News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Army

  • Nagaland civilian killings: SIT unlikely to finish inquiry by January 5

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI:  It appears unlikely that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the December 4 killing of 14 civilians by Indian Army in a botched ambush at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district, can complete the investigation on time.

    It was given a month by the Nagaland government to complete the probe. The deadline expires on January 5. A senior Nagaland Police official privy to the investigation virtually ruled out the possibility, stating that the police get 90 days to file a charge sheet in court. He cited the gamut of the probe, pointing at the involvement of various stake-holders at different levels.

    The state government has already expanded the SIT that was formed with five officers on December 5. Around 16 or 17 others were co-opted in due course, taking its strength to 21-22. The team includes five IPS officers, the official said.

    An undated order, issued by Addl DGP (Law and Order) Sandeep M Tamgadge, said that the officers co-opted would work under a team. The SIT has so far examined 55-60 witnesses and will examine more people.

    “We have taken help of cyber, forensic and ballistics experts from all over the country. We are conducting the investigation in a very professional, serious and sincere manner,” the official said. Members of a National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology team aiding the SIT are examining data including videos and photographs related to the tragic incident, sources said.

    Meanwhile, an Army team probing the incident is scheduled to visit Oting on Wednesday. However, the Konyak (tribe) civil society organisations made it clear that the personnel should not come in uniform or with arms. As such, Nagaland Police will escort the team, the sources said.

    On December 10, the Konyak organisations had served a 30-day ultimatum demanding that those involved in the killings of civillians be booked and the action taken report brought in public domain.

  • Nagaland civilian killings: Tribal bodies ask people not to cooperate with army

    By PTI

    KOHIMA: Top organisations of the Konyak tribe in Nagaland have announced a set of regulations, including “strict non-cooperation” with the army, saying the people will follow them until justice is served in the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in a botched up operation and its aftermath in the North-eastern state earlier this month.

    Thirteen of the 14 people killed in three episodes of firing by army personnel on December 4 and 5 belonged to the Konyak tribe, one of the major tribes of Nagaland.

    In a joint statement, the Konyak Union, the apex body of the tribe, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (mothers’ organisation) and the Konyak Students Union asked the members of the tribe not to take part in any army recruitment rally and refrain from accepting any package or assistance from the military forces.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland civilians killings: Konyak bodies harden stand against military

    “Total restriction on Indian Military force convoy and patrolling on Konyak soil shall continue until justice is delivered to those 14 innocent Konyak youths” who were killed, the statement said.

    The Konyak bodies also directed all customary landowners to immediately denounce past land agreements for setting up army base camps within their jurisdiction.

    The Konyak bodies urged citizens to refrain from taking part in merrymaking such as open picnics in Mon district.

    However, pre-scheduled programmes like weddings and church events were allowed.

    They also demanded that the state government take responsibility for medical treatment and security of the two persons, survivors of the firing on December 4.

    ALSO READ | Families of Nagaland firing victims decline compensation, demand justice first

    They are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Assam.

    A public rally will be held in Mon district on December 16, according to the statement issued on Monday after a seven-day mourning period is over.

    The statement said black flags would be hoisted in every vehicle and black badges worn by all till justice is delivered.

    Altogether 14 civilians in Nagaland’s Mon district were killed in three consecutive episodes of firing by security forces, the first of which has been claimed to be a case of mistaken identity.

    ALSO READ | Nagaland firing incident proves high time AFSPA is repealed from NE: Irom Sharmila

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Lok Sabha the army had received information on the movement of insurgents in Mon and ’21 Para Commando’ unit had laid an ambush.

    “A vehicle was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away. Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, leading to the death of six of its eight occupants,” Shah said.

    Eight others, including an army man, were killed in subsequent clashes between the force and villagers.

    However, several political parties have contested the government version that the vehicle was asked to stop.

  • ‘Apne senao par hei hame garv’: Indian Army releases CDS Rawat’s last public message before Sulur chopper crash

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: “Apne Senao par hei hame garv, aao milkar manaye Vijay Parv (We are proud of our armies, let’s celebrate victory together)” was the last public message by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, a day before his death in a helicopter crash.

    The Indian Army on Sunday released a 1.09-minute video clip in which Gen Rawat greeted the armed forces personnel on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war and paid tributes to the fallen heroes.

