In This Issue Since 1909 DefenceBIRTH Minister ANNIVERSARY Hands CELEBRATIONS Over DRDO Developed Naval Systems 4

(Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 64 q No 7 11 - 25 Chaitra, 1939 (Saka) 1-15 April 2017 The journal of ’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents.

Editor-in-Chief Increasing Hasibur Rahman 6 Interview: PCDA 7 Senior Editor Editor Infrastructure For Ruby T Sharma Ehsan Khusro Coordination Business Manager Kunal Kumar Dharam Pal Goswami

Our Correspondents DELHI: Col Aman Anand; Capt DK Sharma; Wg Cdr Anupam Banerjee; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Ved Pal; Photo Editor: K Ramesh; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Shivaram Pailoor; CHANDIGARH: Pradip Dasgupta; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; 7 Students from Tirap call upon… KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Col Chiranjeet Konwer; KOLKATA: Wg 8 Commander-in-Chief… Marshal of the Indian Cdr SS Birdi; Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr 27 14 Eyes The Third Pole Air Force Visits Air… Rahul Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp Capt SK Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: B Satheesh Kumar; 15 Indian Navy trains Gujarat… SHILLONG: Gp Capt Amit Mahajan; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col 17 General visits… Sombit Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: 18 Indian Navy “Coast to Coast”… Col NN Joshi; VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 20 Defence Investiture Ceremony-I Published by: Nitin D Wakankar 26 CNS Reviews Operational… Addl DG (Media & Communication) 28 INS Tillanchang Commissioned… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, -110011 34 Valedictory Ceremony of IDAS… Follow us on: Regulars 35 Armed Forces Panorama www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia

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http://sainiksamachar.nic.in On front cover: The Defence Minister Mr Arun Jaitley handing over Naval Systems indigenously developed by DRDO to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral pic: GD Mehra Defence Minister Hands Over DRDO Developed Naval Systems

he Minister of Defence, Finance Tand Corporate Affairs Mr Arun Jaitley handed over three Naval Systems indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba. The Minister also released two other products developed by DRDO namely IP-based Secure Phone and the Gallium Nitride Technology. Speaking on the occasion Mr Jaitley remarked that DRDO is becoming an important instrument for self- reliance of the nation. He stated that and the Microwave Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State some of the best innovations have Tube Research & Development for Defence said DRDO is playing come from the pool of scientists of Centre, Bangalore won the coveted an important role in self-reliance DRDO. The Defence Minister also Silicon Trophy and Titanium Trophy of Defence Forces and the export said that great societies and nations respectively. potential of the Organisation is are made through people working finding a place in the global Defence on important tasks in anonymity, The Naval Systems handed market. He congratulated all the like the DRDO scientists who were over to the Indian Navy are USHUS- awardees and their families. honoured. Mr Jaitley also said that II Submarine Sonar, Directing Gear in the modern world, societies that for Hull Mounted Sonar Array, Chairman, DRDO and invent and innovate will make faster and RLG based Inertial Navigation Secretary, Department of Defence progress. System for Ship Applications (INS- (R&D) Dr. S Christopher in his The Minister gave away the SA). The export potential of DRDO address said the Defence Acquisition annual DRDO awards in various technologies also received due Council cleared order value of categories during the function. recognition during the function, with DRDO products has gone upto Rs. Apart from the scientists and teams the announcement of the bagging of 2.56 lakh crore out of which about who won awards in various vistas export order for DRDO-developed Rs. 1 lakh crore was in the last two of technological excellence, the torpedo to Myanmar. years alone. Advanced Systems Laboratory, Speaking on the occasion Dr. Sonars are the eyes and ears

4 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 of a submarine under water. DRDO System, based on indigenous Ring systems, for application in Light has developed the State-of-the-Art Laser Gyroscopes, provides vital Combat Aircraft. submarine sonar suite, USHUS-II, information on the ship's position The Secure IP Phone incorporates a highly evolved compendium of coordinates and heading for steering an indigenous encryption algorithm multiple sensors. The constituent it to its destination accurately. It on a trustworthy hardware platform sonars in the suite include passive features high speed processor, multi- to provide a high level of secrecy to sonar, active sonar, intercept sonar, constellation Sat Nav receiver, ship voice and data, for communication obstacle avoidance sonar and specific interfaces and innovative of strategic and tactical plans of the underwater telephony. algorithms. Armed Forces. Directing Gear is an electro- With the emergence of Gallium mechanical system that supports the Nitride as a state-of-the-art material The function was also attended transducer array of hull-mounted for MMIC applications, DRDO has by senior functionaries of the Ministry ship sonar systems and rotates it at a established this futuristic technology, of Defence, Indian Navy, DRDO and controlled speed for in-situ acoustic which will substantially help in the industry partners. calibration at Harbour and Sea. development of next generation - Nitin Wakankar The Inertial Navigation radars, seekers and communication pix: GD Mehra

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 5 Increasing Infrastructure for Digital Army Top Priority of Government: Dr Bhamre

he Minister of State for Defence TDr. Subhash Bhamre said here that increasing of infrastructure for the Digital Army based on State-of- the-Art technologies is a top priority of the Government. In his inaugural address at the DEFCOM INDIA 2017 with the theme ‘Infrastructure and Skilled Human Resource for Digital Army’, Dr. Bhamre said that this initiative for creation of operational information networks and systems should be expedited at all levels. He stated that the robust, secure, high capacity data networks and information systems are an urgent necessity for Operational Commanders. "They are also a critical Bipin Rawat said that in the present the technology to be incorporated facet of the force modernisation complex environment, technology is into the Army’s communication plans of the , which will imbibed by the Armed Forces in a system has to be ruggedized and further form a fulcrum for Tri-services manner that will rapidly keep pace light weight. integration in times to come", he with the changing technologies The two-day event organised added. The Minister, however, said before they become obsolete. “But jointly by the Corps of Signals of the that the creation of infrastructure for that to happen it is important that Indian Army and the Confederation for the Digital Army will need we are able to identify the correct of Indian Industry (CII), was also indigenous Indian solutions and type of technology and equipment addressed by Signal Officer-in-Chief systems from security point of view. that is to be inducted into the Armed and Senior Col. Commandant, Dr. Bhamre emphasized that the Forces”, he stated. Gen. Rawat Corps of Signals Lt. Gen. Ashish creation of indigenous capabilities further emphasized that the Army Ranjan Prasad and Director General, in Information and Communication has to keep pace with the digitized CII Shri Chandrajit Banerjee. It was Technologies (ICT) for the Defence world and ensure that most of its attended by senior officers from sector will give a fillip to the systems are digitised as early as the Armed Forces, Indian industry, ‘Make in India’ programme. possible. At the same time it has academia and R&D organisations. Speaking at the function, the to be remembered that war will be Nitin Wakankar Chief of the Army Staff General fought on the border and therefore pix: Rakesh Mangaraj

