IAF task force to fight Maoists

New Delhi, Oct. 14: The Indian Air Force has created a task force for the counter-Naxalite offensive and has appointed a Group Captain as its commander.

The task force commander will be a member of a central operations command to be set up by the Union home ministry.

The involvement of the air force in the counter-Naxalite operations being carried out and planned to be intensified next month is turning out to be much bigger than was originally envisaged.

At first, the air force was called upon to deploy its helicopters to fulfil a role that should have been the central forces’, specifically that of the Border Security Force, which has dedicated helicopters.

But now the home and defence ministries have concluded that the BSF’s helicopters are not enough. Anticipating that its role may increase, the air headquarters has sought permission from the defence ministry to open fire in self-defence, a senior IAF source said here today

The Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal P.K. Barbora, said the air headquarters had not received any official communication yet on its request. But defence minister A.K. Antony has said the IAF will have the right to self-defence. The IAF is also waiting for a response on the “rules of engagement” (ROE) that it has proposed.

In Srinagar today, Union home minister P Chidambaram said: “The helicopters will be primarily used for evacuation and transportation of security forces. They will not be used for any offensive action.”

Asked about Antony’s statement that IAF helicopters would be given permission to open fire in self-defence, Chidambaram said he did not see any contradiction of policies between the home and the defence ministries. “If the defence minister has said that the IAF will fire in self-defence, then that is the policy.”

Barbora said the air force had to seek formal permission to open fire because it was not a routine measure. He pointed out, though, that there was an instance of the IAF being used offensively in internal security missions. That was in the 1960s against Mizo National Front guerrillas.

Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik has said the air force wanted to arm its Mi 17 helicopters in the counter-Naxalite offensive and put its Garud commandos on board. Over the past week, air force heavy transport planes — the Ilyushin 76 — ferried more than 3,000 central forces from bases in the north and the west to Maharashtra after 18 Maharashtra police commandos were killed in an attack by the Maoists, said Barbora. Just last evening, air force helicopters flew sorties to transport security forces near a polling station in Gadchiroli district after learning that the Naxalites were moving to raid it.

“But we are really quiet about our involvement. There is a structure. We have assigned some assets for the job and we will be part of the operations command — it will be inappropriate to call it a ‘war room’ — there will be a central operations command, we are told,” the senior officer said. The air force does not want to publicise the number of helicopters it is deploying for the offensive.

With the air force’s involvement set to be integral to the offensive, the risk factor for the service also increases. During the general elections in April-May this year, IAF helicopters flew 930 sorties from 13 airbases in 14 states, seven of them where Naxalites are active.

Between April 26 and 28, two Ilyushin 76s and four AN32 airlifters flew 3,234 central paramilitary forces from Imphal in Manipur to Bengal’s Kalaikunda, from where aerial surveillance for Lalgarh was also carried out.

 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091015/jsp/frontpage/story_11617727.jsp

Govt hopeful of `unique' solution through dialogue on J&K: PC

SRINAGAR: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state towards the end of this month, home minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that there would be "quiet dialogue, quiet diplomacy" to find the contours of a political solution to issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

Though he steered clear of saying when such a dialogue would be initiated, the minister said the Centre was not shying away from talks and that "every shade of opinion in the state" would be consulted. An approach that was outside the media glare could yield a "unique" solution, he said.

Without touching on issues like amnesty to jailed militants or facilitation of the return disillusioned "commanders" from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he made the point that infiltration from Pakistan and PoK was "solely" responsible for violence in the state. He said that increasingly, the J&K police backed by paramilitary was being made responsible for maintenance of peace while Army manned the borders. He said there was a desperation on part of Pakistan to push in infiltrators.

The last significant contact with a militant commander was held in 2000 when the Union home secretary had met leaders of separatists and five commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen-nominated by then chief commander of the outfit in J&K Majid Dar.

The government appears to be moving carefully. "It's not that we have to hide something," said Chidambaram, adding, "But a dialogue in full media glare goes nowhere." Quiet diplomacy and political initiative "engaging stakeholders in a one-to-one until a political solution is reached is part of our policy on J&K".

He also said many recommendations of working groups set up after an initiative by the Prime Minister had been incorporated and were reflected in many policies and programmes implemented by the government in the state.

He said he had been visiting the state every two months to take stock of affairs while secretaries of various Union ministries such as power, agriculture, tourism have been asked to make regular visits to evaluate the progress of projects with field visits.

While the next visit of secretaries to J&K is planned for November, the cabinet secretary would be there in February next year to review all projects and the security situation. The home minister suggested that all other cabinet ministers too should make it a habit to visit J&K and personally monitor the PM's reconstruction programme.

The emphasis of the fresh policy on J&K includes a tight monitoring of various projects initiated under an overall reconstruction package for the state worth Rs 25,000 crore.