    Army sources said the video was recorded on the evening of December 7.

    Gen Rawat, his wife and his Defence Adviser Brigadier LS Lidder were among the 13 people killed in the horrific helicopter crash at 12:22 pm on December 8 near Coonoor.

    In the video clip, Gen Rawat paid glowing tributes to the Indian armed forces personnel killed in the 1971 war with Pakistan and appealed to the citizens to join the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the victory.

    The video was also played at the inaugural event of the ‘Vijay Parv’ celebrations at the Indian Gate complex.

    The event was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass of the country.

    Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971, that paved way for the birth of Bangladesh.

    “I am extending heartfelt greetings to all the brave soldiers of Indian armed forces on the occasion of Swarnim Vijay Parv. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 war as the Vijay Parv,” Gen Rawat said.

    India is organising a series of events to mark the stupendous victory of India over Pakistan in the war 50 years ago.

    “I am paying my tributes to our brave soldiers on this occasion, remembering their sacrifices. Several events are being organised at the India Gate between December 12 and 14.”

    “It is a matter of great pride that Vijay Parv is being organised at the Amar Jawan Jyoti complex which was established in memory of our brave soldiers,” Gen Rawat said in the message.

    “We invite all countrymen to participate in the Vijay Parv,” he said.

    He ended by saying: “Apne Senao par hei hame garv, aao milkar manaye Vijay Parv.”

    On January 1 last year, Gen Rawat took charge as India’s first CDS with a mandate to bring in convergence in the functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country’s overall military prowess.

    In the last two years, Gen Rawat carried out the extensive groundwork to roll out tri-services reforms.

    Known to be forthright, fearless, and blunt at times, the outstanding military commander ruffled many feathers with his controversial remarks during his tenure as the Army Chief as well as Chief of Defence Staff.

    In his role as Chief of Army Chief between 2016 and 2019, he strongly backed a policy of hot pursuit in dealing with cross-border terrorism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • India carries out series of successful test firing of extended range Pinaka rocket system

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A series of successful test-firing of the Extended Range Pinaka rocket system (Pinaka-ER) was carried in the last three days, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

    The rocket systems that were tested at Pokharan field firing ranges were manufactured by a private industry following transfer of technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

    “The DRDO, along with the Army, conducted series of performance evaluation trials of these industry produced rockets at field firing ranges during the last three days,” the defence ministry said.

    “In these trials, enhanced range Pinaka rockets were test-fired at different ranges with various warhead capabilities. All the trial objectives were met satisfactorily,” it said in a statement.

    While the Pinaka MK-I rocket system has a range of around 40 km, the Pinaka II variant can hit targets at a distance of 60 km.

    The range of the Pinaka-ER (MK-I variant is not immediately known. The ministry said the Area Denial Munition (ADM) variants of the munition for Pinaka, produced under the technology transfer, were also tested successfully at Pokhran field firing ranges.

    It said 24 rockets were fired for different ranges and warhead capabilities.

    “With this, the initial phase of technology absorption of Pinaka-ER by the industry partner has successfully been completed making the industry partner ready for series production of the rocket system,” the ministry said.

    The rocket system has been jointly designed by two Pune-based DRDO laboratories — the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

    The ministry said DRDO, after establishing the performance efficacy of the Pinaka-ER, transferred its technology to the industry.

    “The industry partner has manufactured enhanced Pinaka Mk-1 rockets with DRDO’s handholding during the production and quality assurance,” it said.

    “In continuation of the transfer of technology absorption, rockets developed by the industry have undergone the performance evaluation and quality certification process,” the ministry said.

    It said the indigenously-developed “proximity fuzes” for Pinaka rockets have also been tested.

    “After design validation trials, dynamic performance evaluation of these fuzes have been evaluated with flight testing. Consistency in performance of fuzes has been established in consecutive flight trials,” the ministry said.

  • Nagaland firing: Eerie calm in Oting a week after killing by security forces

    By PTI

    OTING: There is an eerie calm in Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district, where despite the approaching Christmas there are no buntings or traditional decorations.

    Visitors to this remote hilly place are instead greeted with the sight of a lone white banner flapping in the air in memory of the 13 hapless young mine workers who fell victim to bullets sprayed at them by security forces a week ago in a botched counter insurgency operation.

