them out.

Top army officers on this of the border have been complaining that militants from the Northeast set up camps in Myanmar and the country is not doing anything to flush them out.

Till today, the Myanmarese response was that it would oust the rebels if their camps existed in the country.

The assurance given by the Myanmarese delegation is being considered by the army here as an acceptance of the fact that Northeast insurgents were camping there. The Indian delegation also informed the Myanmarese delegation about construction of fences in the Moreh sector. In the first phase, the border fencing would be constructed from border pillars 71 to 81. The Myanmarese team said it was aware of the fencing plan.

The team visited Loktak lake this afternoon before witnessing an exhibition match of Manipuri polo, arambai (warfare) and tent pegging at Imphal pologround.

The event was sponsored by the GOC, 57 Mountain Division Maj. Gen. Shakti Gurung, and organised by Manipur Equestrian Association, All Manipur Arambai Association and Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091111/jsp/northeast/story_11724149.jsp

President awards standards to 47 SQN, TACDE

The President of India and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, today conferred the Presidential Standards to two premiere combat units of the IAF - No. 47 Squadron and Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) at an impressive presentation parade held at the Gwalior airbase.

"It gives me immense pleasure to be with you at Air Force Station Gwalior, a premier Indian Air Force Base, to award Standards to 47 Squdron Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment. Both have a rich history of valour and courage and have rendered distinguished service to the nation since their inception. These two units have put in tremendous effort as well as followed rigorous discipline in pursuit of excellence and set an example for others to emulate. For their selfless devotion, professionalism and courage in the face of their adversity, the nation honours them today with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation," said President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil on this ocassion.

The Standards were received in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik by Commanding Officer of No. 47 Squadron (Black Archers) Wing Commander Vikas Sharma and Commodore Commandant Air Vice Marshal Arup Raha, and subsequently by the Commandant of TACDE Group, Captain Surat Singh and Commodore Commandant Air Marshal S Mukerji.

An impressive parade comprising air warriors from both units as well those from the Gwalior airbase followed the Standard presentation. The President also released a First Day cover and a Brochure on the occasion.

A fly-past comprising AWACS flanked by two Su-30 MKI, a single Mig-21 (T-77), a Vic of each of the three Mig-21s(T-96), Mig-27s, Mig-29s and Su-30 MKIs enthralled the onlookers. The IAF's helicopter display team - Sarang undertook a captivating display, while a single Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft, the mainstay of the Gwalior airbase, displayed low-level aerobatics.

The President later interacted with the air warriors of the two Units and others from the airbase. Among the senior dignitaries present included Madhya Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh. Several other senior serving and retired officers of the two units were also present at the ceremony.

Later, addressing media persons on the sidelines of the Standards presentation, Air Chief formally announced the proposed flight of the President on a Su-30 MKI at Pune airbase on November 25. (ANI)

 

http://sify.com/news/President-awards-standards-to-47-SQN-TACDE-news-jlkr4fbcead.html

China criticises India for ignoring its ‘concerns’

Ananth Krishnan

BEIJING: The Chinese government on Tuesday accused New Delhi of “disregarding China’s grave concerns” by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh and said it was “strongly dissatisfied” about the Tibetan leader’s visit to the State, parts of which China has claims on.

Last week, Beijing accused the Tibetan religious leader of “sabotaging” ties between India and China but stopped short of criticising New Delhi for granting approval for the visit. Beijing reiterated its opposition on Tuesday, but this time directly blamed New Delhi for ignoring its concerns.

“The Indian side has disregarded China’s grave concerns and allowed the Dalai Lama to visit,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said.

“China is firmly against the Dalai Lama’s visit to the disputed area of the eastern section of the boundary region.”

The Tibetan leader’s visit to the State has heightened already frayed tensions between the two countries over the long-running border dispute.

To avoid further fanning the flames, the Indian government and the Dalai Lama have repeatedly stressed in recent weeks that the Tibetan religious leader’s visit to the State was not political in any way, and that the Dalai Lama would only visit monasteries, schools and hospitals.

But that is far from how the visit is being viewed here in Beijing.

The Chinese government in public statements described the Dalai Lama’s visit to the State, which borders Tibet, as “anti-China” and “separatist”, while articles appearing in China’s official media in recent days have even suggested New Delhi was using the visit to stake its claims to the disputed region.

In an article headlined “India covets Dalai Lama’s visit,” the State-run Global Times newspaper quoted a well-known Chinese scholar who said India “may make use of the Dalai Lama to solve the decade-long territorial conflict.” “The Dalai Lama went to southern Tibet at this critical moment probably because of pressure from India,” Hu Shisheng, a South Asia scholar at the government-supported China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told the newspaper in an interview. “By doing so, he can please the country that has hosted him for years.”

 

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/11/stories/2009111160271000.htm