6 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Students from Tirap call upon General Rawat

tudents from the lesser known STirap District of Arunachal Pradesh interacted with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff and shared a cup of tea. General Rawat narrated his experiences of these areas to the children and motivated them to work hard and contribute actively in the Nation building process. The General exhorted the young students to emulate the footsteps of Hav Hangpan Dada, Ashok Chakra who also hailed from Tirap district and made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. In addition to offering the life time opportunity of interacting with renowned public figures, these ‘National Integration Tours’ serve to educate school children, youth and locals of the border areas on the rich heritage of the country and various industry initiatives, exposing them to various career options. - Col Aman Anand pix: Vijay Kumar

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 7 Commander-in-Chief, Russian Federation Navy Visits India

dmiral Vladimir Korolev, ACommander-in-Chief, Russian Federation Navy along with a four member Russian Navy delegation was on an official visit to India from March 15 to 18, 2017. The visit aimed to consolidate bilateral naval relations between India and Russia, as also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. During his visit, the Commander-in-Chief of Russian Navy held bilateral discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff and other senior officials of the Indian Navy. The Admiral also met the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Secretary as part of his official engagements in New Delhi. India is the largest importer

8 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 of defence equipment from Russia and majority of the armament inventory in is of Soviet/ Russian origin. The Indian Navy cooperates with the Russian Federation Navy on many fronts, which include operational interactions, training, hydrographic cooperation, information technology and exchange of Subject Matter Experts in various fields through the medium of Navy-to-Navy Staff talks. In addition, the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy have been conducting the bilateral Maritime Exercise ‘INDRA NAVY’, since 2003. Eight editions have been held so far, the last being held off Visakhapatnam in December 2016. In addition to New Delhi, the Admiral also visited Mumbai where he held discussions with the Commander-in-Chief, as well as visited an indigenously built destroyer INS Mysore, Naval Dockyard and M/s Mazagon Dock and Shipbuilders Limited. - Capt DK Sharma pix: GD Mehra

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 9 Interview: PCDA

r. Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), New Delhi in an interview with Mr. MHasibur Rahman, Editor-in-Chief, Sainik Samachar

What is the broad mandate of Our office is also a ISO – the PCDA, New Delhi and how 9001:2008 certified office and a prominent are your quality strict quality regimen is maintained. concerns? What are the major issues involved To answer the Second Question in the audit and accounting of the first, our functioning is guided by transaction ? the quality policy of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) which While making the payments says that “The Defence Accounts against the supplies and services a Department is committed to render compliance audit is done to ensure efficient, correct and prompt that :- accounting, payment and financial i. The expenditure was services leading to customer incurred for authorized purpose and satisfaction. It is also committed alia, done for implementation that the funds are available, to render efficient audit services of 7th Pay Commission award ii. The expenditure incurred to ensure public accountability”. and the dues on account of was in conformity with extant rules Further, the mission statement of the salary and arrear were paid and orders and bringing to the DAD is that “We strive to achieve to all of them to their full notice of the competent authority, excellence and professionalism in satisfaction. any action which appear to be accounting and financial services iv) Payments of foreign contracts contrary to such rule / order. For and performing audit functions”. including contracts entered this purpose robust databases of We, in PCDA, New Delhi are into by the Ministry of Defence, all the client Directorates/ Units / mandated to serve the Defence through Direct Bank Transfers Formations along with the officials Services by providing them efficient and opening of Letters of Credit. authorized to conduct the financial payment, accounting and internal The total booking made by transactions and various updated audit services in designated areas. the office during the year 2015-16 rules and regulations is maintained. It, inter alia, deals with the:- was about Rs 40,000 cr and during iii. To ensure the accuracy i) Payments for the purchases the current year it is likely to touch and correctness of the booking of sanctioned by the Ministry Rs 50,000 cr. The total number Defence expenditure and receipt. In of Defence, and central and of Bills received during 2015 – following manner :- miscellaneous purchases made 16 were about one lakh, besides a) All expenditure and by various directorates of the it Letters of Credit were opened disbursements are authorized, Army HQrs, for making payments for Defence vouched and correctly ii) Accounting and Payment imports. The multiple and important classified. related to the United Nation work handled by us requires a high b) All receipts are brought to Peace Keeping Missions, degree of professionalism, expertise account under proper head. iii) Pay and allowances, personal and continuous interaction with claims and fund accounts our stakeholders. Our continuous c) Final account represent a of civilian staff of Ministry of endeavor is to bring a high degree complete and true statement Defence (MoD), Army HQrs, of satisfaction to all the stakeholders of the financial transaction it Naval HQrs and the inter by attending to both the personal purports to exhibit. services organizations located and third party claims in a time iv. A strict watch over the at Delhi. During 2016, The bound and efficient manner. It is flow of expenditure vis a vis pay fixation of about 10,000 ensured through an effective system allotment is kept and services are of Defence Civilians was, inter of monitoring. informed about any abnormalities

10 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 mechanism, CPGRAMS, Non- CPGRAMS and e-mails, by strict monitoring as well as proper and timely response. What is your role in the accounting and payment of dues related with the United Nations Missions, in which Indian Troop Contingents have been deployed ? Government of India (GOI), MoD, has presently, placed at the disposal of the UN, Indian troop contingents, with a total strength of about 7,000 to serve in the five UN sponsored peacekeeping missions at in the expenditure pattern so that information and services as Lebanon, Congo (2), South Sudan immediate rectification measure appropriate; and Israel. Indian Contingents may be taken. Our aim is to ensure iv Rendering service in a deployed on these missions carry even flow of expenditure throughout timely, efficient and effective with them equipment, vehicles, arms, the year, so as to avoid the end of manner. ammunition and additional stores the year / March rush. etc. from India. As per the MoUs As a preventive and punitive agreed upon between UN and the What are the ethical standards measure, vigilance setup is GOI, the UN is reimbursing to the which have been setup by you in well entrenched in the DAD, GOI the expenditure on various the conduct of official business encompassing a Chief Vigilance counts. To watch the recoveries and how it is enforced? What is Officer in the Senior Administrative the grievance redressal system for of the various amounts due from Grade of IDAS at CGDA’s HQs. dealing with the grievances of the the UN on various counts, like Stakeholders? Office. Vigilance officers from troop cost reimbursement, usage amongst IDAS are positioned in all Our officers and officials have of the equipment / arms, cost of the offices of field controllers. The a duty to adhere to high standards ammunition expended in the mission CVO through VOs takes necessary of honesty in the course of their etc. and with a view to ensure timely action in terms of the instructions assigned task. Some of the core and accurate recovery of these issued by the CVC from time to time organizational values, which are amounts from the UN as well as the and renders reports to CVC. Vigilance enshrined in our work culture are as disbursement of Overseas Allowance checks are exercised periodically by follows : (OSA) to the Indian Troops deployed the Vigilance Officers within their in these missions, PCDA New Delhi i. Demonstrating the highest jurisdiction and wherever necessary, has been nominated as the nodal level of professional conduct punitive action is initiated against agency by the Ministry of Defence. and personal integrity in the the delinquent officials. The CVO This mandate is accomplished with performance of their duties; through VOs also issues instructions the help of Five IDAS Officers who ii. Treating all stakeholders with from time to time to safeguard are attached with these contingents courtesy, respect, fairness and against frauds, malpractices etc. and execute their functions under objectivity; Sh. Anand Agrawal, Addl CDA, (Tel our guidance and supervision. iii. Displaying positive attitude : 011-23794384) is our Vigilance Upto 31st December 2016, total and being proactive in the Officer. reimbursement of about 2,000 exercise of their duties; seeking We are also adhering to the million US Dollars has been to understand and satisfy the laid down norms and instructions to made by the United Nation in the real needs of Armed Forces address the issues received through following categories: i. Troop Cost, and other clients and providing the online grievance redressal ii. Major Equipment, iii. Self