    The calm speaks of the shock, sorrow and tension after the brutal killing and villagers, yet to come to grips with the tragedy, have put restrictions on accessing the site or visitors speaking to the bereaved families since the past two days.

    What strikes a visitor in this hour of grief is the famed Naga hospitality.

    A community kitchen has been opened since the incident and all visitors – ranging from government officers, the police, tribesmen and journalists are offered a meal of steamed rice, yellow dal, meat and pickle besides drinking water and black tea.

    “It is a massive tragedy. We appreciate the concern shown by everyone. We hope we get justice for the bereaved families,” an elderly inhabitant of the village told PTI on Friday.

    He is, however, firm on visitors not being allowed to meet the victims’ families.

    “The people coming from outside insist on meeting them. They make the families recount the horror over and over again. We decided to put a stop to it as there is no point in making them relive the painful loss,” he said.

    Another villager, who identified himself at Kheatwang Konyak, tries to explain that the villagers are not against people coming to Oting at this time.

    “We are coordinating with the visitors and providing whatever information or help they need. Earlier, visitors moved around alone, now we are only streamlining it”.

    He adds, “We lost innocent lives in the incident. Families have been shattered. God knows when we can move on from such a tragedy.”

    Near the hall where food is being served to visitors, villagers sit huddled in a meeting, to which outsiders are disallowed.

    When asked, Apo and Alem, who are among the girls of the village who have volunteered to work at the kitchen, said “We have been busy helping. The impact of our loss as a community is yet to sink in”.

    Later, Kheatwang, who accompanied this correspondent to the incident site, which is about 10 km from the village, said that the central government’s claim that the youths were gunned down as their pickup van did not stop at check points and that they tried to flee is not acceptable to the villagers.

    He points to the road, which is practically a mud track connecting the village to the incident site and is barely wide enough to allow the passage of a single vehicle.

    “You can see for yourself. It is not possible for any vehicle to go beyond 10-20 km per hour on this road.”

    He vehemently disagrees that the pickup van had not stopped at check points because “There are no check points at all, baring the one at the entrance of Oting village. Besides, the van was coming from the opposition direction.”

    Pointing to the lone army vehicle, which escaped being torched by angry villagers on that fateful Saturday evening, Kheatwang said, “The bodies of the six victims who were gunned down were taken from the pickup van and loaded like luggage pieces at the back of this van.”

    The pickup still lies at the incident site along with three other burnt Army vehicles, including the one used to carry the hapless victims – mute testimonies to one of the worst incidents of killing of civilians by the security forces.

    The area is naturally cordoned off and a platoon of Nagaland police stands in guard.

    Local villagers give company to the policemen to ensure that there is no attempt to tamper with any evidence by any person.

    Besides the six villagers in the pickup van who were killed in the firing on December 4, another seven were killed by the Army in violence involving irate locals at the incident site later that day.

    One Army personnel was also killed in the melee.

    Another civilian was killed when a mob attacked an Assam Rifles camp at Mon town on Sunday.

  • Always had strong personal vibes with General Rawat, say former Army friends

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two former decorated top Indian Army officials from Kerala, who had served under General Bipin Rawat, were in a state of shock when the news of his death was confirmed by the Indian Air Force officials on Wednesday evening. Lt-Gen Sarath Chand, former vice-chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), and Lt-Gen Cherish Mathson, former general officer commanding-in-chief of Jaipur-based Sapta Shakti Command, had worked under Rawat when he was the Chief of Army Staff. 

    When General Rawat had come down to Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi , in early April this year in his capacity as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt-Gen Chand was looking forward to spending a few quiet moments with his former boss. But due to a busy schedule, Gen Rawat could not make it to Lt-Gen Chand’s house at Vyttila in Kochi.

    “If not for the pandemic, we would have met frequently. We had a wonderful innings together which dated back to our National Defence Academy days. While Gen Rawat belonged to the 53rd NDA batch and passed out in December 1978, I was in the 54th NDA batch and passed out in June 1979. When he reached the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he won the sword of honour and commanded the parade which was considered way above the gold medal,”

    Kottarakkara native Lt-Gen Chand told TNIE. Gen Rawat and Lt-Gen Mathson had travelled together several times in choppers with their respective spouses, Madhulika and Mareena, when the latter was based in Bhopal as a corps commander and in Jaipur as an Army commander. He told TNIE that essentially, helicopters are less stable platforms and, in the hills, sudden onrush of clouds or fog can disorient the pilot.    