Efforts are being made to make the forces deployed in Kashmir to be more professional and deft at handling civilians. In this regard, the government has drafted and implemented a module under which the J&K police and personnel of the CRPF are being retrained for the past 12 weeks to handle civilian protests and avoid casualties.

On the possible misuse of mobile phones by militants, Chidambaram said, "We want everybody to switch over to post-paid connections in the state and if our effort don't bear result, the government may have to come out with a directive to ban pre-paid mobile connections in J&K as they have serious security implications."

He also announced that amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act had been finalized and were before the Union cabinet for its approval. Once the cabinet approved the amendments, they would apply to all parts of the country, including J&K and the north-east.

On the issue of IAF firing back on Naxals, the minister said its helicopters would only be used for transportation and for relief and rescue operations. He said that if the defence minister has said that the IAF personnel in these choppers can fire in self-defence, "probably that is the policy we have".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-hopeful-of-unique-solution-through-dialogue-on-JK-PC/articleshow/5124898.cms

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/15/stories/2009101560441000.htm

BEIJING: The war of words between China and India intensified on Wednesday with China’s ruling Communist Party accusing India of harbouring “hegemonic” ambitions in South Asia and “provoking” China on the border issue.

In what is possibly the strongest diatribe China’s ruling party has directed at India in recent memory, the Communist Party in two editorials in its official newspapers accused the Indian government of “recklessness and arrogance” and “turning a blind eye” to China’s “concessions” in resolving the long-running boundary dispute.

The remarks come a day after China said it was “strongly dissatisfied” with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, parts of which China still has claims on.

On Wednesday, the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, and the Global Times, an English-language paper run by its information department, launched a verbal onslaught on India in their editorial pages. The People’s Daily said India was “obsessed” with a “hegemonic mentality” and “refused to drop the pretentious airs when dealing with neighbours like Pakistan.” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, incidentally, is currently in Beijing and on Tuesday discussed a highway project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with Chinese President Hu Jintao, raising concerns in New Delhi.

Wednesday’s statements underscore how the atmosphere between the two neighbours has fast soured in recent months, and are a stark contrast from the conciliatory positions the two governments had seemed to adopt over the border dispute following the thirteenth round of talks in August. Officials in Beijing and New Delhi spoke of positive progress then.

The People’s Daily, a nationalistic newspaper run by the Communist Party’s propaganda wing, often articulates the party’s positions on foreign affairs in more strident tones than the official positions stated by the Chinese government’s Foreign Ministry.

Alluding to India’s strategic relationship with the United States, the paper said India followed a policy of “befriend the far and attack the near.” It said “resentment still simmered” from India’s wars with China and Pakistan. “If India really wants to be a superpower, such a policy is short-sighted and immature,” it said in the editorial.

The Global Times, an English-language newspaper which often reflects the party’s views on foreign policy and is directed towards an international audience, said India would make “a fatal error” if it mistook “China’s approach for weakness.The Chinese government and public regard territorial integrity as a core national interest, one that must be defended with every means,” the paper said. “The disputed border area is of strategic importance, and hence, India’s recent moves including Singh’s trip and approving past visits to the region by the Dalai Lama send the wrong signal. That could have dangerous consequences.”

The papers also accused India of “ignoring” China’s “concessions” on the border issue, but did not specify what the concessions were.

Indian analysts say China’s positions on the boundary issue have hardened in recent months, with Chinese objections to visits by Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh becoming more frequent and strong.

The Global Times also claimed that 96 per cent of the over 6,000 respondents of an online poll on its Chinese-language website said they felt “agitated” by the frequent visits by Indian leaders to the disputed area.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/15/stories/2009101560441000.htm

Congress soft on terror, Naxals get a free hand

Government has a concrete plan to deal with Naxals but keeps alternating between a soft approach and a tough one from time to time. After the killing of police officer Francis Induwar in Jharkhand, it appears the Government may finally enlist the help of the Indian Air Force and give it the right to return aerial fire in the event of an attack.

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday had said, The IAF has every right to respond to the challenges."

The Centre's plan goes thus:

• Helicopters like Chetak and MI17 will be used for supporting operations.
  
• Unarmed Aerial Vehicles will be used for surveillance over Naxal areas.
  
• Security forces will be positioned in sanitised zones for upto three years.
  
• Incentive schemes will be introduced for security officers posted in Naxal-infested areas, including a 25 per cent hike in basic pay and higher insurance coverage.
  
• Vacancies will be filled up by recruiting locals.
  
• Officers will be allowed to retain their quarters in main cities or the capital, if posted in Naxal areas.
  

But politics may come in the way of the smooth implementation as several Naxal hit states are ruled by the Opposition parties. Even within the UPA the full tempo approach has not been fully accepted. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined Rahul Gandhi in talking development rather than violent defence as a means to stamp out the reign of red terror.