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 11 Sustainment, iv. Miscellaneous use of the e-Trade portal of the State of vendor’s Bills which are inherent Cost and v. Loss of Equipment and Bank of India (SBI) for the purpose in the existing manual system. Disability / Death. It is also ensured of opening the Letters of Credit (LCs) A strict monitoring over the work that the payment of admissible OSA for payment of Defence imports. The of the task holders is kept through is made timely to our troops. There facility was operationalized in close an electronic Dash Board which has used to be delay of about four collaboration with the SBI and the following features : weeks on this account till 2016. Services in December 2016. This has i. Management tool developed These delays, however, have now brought a higher degree of efficiency in house to monitor progress of been eliminated by receiving the in the entire process which includes work on real time basis. OSA bills through E-mails from a close online monitoring, resulting these contingents in the first week into avoidance of inadvertent ii. It derives data from Office of the subsequent month, to which delays. In order to further strengthen Automation system and the claim pertains. This step has and develop the portal, with a view provides relevant information. enhanced the satisfaction level of to enhance its utility and efficacy, a iii. Bill position task holder wise, our troops by reducing the time of time bound action plan has been budget position, Compliance payments of OSA by a period of prepared in consultation with the SBI with FIFO system etc. can be about three weeks. officials, in February this year. The monitored through system improved system is expected to be iv. It has been installed in rooms What are the recent initiatives available by the month of May this of all the Group Officers to taken by you to implement the GOI year. policy of “Digital India” ? monitor the work. In addition, our proposal to The DAD with its Motto of “in the develop a Web-portal for initiating Have you setup any improved service of the services” has been a electronic bills was accorded “in communication channel to deal pioneer in the use of computers and principle” approval by the CGDA with the multiple agencies you are serving to enhance their is continuously striving to streamline in September 2016. A Joint satisfaction level? and upgrade its services by Project Steering Committee (JPSC) leveraging Information Technology constituted with the representative of A close co-ordination with (IT), in consonance with the “Digital National Informatics Centre (NIC), all the stakeholders and effective India” initiatives of the GOI. Various NICSI, DGST and HQrs office system of communication is essential IT projects are, therefore, already has finalized a User Requirement for ensuring efficient transaction of operational in the field of payments, Document (URD) and consequentially business. Accordingly, a structured accounting and audit concurrence gave its recommendations which are and effective communication etc. The ongoing efforts in this under process. This pilot project, channel has been established. A direction were further re-inforced by ones approved and developed, system of monthly coordination our office to take firm steps to make would avoid the delays in payment meeting with the Services, for reconciling the status of the Capital Expenditure and Booking, has been put in place with effect from August 2016. These meetings are held regularly and have helped in developing a better understanding which has led to expeditious and correct booking. In order to deal with the urgent cases a “fast track window” has also been setup for ‘out of turn’ consideration of the emergency cases, which has found to be very useful by the Services. In addition, a series of workshops on

12 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 also released by the Controller General of Defence Accounts with the four following initial lines : ^^loZJs"B gksa] loZfç; gksa] dk;Z djsa loksZÙkeA ;gh gekjk ewyea= gks] ;gh gekjk y{; ijeAA** ii. Special emphasis has been given on maintaining cleanliness of the office and the records. During ÞLoPNrk i[kokM+kß, a special drive was opening of LCs and Direct Bank National Institutes are made use of. launched to generate the awareness transfer (DBT) were organized for This year one of our IDAS officer about this special issue and a the official of and was deputed to IIM Bangalore drive was launched to clean and Indian Navy, which has resulted in for undergoing Mid-term Career systematize the records. In fact LoPNrk enhancing efficiency. The enhanced Progression Programme. Apart has been made a recurring theme communication channels, thus from it renowned speakers are also in our daily functioning and finds initiated, have proved to be very invited to talk to our officials on advantageous to all the stakeholders. professional matters. For instance appropriate place in our ÞnSfud ladYiß We have also brought to the notice Additional Secretary from Central (“Dainik Samkalp”) as follows : of the Ministry of Defence (Fin) and Vigilance Commission was invited to ^^fueZy eu gks lnk gekjk] suggested improvements in the address us on key issues associated LoPN gh ifjos'k gksAß with vigilance in November 2016. extant procedure in opening of the iii. During Vigilance Awareness In order to bring about greater LCs, which are under consideration. Week, 200 officials of our office cohesiveness among the workforce, Apart from it, I also interacted wrote a one page write up each on opportunities are availed to involve with the Officers of Indian Air Force the topic, as to what efforts would be them in various activities. For and Indian Army during Six “Defence made by them to prevent corruption Financial Management Courses” on instance celebration of LoPNrk in the workplace. All these write ups professional issues during 2016-17, i[kokMk, International Women’s Day, are being complied in the shape of which led to clarification of various Vigilance Awareness Week, fgUnh a Booklet. points and brought about systemic i[kokMk (Hindi Pakhwada), and Holi We also encourage the Sports development as well. Milan Samaroh etc. were celebrated. activities in our office to ensure Some of the important activities How many officials have been a vibrant workforce. Our office deployed to perform the tasks given in which our officials participated was winner of the “DAD Cricket to your organization and what type during 2016-17, are as follows : tournament” organized by the of Human Resource Development i. An essay competition on Defence Accounts Sports Control policies are in place? the theme Þvktknh ds 70 o"k%Z esjk nkf;Ro Board in the year 2016. The sports We fully appreciate that only esjk ladYi** was organized, in which persons recruited from the sport a knowledgeable and motivated 45 officials of our office and ten quota are also encouraged to workforce could result in best of offices of Pr.IFAs / IFAs located at continue participating in various the results. We perform our duties Delhi participated. The awards to tournaments. There are some of by utilizing the services of about the winners were given away by the the ways to have a professional, 250 officials. For professional lfpo] jktHkk"kk foHkkx] Hkkjr ljdkj on committed and energetic team, development of our officials, the 15.09.2016. On this occasion a which stands up to the challenges instrumentalities of i. In-House departmental inspirational song and renders most efficient service to training, ii. Regional Training Centre named ÞnSfud ladYiß (“Dainik the services. of the Department and iii. Reputed Samkalp”),composed by us, was pix: Davinder Singh