    “I was a Strike Corps Commander when he was the Southern Army Commander, and I was the South Western Army Commander under him when he was the Chief. We always had excellent relations professionally and personally. We had travelled together in helicopters too… Never imagined that this would happen,” said Lt-Gen Mathson who is currently serving as an advisor to the country’s intelligence agencies in New Delhi.

  • Nagaland killing: Konyak Union imposes day-long bandh in Mon district as Northeast demands AFSPA repealing

    By PTI

    KOHIMA:  Konyak Union (KU), the apex tribal body in Nagaland’s Mon, imposed a day-long bandh in the district on Tuesday to protest the killing of 14 civilians by security forces, and announced seven-day mourning from the next day.

    The KU urged security forces to abstain from patrolling in the Konyak region during the seven-day mourning period, and warned that if the law enforcers do not abide by it, they will be responsible for “any untoward incident that might occur”.

    The union, in a letter sent on Monday, requested President Ramnath Kovind to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), also comprising two members of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) in it, and identify the Army personnel involved in the incident, and put in the public domain within 30 days the action taken against them.

    It demanded that 27 Assam Rifles immediately vacate Mon for failing to protect civilians, and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act be removed from the entire Northeast.

    “We have imposed a day-long bandh in Mon district on Tuesday. It is going on peacefully. We have also announced seven-day mourning from Wednesday,” Konyak Union president Howing Konyak told PTI.

    The last rites of the 14 civilians killed in firing by security forces on December 4 and 5 were held in the Mon district headquarters on Monday.

    Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, his cabinet colleagues and representatives of several tribal organisations attended the event.

    When asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament, Konyak said, “At the moment, we are not in a condition to accept or reject his statement. We are saddened by the brutal killing of our people. What actually happened will only be known after the two survivors who are being treated in Assam regain consciousness.”

    The union said that the incident seemed to be a result of “complete failure of military intelligence” and “cannot be termed as a case of mistaken identity at all”.

    “The slain people were villagers with no connection to any element that may cause the slightest concern to security forces or national security in any respect,” the KU stated.

    “This is an act of atrocity beyond reasoning. No explanation can justify this heinous act of deliberate crime against humanity,” it added.

    The union said that the perpetrators up to the highest rank be booked and tried at a civil court.

    Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday demanded the repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the state, where 14 civilians were killed by security forces in Mon district in an anti-insurgency operation fiasco and said the state too has special powers.

    Discussions and deliberations need to be held on the purpose of imposing AFSPA and how to revoke it, Rio said during the public funeral of the 14 daily wage earners of a coal mine, who were shot dead by security forces on Saturday at Oting village on their way home from work.

    Article 371(A) of the Constitution grants special provisions to Nagaland.

    It states that no Act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland unless its legislative assembly decides so by a resolution.

    After the funeral, the chief minister tweeted “Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed #AFSPA. It should be repealed.”

    Paying his last respects to the innocent miners who were killed at Oting, Rio said at the funeral service,”Their sacrifices will not be forgotten. We are together in this. We stand in solidarity with the people”.

    He asserted that since the security forces directly fired upon the civilians without even stopping them for identification, severe action will be initiated against those involved.

    “They (the miners) have not sacrificed their lives for India but for the Nagas,” he said and announced ex gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of each of those killed in the incident and Rs one lakh to the injured.

    Rio also said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced an ex gratia of Rs 11 lakh and government job to the families of each victim.

    The funeral service of the miners was held at the Mon headquarters helipad ground and was attended by various tribal organizations under the aegis of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisaiton and Konyak Union, the apex tribal body of the district.

    Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, leader of NPF legislature party T R Zeliang, state cabinet ministers and legislators were present at the funeral service besides Rio.

    Conveying his solidarity with the victims and the people of eastern Nagaland over the killing, Rio said that he has informed Shah that the situation in the state is “fine” but it was the Army which has committed a “blunder” by killing the innocent civilians”.