A week ago, Rahul Gandhi, then AK Antony and now the Prime Minister have blamed lack of governance for Naxal activities. Once again, the Congress brings on itself the charge of being soft on terror.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/congress-soft-on-terror-naxals-get-a-free-hand/103161-3.html

Coastal security scheme comes under scanner

THOOHUKUDI: As the number of vessels intruding into Indian waters increases, people living in the coastal region are a worried lot and questions are being raised regarding the credibility of the much acclaimed Coastal Security Scheme (CSS).

The public contended that the scheme had failed as number of Lankan boats straying into Indian waters had increased and this time they had failed to check the intrusion of a Singapore vessel off the Koodangulam coast.

The CSS is said to be a three-fold security blanket scheme wherein the Indian coasts are guarded by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Security Group. Now questions are being raised as to how the  three-tier security was breached in all these incidents.

In August 2009, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended three Sri Lankan fishing boats. In October, one fishing boat was detained and the total number of Sri Lankan fishermen who were arrested was 31. Early this month, the stranded Singapore vessel off Koodangulam was brought to the coast guard station at Thoothukudi.

However, in all these incidents the intrusion is said to have happened due to bad weather. Though the coast guard ships are equipped with radar and hi-tech GPS systems, these systems failed to track the stranded ship off Koodangulam for two days.

Now, the Tamil Nadu police and the Indian Coast Guard are blaming each other for the porous security. According to sources, the Indian Coast Guard has to take responsibility. 

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Coastal+security+scheme+comes+under+scanner&artid=gnr4J9xOFHk=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=

26/11 lesson: Navy and Coast Guard scan city seafront for infiltrators

The Indian Navy will carry out aerial surveillance of the city’s coastal regions to prevent possible infiltration along the lines of the 26/11 terror attack, the Mumbai Police said.

The Coast Guard and the Navy have already launched a massive joint operation, patrolling the coast. It will continue on Tuesday.

“There is no specific terror threat but all precautions are being taken. We have approached the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Indian Air Force. The Navy and the Coast Guard are engaged in a big coastal policing exercise, and the Navy has also started aerial surveillance of coastal areas in the city with its choppers. We are also talking to the Indian Air Force requesting aerial surveillance,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Himanshu Roy.

“Since 90 per cent of the police force will be engaged in election duties, the city can become a soft target. We want to ensure that there is no infiltration from the sea as in the case of the 26/11 terror attack,” said Roy. 

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/26-11-lesson-navy-and-coast-guard-scan-city-seafront-for-infiltrators/528205/

DRDO develops new guns for armed forces

New Delhi: With the armed and state police forces looking to procure close-quarter combat guns in the post 26/11 security scenario, DRDO has come up with a 5.56 mm calibre Modern Sub-Machine Carbine (MSMC) and is expecting it to be inducted in the army soon.

Developed by DRDO's Pune-based Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), MSMC will be sent for final field trials to the army in December, DRDO officials said.

The previous three trials of the gun were carried out at Army's Infantry School in Mhow and have been quite successful in meeting their requirements, they said.

Carbine is a lightweight compact semi-automatic gun with a small barrel and fires rapidly and is suitable for close quarter combats. 

At present, the Indian Army Special Forces have Israeli-made Tavor and Uzi guns and the paramilitary forces use German-made MP-5 guns. 

Commenting on the main features of the gun, the officials

said the MSMC has the potential of being "weapon of choice" for the Special Forces and quick-reaction teams operating against terrorists in urban and semi-urban backdrop. 

The MSMC has ambidextrous features and soldiers would be able to fire it with one hand also, officials said.

Size of the gun can also be adjusted according to different situations in which the troops operate, they said.

MSMC is an off-shoot of the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) family of weapons, which was an attempt to produce small arms indigenously. Prior to developing the MSMC, DRDO was working on an INSAS Carbine but the programme was shelved after the army issued new requirements for the gun. 

http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=6090728&programId=1073754912&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL 

Bihar police to get Army training to counter “Red Army”

Army will train police in Bihar to enable them successfully counter the Maoists, police officials said today.

Officials said the Bihar police required special training to suitably counter the “grown-up” Maoists.

“We are taking help from the Indian Army to make our police jawans get special outdoor training in counter insurgency and guerrilla warfare”, said a senior police official who did not want to be named.

He said the department was soon going to open Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare Schools at four places in Bihar.

“In these schools, the jawans will get training on the pattern of Grey Hounds of Hyderabad”, the official said.

In the current year, a total 24 policemen have been killed in Bihar in six naxal attacks reported till August while only three Maoists were killed in police encounter. The maoists also looted 28 police weapons.

As per an official report, 31 of Bihar’s total 38 districts are infested by Maoist activities. Of them, 19 figure in “A” category. 

http://blog.taragana.com/n/bihar-police-to-get-army-training-to-counter-red-army-193660/