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 13 Indian Navy Eyes The Third Pole

ndian Navy’s second expedition to Mt. Jogin (6456 m), Mt. Mukut IMount Everest was flagged off by East (7135 m), Mt Saser Kangri IV Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, (7416m),Mt Saser Kangri I(7672m), ADC Chief of the Naval Staff by Mt. Abi Gamin (7355m) besides a handing over the Ceremonial Ice Axe commendable ascent of Mt Kamet to the climbers. The climbers have (7756m), the highest climbable been selected from various Ships, peak in India. Submarines, Aircraft Squadrons and Establishments of the Indian Navy. The team has undergone a month long rigorous winter training The theme of the Expedition in December 2016 at the Army being “Sagar Tal se Sagar Matha (from Seabed to Summit)”, the Mountaineering Institute located Ceremonial Ice Axe with the Naval near the . Apart from improving essential ice and Ensign was taken to the bottom mission after a grueling selection snow craft skills, the team endured of sea by diving off the coast of process over the last two years. the inhospitable terrain and extreme Karwar and now it shall be taken This event also marks the grand to the highest point on Earth, thus revival by Indian Navy of promoting cold in the world’s highest and depicting Navy’s efforts to soar from mountaineering as an adventure coldest battlefield at the peak of depths of Ocean to the Summit sport and to also commemorate winter. The Indian Navy’s association 50 years of first Indian ascent by Over the last one month, the with the Himalayas dates back to Captain MS Kohli. The expedition team has also undergone rigorous 1965 when Capt MS Kohli of Indian to the highest peak in the world strength and endurance training Navy led the first successful Indian complements the Sagar Parikrama at a consolidation camp being III (all women circumnavigation expedition atop the world’s highest conducted at Delhi, which included by sea), thus showcasing the multi peak. In 2004, the first all Navy stairs climbing with load, running, expedition was flagged off from dimensional prowess of the Indian trekking, full body workouts at Indian Navy Submarine Sindhuraj at Navy through adventure activities. gymnasium under the supervision of 50 metres below the sea and went In preparing the climbers professional experts. Yoga sessions on to plant the Naval Ensign at 8848 for this ultimate challenge in aimed to help cope with higher metres. The Navy is now looking at mountaineering, the Indian Navy conquering glory by launching a has conducted expeditions to altitudes with limited oxygen were second expedition to Mount Everest various peaks in the country over the also a part of this training camp. The in May this year. Accordingly, 24 past two years. These, include peaks team is now ready and eager to get enthusiastic naval climbers have like Mt. Saifee (6154m), Mt. Kun on with the arduous task ahead. been selected for this prestigious (7077m), Mt. Satopanth (7075m), - Capt DK Sharma

14 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Indian Navy trains Gujarat Maritime Task Force

batch of 60 personnel of A Gujarat Maritime Task Force (GMTF) completed their Maritime Orientation Training, at Naval base, Kochi on March 18, 2017. The orientation course had commenced at Kochi on February 27, 2017 for a duration of three weeks. As part of the Training Curriculum, the GMTF personnel were trained for a week each at Seamanship School, INS Dronacharya, and Navigation & Direction School of the . The trainees were taught basic Seamanship and Navigation to prepare them for operating at sea. Further, they were also trained to carry out “Visit, Board, Search and Seizure” (VBSS) Naval Command (SNC) at Kochi in requested Navy to undertake the operations to investigate suspicious August 2016 based on a request training every year. boats at sea. from the Government of Gujarat to The batch will now head back to This is the second batch of the Indian Navy. The Government Gujarat to take up their assignments GMTF to be trained by the Indian of Gujarat based on the positive as part of the Gujarat Maritime Task Navy. Earlier, the first orientation feedback received by them from Force. training was carried out by Southern the first batch, had subsequently - Wg Cdr Sridhar E Warrier

Training of GMTF

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 15 DGOF and Chairman, OFB visits Ordnance Factory Ambajhari

r SC Bajpai, NDC, IOFS, MDGOF & Chairman OFB visited Ordnance Factory Ambajhari on March 22, 2017. He visited all the important Production shops and took first hand stock of the Production Processes and activities being carried out. Mr D.V. Gondnale, IOFS, Senior General Manager, OFAJ accompanied Mr Bajpai, DGOF and explained the various intricacies and important facts. Later, a presentation on status of production in the factory was made before the DGOF. During the discussions that followed the presentation and in his address to the Officers of Mr S.C. Bajpai, NDC, IOFS, Director General Ordnance Factory and Chairman Ordnance Factory Board during his visit to Ordnance Factor Ambajhari along with Mr D.V. Gondnale OFAJ in the meeting, Mr Bajpai Senior Manager Ordnance Factory Ambajhari expressed satisfaction at the level of achievement in terms of value of maintaining quality parameters of Customer Satisfaction, Quick issues viz a viz targets given by OFB all the Stores and sticking to delivery Response to Customer Complaints to the factory during the Financial schedules already given to the and out of box solutions to newer Year 2016-2017. DGOF gave Armed Forces. problems that are coming up every directions on improving Production Speaking on the challenges other day. Mr D.V. Gondnale, Sr Schedule and Quality Processes facing the organization, Mr Bajpai General Manager, OFAJ thanked including Course corrections for the shared the view that in the present the DGOF for visiting OFAJ and remaining period of the Financial scenario with 100% Foreign Direct offering guidance and directions in Year and the Production Schedule Investment (FDI) being permitted all critical areas. for the Financial Year 2017-2018. in the Defence Production Sector, Before the presentation the DGOF stressed upon all the Officers Ordnance Factories have to gear DGOF met representatives of to contribute their sincerest mite in up on various fronts like Innovation, all Unions, Federations, Service Associations, Work Committee and JCM-III & JCM-IV members of OFAJ. In his interaction, the DGOF listened patiently to the view of various Trade Union leaders and other representatives. Highlighting the challenges facing the organization Mr Bajpai exhorted the representatives to encourage the workers to work with dedication and give optimum output, keeping in mind the utmost necessity of cutting costs and overheads on all possible Mr S.C. Bajpai, NDC, IOFS, Director General Ordnance Factory and Chairman Ordnance Factory Board, Mr D.V. Gondnale Senior Manager Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, Mr fronts so that, OFB products remain Tanuj Jyoti Konger Jt. General Manager / Admin, Sr. General Manager Ordnance Factory competitive in today’s scenario. Ambajhari (R to L) in a discussion during his visit to OFAJ - Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar

16 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 General Bipin Rawat visits Headquarters Lucknow

he Chief of the Army Staff, Regimental Centre (11GRRC) interacted with all officers of the TGeneral Bipin Rawat along with briefed the Chief on Regimental station and emphasised the need to Mrs Madhulika Rawat, President and welfare issues of the Regiment. remain alert to the emerging security Army Wives Welfare Association Post his programme at 11 Gorkha challenges. He exhorted all officers visited Lucknow from March 23- Rifles Regimental Centre, the Army to work towards improving the 24, 2017. They were received Chief visited the Shingo Battalion organisation climate further based by General Balwant of the Gorkha Regiment located in on morals, ethics and traditional Singh Negi, General Officer the station and interacted with the Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), officers and men of the battalion Army values. Central Command and Mrs Ambika over tea. Mrs Madhulika Rawat, President Choudhary, Officiating Regional He later visited Headquarters Army Wives Welfare Association President Army Wives Welfare Central Command and was given visited Asha School and inaugurated Association (AWWA) upon their operational briefing by Lieutenant Project VISHWAS, a skilled training arrival at the Surya Khel Parisar in General , centre to rehabilitate special children, Lucknow Cantonment. General Officer Commanding- Veer Naris, wives and daughters of On March 24, 2017, the in-Chief, Central Command. The serving and retired soldiers. She also Army Chief visited 11 Gorkha Army Chief expressed satisfaction interacted with ladies of the garrison Rifles Regimental Centre Museum on the efforts being made by and encouraged them to focus on where he was briefed on renovation the Surya Command to ensure and upgradation plans for the capability enhancement and welfare measures for Veer Naris, Regimental Museum. On March operational effectiveness to meet widows and families living in field 24, 2017, Pankaj Singh, all contemporary and emerging area family accommodation. Commandant, 11 Gorkha Rifles challenges. The Army Chief also - Gargi Mallik Sinha

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 17 Indian Navy “Coast to Coast” Outreach

car Rally by a Naval team consisting A of 15 naval personnel was Flagged Off by the Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, AR Karve, AVSM from the Naval Base Kochi on March 24 in the presence of many senior officials of Southern Naval Command, amidst loud cheers from the naval personnel of naval base. The Flag Off marked the second leg of the 6100km long rally being undertaken by the crew who commenced the rally from INS Valsura, Jamnagar on March 16 covering all the naval installations and places of Vice Admiral AR Karve meeting the team members of the car rally prior to the Flag Off Naval Maritime Heritage along the west coast before arriving at Kochi on March 22. The second leg of the rally entails crossing over to the eastern coast and covering all major installations and prominent points, travelling upto Visakhapatnam before returning back to Jamnagar on April 2, thereby connecting "Coast to Coast". Speaking on the Occasion, Vice Admiral Karve said that the rally, being organised to commemorate the platinum Jubilee of INS Valsura, the electrical training college of the Indian Navy, is primarily intended to reach out Vice Admiral Karve Flagging Off the second leg of Coast to Coast Outreach rally at and connect with the youth and children naval base Kochi of the country to spread awareness about the Navy and also to interact with the ex-servicemen, war veterans and 'Veer Naris' (naval widows). The team interacted with the students of Amrita Institute of Science and Technology, Kochi and the "Veer Naris" based at Kochi on March 23. The team during their east coast leg upto Visakahapatnam, undertook numerous interactions with schools and colleges at Puducherry, Nellore and Rajahmundry followed by Hyderabad, Pune and Vadodara enroute to Jamnagar. - Cdr Sridhar Warrier The Rally team interacting with the students of Amrita Institute of Science and Technology

18 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Seventh Red Shield Division Polo Tournament Ends with Thrilling Finals

he 7th Red Shield Division Polo TTournament which started on February 19, 2017, ended with thrilling finals in which - Police Sports Club Team ‘A’ defeated Khurai Polo Club by three goals to one. Twelve teams had contested for top honours in this Prestigious Tournament on Mar 02, 2017. Maj Gen U Suresh Kumar, YSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Red Shield Division, Maj Gen Virendra Singh, VSM, Inspector General Rifles(South) and Shri S Buddhachandra, IAS (Retd) of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association graced the occasion, as Shield Division complimented all team work and dignity in victory or the chief guest, the guests of honour the participants for their splendid defeat. and president respectively. Speaking performance in the tournament and The impressive closing on the occasion Lt Col (Retd) said that he was glad that Red Shield ceremony which was witnessed by Moirangthem Ranjit Singh, Vice Division was lending a helping hand a large number of Army Personnel President of Manipur Horse Riding to young polo players in whom he and locals of the State included an and Polo Association complimented sees a lot of potential. He assured the entertaining display of Ghatka and the Army for sponsoring the event people of Manipur of the continued of traditional Maharashtrian Lezim and extending whole hearted support from the Army for promotion Dance by the troops Army and also support in promoting traditional of traditional sports in the future. He splendid performance of Araambai Manipuri Sports and Culture. also said that the tournament would and Sagol Kangjei organised by The Chief Guest Maj Gen have helped in discovering new Manipur Horse Riding and Polo U Suresh Kumar, YSM, VSM, talent amongst the youth and above Association. General Officer Commanding, Red all taught us the values of courage, - Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 19 Defence Investiture Ceremony-I

he President and Supreme ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and 22 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to TCommander of the Indian Armed in New Delhi on March 20, 2017. senior officers of the Armed Forces Forces Mr. Pranab Mukherjee Six of the were for distinguished service of an conferred one and 13 given posthumously. exceptional order. The following Shaurya Chakra to Armed Forces The President also conferred is the list of awardees in order of personnel for displaying conspicuous 14 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, presentation and photographs of the gallantry, indomitable courage and three Uttam Yuddh Seva Medals, awardees are in the following pages extreme devotion to duty at a solemn one Bar to Ati along with corresponding numbers.

PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL 1. IC-34760P Lieutenant General , AVSM, VSM/Armoured Corps 2. MR-03911F Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Unni, AVSM, VSM/AMC 3. Vice Admiral , AVSM, VSM, ADC (02011-W) 4. Vice Admiral Harish Chandra Singh Bisht, AVSM, ADC (02035-Z) 5. Air Marshal , VM, VSM, ADC (15684), Flying (Pilot) 6. IC-34605N Lieutenant General Rakesh Sharma, UYSM, AVSM, VSM / Infantry 7. IC-35494N Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, UYSM, YSM, Bar to VSM / Infantry 8. IC-35953F Lieutenant General Avinash Laxman Chavan, AVSM, SM, VSM, Infantry 9. MR-03856W Lieutenant General Velu Nair, AVSM, Bar To VSM, Army Medical Corps 10. Vice Admiral Jaywant Kumar Korde, AVSM, VSM (01912-W) 11. Air Marshal Sunderraman Neelakantan, YSM, VM (15184) Flying (Pilot) (Retired) 12. IC-34829N Lieutenant General Sanjiv Talwar, AVSM / Corps of Engineers-(Retired) 13. IC-35206W Lieutenant General , UYSM, AVSM, YSM/Infantry (Retired) 14. IC-35487X Lieutenant General Narinder Pal Singh Hira, AVSM, SM / Infantry(Retired) 15. Air Marshal Virender Mohan Khanna, AVSM, VSM (15071) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) (Retired) KIRTI CHAKRA 16. IC-63798F Major Rohit Suri, The Parachute Regiment UTTAM YUDDH SEVA MEDAL 17. IC-38654N Lieutenant General , AVSM, YSM, SM (Infantry) 18. IC-38679A Lieutenant General , AVSM, SM, VSM, Infantry 19. IC-35965W Lieutenant General Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, AVSM, Bar to SM, VSM, Infantry BAR TO 20. IC-38266W Lieutenant General , AVSM, VSM /Mechanised Infantry ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL 21. IC-37316K Lieutenant General Pradeep Singh Mehta, VSM, Armoured Corps 22. IC-35923K Lieutenant General Jagbir Singh Cheema, VSM, Infantry 23. IC-38403K Lieutenant General Shokin Chauhan, YSM, SM, VSM/Infantry