    He said “AFSPA give powers to the Army to arrest civilians without any warrant, raid houses and also kill people, but there is no action against the security forces . They (the Army) have created a law and order situation”.

    Rio told the mourners that Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Commander of 3 Corps, Lt Gen J P Mathew have assured him of a thorough probe and punishment of those responsible as per the law.

    The chief minister said candlelight processions were held across the state in solidarity with the people of the eastern Nagaland and th government suspended the ongoing annual Hornbill Festival at Kisama.

    Solidarity messages and condolences were read out at the funeral by various organizations and civil societies and many of those who were present carried banners and placards demanding justice for the “brutal murder “.

    After the funeral service the bodies of the 14 civilians were taken to their respective villages for burial.

    A common memorial stone will be erected at Mon district headquarters in their honour, officials said.

    Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 has been counterproductive to address law and order issues in the North East region and should be repealed as he joined the growing chorus for its withdrawal, following the killing of civilians in Nagaland.

    Civil society groups, rights activists and political leaders of the region have been demanding the withdrawal of the “draconian” law for years, alleging excesses by security forces with impunity under the cover of the Act.

    The AFSPA confers special powers on the armed forces in areas deemed as disturbed.

    “The AFSPA has always been counterproductive and there have been more unrest and people have to go through a lot of pain,” Sangma, who is also the national president of the NPP, said in a statement.

    He also said his National People’s Party, an ally of the BJP, is against the AFSPA and will continue to urge the Centre to repeal the “draconian” Act.

    Sangma, however, acknowledged that the region has law and order problems and said there are other ways to address the issues.

    “We agree that the issues must be addressed. There are other ways to address them and the AFSPA is not the way to address the issues in the NE region,” he said.

    Earlier in the day, he tweeted, “AFSPA should be repealed.”

    The state Congress also supported the chief minister, urging him to convene a meeting for consultation over the issue.

    “We must go all out to demand immediate repeal of this draconian oppression on our people. Kindly convene a consultation at the earliest,” Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh tweeted in reply to Sangma.

    The AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council area), Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang, Longding, Tirap districts and areas falling within the eight police stations at the Assam border.

    The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) also demanded that the AFSPA be withdrawn for building a peaceful North East.

    “We call upon the Government of India to rein in its armed forces if they really wish peace to prevail in the region as incidents like the killing of civilians will only bring instability, which is not a good sign for the NE as a whole,” HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem said.

    “Steps should be taken towards building a peaceful North-East and the correct and necessary steps towards achieving full peace is to withdraw or repeal the AFSPA from the region completely as well as deployment or stationing armed forces to the bare minimum,” he said.

    Voicing concern, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) said the government should formulate laws to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people.

    “The Government of India should immediately revoke the monstrous AFSPA and instead formulate laws to safeguard and protect the rights and existence of the indigenous inhabitants of NE India,” it said in a statement.

    KSU president Lambok Marngar said the government should take stringent and harsh action against the “erring and bloodthirsty” personnel involved in the civilian killings in Nagaland.

    At least 14 civilians and a soldier were killed in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence over the weekend in Mon district of Nagaland, as per police.

    Opposition political parties in Assam Monday lent their voices to the demand for repeal of Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA), 1958, which has gained renewed momentum following the death of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation in Nagaland.

    Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi condemned the firing in Mon district of Nagaland and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of all involved in it.

    He also demanded that the National Investigation Agency be entrusted with enquiry into it and the incident be declared as a terrorist act.

    In a video statement shared through social media, the lawmaker said, “We have been seeing the army committing such excess on innocent civilians in the north east region in the name of counter insurgency operations”.

    The armed forces work under the cover of the AFSPA in the region and do not have to face any court of law.

    It conducts its own internal enquiry and the people do not get to know whether a case reached its logical conclusion of not, Gogoi added.

    “(The) Nagaland killings are a caricature of the Indian Govt. Revoke AFSPA,” Gogoi also wrote on Twitter.

    Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi also took to the Twitter to vent his opposition of AFSPA.