20 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 24. IC-38750H Lieutenant General , SM, VSM (Infantry) 25. IC-38879W Lieutenant General Ashwani Kumar, VSM , Army Air Defence 26. IC-39846X Lieutenant General Ashish Ranjan Prasad, VSM, Corps Of Signals 27. Air Marshal Sanjay Sharma (15839)Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) 28. Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, VM (16225) Flying (Pilot) 29. IC-34789X Lieutenant General Raman Dhawan, Bar to VSM, Regiment of Artillery(Retired) 30. IC-35188Y Lieutenant General Rakesh Kumar Sharma SM, Infantry (Retired) 31. IC-38494Y Major General , SM, Bar to VSM/Infantry 32. IC-40792N Major General Dev Arvind Chaturvedi, SM , Infantry 33. IC-40703K Major General Harpal Singh, VSM/Corps of Engineers 34. IC-41080X Major General Gopal Gurung, SM, Infantry 35. IC-41528M Major General , YSM, SM, VSM, Infantry 36. IC-45200H Major General Rajinder Kumar, SM, VSM , Judge Advocate General 37. Rear Admiral Satish Bajaj, VSM (02259-H) 38. Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, NM (02543-B) 39. Air Vice Marshal Rajiv Gandotra (16748), Aeronautical Engineering (Mechnical) 40. Air Vice Marshal Balbhadra Radha Krishna, SC (17326), Flying Pilot 41. Air Vice Marshal Shiv Shanker Sharma (17073) Education 42. Air Commodore Deepak Gaur (17404) Medical

SHAURYA CHAKRA 43. 5756771H Havaldar Bir Singh, 21st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) 44. IC 75501F Captain Gaurav Sharad Jadhav, Regiment of Artillery/36th Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles 45. IC 62820P Major Rahul Dev Singh, The / 3rd Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles 46. 14939722P Sepoy Hari Chettri, The Mechanized Infantry / 9th Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles 47. 924787 Corporal Gursevek Singh, IAF (Security) (Posthumous) 48. 2799285W Naik Shinde Shankar Chandrabhan, The / 41st Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles (Posthumous) 49. IC-72326M Captain Tushar Mahajan, 9th Battalion The Parachute Regiment The Parachute Regiment (SF) (Posthumous) 50. IC-78545K Captain Pawan Kumar,10th Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF)(Posthumous) 51. 13769974W Lance Naik Om Parkash, 9th Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) (Posthumous) 51. Ashu Singh, CHME (131980-F) (Posthumous) 52. IC-62423W Atul Gupta, The Mahar Regiment/ 30th Battalion the Rashtriya Rifles 54. IC-79706N Captain Ashik M B,First Battalion of The Fifth Gorkha Rifles(Frontier Forces) 55. JC-414000 Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar, The Parachute Regiment (SF) - N Ao With K Ramesh

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April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 25 CNS Reviews Operational Readiness Exercise in Kochi

he Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), largest maritime exercise of the Kamorta along with 50 ships, TAdmiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, Indian Navy was conducted in the submarines and more than 70 AVSM, ADC, visited Kochi for the month of February in the Arabian aircraft and assets of IAF and ICG. debrief of the recently concluded Sea and North Indian Ocean. The All participating units conducted annual Theatre Level Readiness and exercise comprised several phases, their operations in a networked Operational Exercise (TROPEX) held including Work up, Weapon firing environment, facilitated by robust at Kochi on March 08. Commanders- and a Tactical Phase simulating a war and seamless communications, in-Chief of all the three naval scenario. A large scale contingency mainly through satellite under Commands, along with a number exercise was also undertaken during the Indian Navy’s overall thrust of senior operational commanders the exercise in which real time mass on Network Centric Operations, attended and participated in the casualty evacuation was carried out. aligned with the Prime Minister’s discussions held at the Naval Base, TROPEX 2017 included several vision of ‘Digital India’. Overall, Kochi. In addition, the naval brass new aspects, with the participation the exercise validated the Navy’s discussed the future roadmap of of potent platforms such as operations for the Navy, to include readiness and capability to meet aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, Mig various mandated roles, in support refining existing concepts, catering 29K, P8-I Long Range Maritime of national objectives. for improved maritime capabilities Reconnaissance Aircraft, nuclear of new acquisitions. submarine Chakra and various new The Admiral, also interacted The Annual Integrated Theatre platforms, including indigenous with the officers of SNC during the Level Operational Readiness Kolkata class stealth destroyers visit. Exercise - in short TROPEX - the and anti-submarine warfare frigate - Cdr Sridhar E Warrier

CNS interacting with the officers of Southern Naval Command

26 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Marshal of the Indian Air Force Visits Air Force Station Arjan Singh

n important step towards Astrengthening of operational capability of the Air Force in the region was taken when Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) visited Air Force Station Arjan Singh to inaugurate the Operations Squadron Complex at Panagarh. On his arrival, the 97-year old Marshal was received by the Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Anil Khosla and his spouse Mrs. Deepshikha Khosla, the Air Officer Commanding of the station Air Commodore A Suresh Kumar and forever hold the values of hard work warriors. Arjan Singh took over as his spouse Mrs. Ratna Geetha. and sincerity close to their hearts. the Chief of Air Staff at the relatively MIAF Arjan Singh inaugurated Before he departed for Delhi, he young age of 44 in the rank of the new C-130J Squadron Complex interacted with the personnel over Air Marshal on 15 July 1964 and that would soon house a squadron of tea and reminesced his flying days became the first Indian Chief to lead the Super Hercules. Once equipped over Burma. the Air Force in conflict during the with the aircraft, this station would Speaking on the occasion, 1965 Indo – Pak war. He was later be capable of undertaking all types Air Marshal Khosla said that promoted to the rank of Air Chief of air transport missions in this Panagarh would become one of Marshal in 1966 and served as Chief sector. This would be the second the most important air bases in of the Air Staff till retirement in 1969. C-130 squadron of the IAF, the first the region following the arrival of After retirement, he was appointed being located at Hindan. Earlier, the the C-130 squadron, considering as the Indian Envoy to Switzerland Marshal addressed the personnel of the operational roles for which the and Kenya and subsequently as the station and expressed happiness aircraft can be used. Lt. Governor of Delhi. He was to see that the courage displayed Air Force Station Arjan Singh is bestowed with the rank of Marshal by the air warriors during his time the only Air Base in the Indian Air of the Indian Air Force in January and in the present day had not Force to have been bestowed with 2002 by the Government of India. diminished one bit. He exhorted the unique honour of being named The Marshal of the Air Force turns the personnel to adopt an attitude after the Marshal of the IAF, a living 98 on April 15th 2017. of thoroughness in profession and legend and inspiration for all air - Wg Cdr SS Birdi

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 27 INS Tillanchang Commissioned at Karwar

NS Tillanchang, a Water Jet FACs during the speed trials. IFast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was INS Tillanchang is about 50 m commissioned into the Indian Navy long and powered by three waterjet by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the propulsion system, which give it Flag Officer Commanding-in- speeds of over 35 knots. The ship Chief Western Naval Command, at is armed with a 30 mm main gun Karwar. and a number of light, medium and INS Tillanchang is the third heavy machine guns to undertake ship of four follow-on WJFAC built operations at sea. It is manned by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders by 50 personnel. Tillanchang, and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. commanded by Commander Adit The first two ships of the class, IN Patnaik, is an ideal platform for a ships Tarmugli and Tihayu were number of missions like Coastal and commissioned in 2016 and are Off-shore Surveillance, EEZ Control, based at Visakhapatnam. The ship Law Enforcement as well as non- has been indigenously designed military missions such as Search and and built and is an upgrade from Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft and Disaster Relief. that the Indian Navy possesses. country and are designed to take on INS Tillanchang will be based at Speaking on the occasion both conventional and asymmetric Karwar under the operational control Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said threats. He apprised the gathering of the Flag Officer Commanding, that these ships play a vital role in that Tillanchang was able to achieve Karnataka Naval Area. light of security environment in the the fastest speeds among all WJ - Capt DK Sharma

28 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Thagdas Celebrated 56th Raising Day

rd Battalion, The Madras 3Regiment popularly known as “Thagdas”, nickname given by its first Skipper Lt Col EA Ram Mohan, celebrated its 56th Raising Day on March 01, 2017 at New Delhi where it is preparing for its scheduled deployment for UN mission in South Sudan. ”Thagdas” commemorated their raising by conducting several events from February 28, to March 02, 2017. Chief Guest for the occasion was Veteran Lt Gen PG Kamath, PVSM, VSM, YSM, SM, ex Skipper. Twenty one Veteran officers, five Ex Subedar and seven Ex ORs graced the occasion, the JCOs and ORs travelled all the way from far off places from Southern States to be part of the event. Brothers Mr Wellington on March 1, 1962. Unit Citation for Op Rakshak Atul Kumar and Mr Sanjeev Kumar The Battalion was launched into (J&K). In the year 2002, Battalion alongwith their families travelled action during the Indo-Pak war was awarded GOC-in-C Southern along with their mother the Ex in 1965 and since then Battalion Command Unit Appreciation for Op Skippers wife Smt Nirdosh Kumar has taken part in all the major Aman (Gujarat). In 2005, Battalion wife of Late Lt Col Jitender Kumar. operations including Op Riddle, was awarded GOC-in-C Northern A Silver Trophy each for the Officers Op Cactus Lily, Op Meghdoot, Op Command Unit Appreciation for Op Mess and JCOs Club for the units Rakshak (Punjab) and (J&K) and Meghdoot (Siachen). The Battalion tenure at Sikkim was unveiled on the Op Orchid(Nagaland), Op Battle has the unique distinction of being occasion. Axe(Mizoram). the first Infantry Battalion in Indian Originally raised as 20th The Battalion has been awarded Army which has been inducted in Carnatic Battalion in the year 1777 Theatre Honour “PUNJAB” for both Central and Northern Glaciers at Rock Fort, Tiruchirapally and in capturing a Pakistan village called and first Battalion from The Madras the year 1950 the battalion was in Maharajke during 1965 operations. Regiment to have served in Central suspended animation and was re- In the year 1996, Battalion was Glacier in the year 1988. raised as 3 Madras at Guava Hills, awarded with Chief of Army Staff - Lt Col Manish Mehta

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 29 A Saga of Valour – 200 Years of First Nine Gorkhas

he reputation of the Gorkhas “Run they will not and “Aubers”, “Loos” and “France and Texceeds their geographical Flanders, 1914-1915”. spread. This indomitable hill man Death they seem to In the Second World War, the who knows no fear and abides by have no fear”. Battalion took a decisive part in the motto “Kafar Hunu Bhanda the battle of Djebel Garci (Iraq) on Marnu Ramro (It is better to die 18th April 1942. The unit thereafter than be called a coward)” has been moved for the Italian Campaign, recognized the world over for his where it earned legendary status unquestionable loyalty, strength during the battle of Cassino. The and resolve. The very echoes of Gustav Line was one of the major “Ayo Gorkhali”, the blood curdling barriers to an advance by the United battle cry of the Gorkha soldiers States Fifth Army on the Western has caused many an enemy to flee side of the Italian peninsula, and the in terror. Contrary to popular belief heavily fortified monastery at Monte that the British were the first to recruit Cassino was the chief obstacle in the Gorkhas, it was in fact Maharaja in 1901 that the unit was finally drive to the Rapido River. All attempts Ranjit Singh, who, impressed by designated as 9th Gurkha Rifles. to capture this key feature failed. An the bravery and valour of these big The beginning of the 20th allied aerial bombardment reduced hearted little men from the hills, Century, heralded in the era of the monastery to rubble, but this raised a battalion of Gorkhas to the Great war and brought with actually improved the defensive serve in the Sikh Army in 1809. As it, unrivalled accounts of Gorkha capability of the place. a result, all soldiers serving in the bravery and their undeterred It was here that the First Battalion Indian Army are still called ‘Lahorey’ allegiance to oath of the soldier. of The Ninth Gorkha Rifles achieved in Nepal, i.e., those who serve in The outbreak of the World War immortality in the annals of history, Lahore – the capital of Ranjit Singh’s saw the Battalion mobilized and clinging for sixteen days starting empire. embarking by the sea from Bombay from night 15/16th March 1944 to This year one of the oldest bound for Marseilles in France and a position known as Point 435 or the Gorkha units, the First Battalion subsequently to Mesopotamia. The Hangman’s Hill in the shadow of the of the Ninth Gorkha Rifles or The unit earned an unrivalled reputation monastery. The Gorkha’s opponents Battalion (Eldest), is celebrating its as indomitable warriors. For the were the German’s 1st Parachute bicentenary. The unit was raised services of the 1st Battalion in France, Division which was known as one in 1817 as the ‘Fatehgarh Levy’. the Regiment subsequently received of the greatest fighting formations In 1893, the Battalion was re- the following Battle-Honours: “La ever to take the field. The Gorkhas designated as the “9th Gurkha Rifles Bassee”, “Armentiers”, “Festubert”, took daily losses, fully exposed with Regiment of Bengal Infantry”. It was “Givenchy”, “Neuve Chapelle”, no supplies and surrounded by