    Condemning the Mon firing incidents, he wrote, “Its heartbreaking to see civilians being gunned down by the same forces that were meant to protect them. I demand that laws like #AFSPA be repealed from the #NorthEast. #Nagaland” The party’s general secretary, Jagadish Bhuyan, blaming AFSPA for the incident tweeted, “It is past time for us to wake up and protest against this atrocity, or many more civilians will be killed in this manner!” “The GOI should SCRAP THE AFSPA and allow the NE people to live as dignified citizens of the country without any discrimination!” he added.

    AIUDF MLA Ashraful Hussain too pitched for revoking AFSPA.

    “Real justice to the victims would be ending this type of killings with impunity. There should be collective voice from all sections against the draconian AFSPA which allows such impunity,” the legislator tweeted on Sunday.

    Veteran CPI(M) leader Hemen Das joined the opposition parties in their demand for scrapping AFSPA.

    In a tweet on Sunday he condemned the incident and wrote, “This is state terrorism. Scrap AFSPA.”

    The CPI staged a demonstration in front of its party office here on Sunday demanding revocation of the Act and justice for the victims and their families.

    At least 14 civilians and one soldier were killed in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence within 24 hours in Mon district of Nagaland since Saturday evening.

    AFSPA is in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area), Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh and in areas falling within the jurisdiction of eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam.

    Civil society groups, rights activists and political leaders of the region have been demanding the withdrawal of the “draconian” law for years, alleging excesses by security forces under the cover of the Act.

  • 87 women officers out of 615 granted Permanent Commission: Centre, Army to Supreme Court

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Centre and Army authorities on Monday told the Supreme Court that after its last year’s verdict, 487 Women Short Service Commission Officers (WSSCOs) have been granted Permanent Commission out of the 615 who were considered for it.

    The top court which recorded its appreciation for all the concerned authorities including Chief of Army Staff for acting fair and objective manner to resolve the issue directed that 12 WSSCOs, who have been released from service during the pendency of proceedings, shall be deemed to continue in service and be granted the Permanent Commission (PC).

    A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was all praise for the Army authorities for their earnest efforts and acting in a fair and objective manner and said that this is heralding a new era in the Armed forces.

    “Army authorities have been very-very fair in these proceedings. There has been a complete change in mindset. We have been reading recent statements of the Chief of Naval staff about the women officers, who are being trained and being posted on warships. This is heralding a new era in the Armed forces,” it said.

    During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain and senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for Centre and the Army authorities, said that there is an earnest desire that the entire dispute concerning those WSSCOs, who were not granted permanent commission may be resolved finally.

    Jain gave the break-up which was recorded by the court in its order that WSSCOs who were eligible for consideration for the grant of PC post-February 17, 2020 verdict was 615 out of which 86 officers did not opt for it bringing the total for consideration to 529.

    “Out of 529 WSSCOs 487 have been granted PC,” Jain said, adding that out of the remaining 42 officers 21 were found to be medically unfit and have been released.

    He said that out of the remaining 21 officers, one officer has opted out, and in the case of five others–three cases are under disciplinary and vigilance inquiry and one case has been referred to a special board because of redressal of the grievances and medical documents of one officer are under scrutiny.

    “Of the remaining cases, 15 WSSCOs were considered for the grant of PC of which 14 have qualified for the grant of PC. Of these 14 WSSCOs, 12 have been formally released during the pendency of the proceedings while two WSSCOs are yet to be released. Since their release date is March 1, 2022,” the bench recorded.

    ALSO READ| Scope widens for women army officers in India

    It said, “Before proceedings to issue directions in terms of the statement made on behalf of the UOI and the Army authorities, the court wishes to record its appreciation of the fair and objective manner in which all concerned authorities have responded to the earnest effort to resolve the pending issues.”

    The bench said that ASG Sanjay Jain has stated that he has taken instructions, at the highest level. “This court wishes to record its appreciation of the fair position which has been adopted by the Chief of Army Staff. This court also expresses its appreciation of the sincere efforts put by the ASG and senior advocate R Balasubramanian in bringing the fair resolution of the pending issues so as to obviate the officers, who have been granted PC be required to pursue any further litigation,” the bench said.

    It directed that in the case of 12 officers, who were released from service during the pendency of proceedings shall be deemed to have continued without any break, as to the grant of Permanent Commission and two officers who are yet to be released should also be granted the PC.

    “In the event, any of the above WSSCOs who have been granted PC and instituted proceedings before the AFT, those proceedings shall stand disposed of in terms of the order,” the bench directed.

    On November 22, the top court had asked the Army to have a relook into the case of WSSCOs, who were denied PC as they failed to get threshold 60 per cent marks after being assessed based on the Unit Assessment Card (UAC) system which prevailed in the Army from 1999 to 2005.

    On November 12, the top court had threatened the Army with contempt action against it and its Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane over non-compliance with its earlier orders after which the defence force had agreed to grant PC to all of its eligible women officers.

    With the direction of the top court, 68 out of the total 71 WSSCOs who were earlier denied PC were granted the permanent commission. Initially, 72 officers were denied the PC but later one officer had opted to quit.

    Three officers have been found medically unfit. The women officers had alleged that the top court’s March 25 ruling was not considered by the Army and all 72 of them were rejected from consideration for the PC at one go.

    In its March 25 verdict, the Army was directed by the top court to consider granting PC to the WSSCOs subject to their obtaining 60 per cent marks in the assessment subjects, being found fit on medical criteria as per the August 1, 2020 order of the Army and having received disciplinary and vigilance clearances.

    On February 17 last year, in a landmark verdict, the top court had directed that women officers in the Army be granted a permanent commission, rejecting the Centre’s stand of their physiological limitations as being based on “sex stereotypes” and “gender discrimination against women”.

  • Congress forms four-member delegation to visit Nagaland in wake of civilian killings

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday constituted a four-member delegation to visit Nagaland and submit a report within a week on civilian killings in Mon district.

    “Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) has constituted a delegation to visit Nagaland and report on the matters related to the recent killing of innocent citizens and sequential violence in Mon district in Nagaland,” an official communication from the party said.

    The delegation comprises senior party leaders Jitendra Singh, Ajoy Kumar, Gaurav Gogoi and Anto Antony, it said.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland firing incident case of mistaken identity, govt expresses regret: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

    “The delegation will submit a report to the Congress president within a week,” the party said.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the party stands with the people of Nagaland.

    “Congress is on the ground in Oting Village, Tizit Assembly Constituency, Mon District. W Aum Yim Vice President NPCC, Mr Nadang Konyak, President DCC Mon, President NSUI DIMAPUR Unit.”

    ACCC Vice President, General Secrecy ACCC Tizit and PCC President K Therie along with others participated in the Mon Town funeral that took place this morning, Rahul Gandhi said in a Facebook post.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland civilians killings: Six-hour long bandh, call passes off peacefully in state

    “Profound condolences to the families of those who’ve been killed in the incident. We are with you, #Nagaland,” he said.

    The party also demanded a discussion on the Nagaland incident in both houses of Parliament, where Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement on behalf of the government on Monday.

    Security forces opened fire on civilians killing 14 and injuring 11 more in Nagaland’s Mon district in three consecutive episodes, the first of which was a case of mistaken identity, police said on Sunday.

    One soldier also died in rioting which followed.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Failed ambush: Hornbill Festival stopped for a day as Nagaland mourns civilian killings

    By PTI

    KOHIMA: The picturesque Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, the main venue for Nagaland’s iconic Hornbill festival, wore a deserted look on Monday as the government cancelled the day’s events in solidarity with the killing of civilians in Mon district.

    The Hornbill festival, an annual ten-day extravaganza in which different tribes of the state showcase their traditions, began on December 1.

    Thousands of tourists from across the country and abroad were participating in the festivities.

    Diplomats from several nations, including the US, Germany and Australia, were also taking part in the festival.

    Expressing anger over the killing of civilians in Mon, six tribes under Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and a few other tribes decided to refrain from participating in the cultural programmes.

    Konyak Union, the apex body of the Konyak tribe, to which the slain civilians belonged, also withdrew from the festival.

    Subsequently, almost all the tribal bodies decided not to participate in the festival till further notice.

    Later, the state government notified that the programmes would remain suspended on Monday.

    The entire vicinity of Kisama wore a deserted look with only police personnel present.

    The festival is being held across four districts.

    The major events include the Hornbill Music Festival, Nagaland Literature Festival and Nagaland Film Festival, mountain biking, and the Hornbill Bamboo Festival.

    At least 14 civilians and one soldier were killed in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence within 24 hours in Mon district of the state, as per police.