30 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 tenacious and well equipped enemy, As the proud defenders of yet they held on. The undeterred a newly independent nation, the resolve of Kanchas (Gorkha boys) Battalion was called to the cause displayed under most precarious almost immediately after the situations went down into the history independence – for the defence of as one of the most stubborn battles Kashmir. Fighting pitched battles ever fought. For the undefeated against Pakistani irregulars, the and unbeaten spirit displayed by Gorkhas really came into their own. the Kanchas atop the Hangman’s With the hills and valleys of Kashmir Hill they earned the title of Cassino resounding to the echoes of ‘Ayo Warriors. The battalion was also Gorkhali’, the evil designs of Pakistan awarded the significant battle were defeated. The unit operated in honour CASSINO- which it proudly Jammu and Kashmir for 19 months celebrates each year till date. It and fought with distinction at was here in Italy (San Marino) that Akhnoor, Chhamb, Naushera and in Rifleman Sher Bahadur received the Link Up Operations of Poonch. the Victoria Cross posthumously The next trial by fire for the Unit for single handedly destroying a came in the 1962 war against the German machine gun nest and Chinese. The Indian troops fought evacuating his comrade in spite of bravely under difficult conditions and severe gunshot wounds. put up many a courageous stand.

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 31 The Brave Kanchas of FIRST NINE The same fighting spirit was several Mentioned in Dispatches in an exemplary show of fortitude, seen during the 1971 war. After the besides capturing huge quantity of courage and Regimental spirit concerted aggression of Pakistan arms and ammunition and prisoners toiled unceasingly in a race against and an air raid into India in the of war. In recognition of the grit and the winters and enemy. Tales of evening of 3rd Dec 1971, the Indian valour shown by the Battalion, it was individual heroism and valour stand Army moved into action, First Ninth awarded the Battle Honour ‘DERA out in this story of mismanagement once again in the thick of things, was BABA NANAK’ and Theatre Honour and blunder – at one doomed stand, engaged in the Western sector, they ‘Punjab’. gave a stellar account of themselves. with ammunition and grenades Post the ’71 war, the Battalion The Battalion fought with distinction all expended and notwithstanding at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab served in various parts of the country heavy odds, the Battalion fought at and captured a Battalion Enclave including mountains and jungles of Tsangdhar in The Battle of Namka which had highly co-ordinated the East, the deserts and plains of Chu Valley till the last. Two officers defences (eleven pill boxes, five the West. The Battalion also took were decorated with Mahavir concrete RCL gun emplacements, active part in Counter Insurgency Chakras along with four other men six concrete Motor pits and Rifle and Counter Terrorism operations who were awarded with three Vir trenches connected by 500 yards of in Punjab, Assam and Jammu & Chakras and one . The concrete communication trenches). Kashmir. For its brave performance, Battalion was inducted into Khem This unconventional attack on a the battalion was awarded the COAS Karan Sector in the Indo Pak war well-fortified and entrenched enemy Unit Citation and also one Army of 1965 and distinguished itself in resulted in the battalion earning two Commanders Unit Appreciation for several actions Vir Chakras, four Sena Medals and the stellar work done.

32 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 As a prelude to the Bicentenary the Regiment in Western Nepal of the First Battalion in the month of Celebrations, a team of the First honouring many ex-servicemen March 2017 at Secunderabad and Battalion, scaled Mount Stok Kangri enroute. Their arrival in Pokhra subsequently for the entire Regiment (6153 meters) on 30 September in Nepal on the 4th of February at its centre at Varanasi in November 2016. The peak located in the Hemis coincided with a massive rally where 2017. The reunions will pay homage National Park is the highest peak almost 3,500 ex-servicemen and to all comrades in arms who laid of the Stok Ranges in the Ladakh widows had gathered to celebrate down their lives for the honour and Region. The team was earlier flagged the bicentenary of the Regiment. prestige of the Regiment and the off from New Delhi by Colonel 9th The event was attended by General Nation. The celebrations will also Gorkha Rifles, Lt Gen AK Bhatt on 9th Rajendra Chhetri, Chief of Army include social functions where the September 2016. This was followed Staff, Nepal Army, Shri Ranjit Rae, serving and retired fraternity from by a Motorcycle Rally of the same Ambassador of India to Nepal, and all over India and Nepal along with battalion, flagged of by the Chief of Lt General AK Bhatt, Colonel of the their families are expected to renew Army Staff, General Rawat on the Regiment of Ninth Gorkhas. and strengthen their regimental 30th of January 2017 from Delhi. These expeditions will be bonds which transcend national The motorcyclists drove through followed by two reunion events for boundaries. the traditional recruiting areas of veterans and serving soldiers initially - Col Aman Anand

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 33 Valedictory Ceremony of IDAS Officers

leven officers of Indian Defence Accounts Service E(IDAS) completed their training successfully and graduated from National Academy of Defence Financial Management (NADFM), Pune on March 22, 2017. The ceremony was presided over by Smt. Veena Prasad, Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and Head of Defence Accounts Department, Ministry of Defence. IDAS is the administrative cadre for the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), which looks after the payment, audit, accounts and financial advice for Armed Forces, DRDO and Defence production. IDAS is one of the Premier Central Services of Government of Smt. Veena Prasad, CGDA, Dr. G D Pungle, Director, NADFM India whose officers are selected through Civil Services and Mr Avinash Dixit, PCDA (Southern Command) releasing the magazine ‘Reverie’. Examination. During the ceremony, it was stated that 18 months training of IDAS Officers starts with a Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie with other civil services. Then, they complete their Professional Training at NIFM, Faridabad and finally, they are trained on Defence financial management at NADFM, Pune. Dr. G D Pungle, Director, NADFM said that the IDAS Officers have a big responsibility on their shoulders. The training has equipped them to handle their work Mr Vijay Sharma, Assistant Controller receiving Prem Lal Award for professionally. He exuberated confidence that these 11 All Rounder Probationer officers would give their best to the Defence forces and Chandra Tripathi while Mr Vijay Sharma received Prem country. Lal Award for All Rounder Probationer. ‘Reverie’, a magazine the probationers came out with, about the everlasting memories associated with Smt. Veena Prasad, CGDA addressed the gathering the training they underwent was also released on the and stressed on the need to strive for excellence. She occasion by the CGDA. gave the message of probity and integrity to the officer Two IDAS officers of 2014 batch were awarded trainees. She appreciated the efforts being taken by for their superior performance. Rajesh Singh Award for NADFM in imparting quality training to the Officers. Meritorious Probationers was conferred to Mr Jiwendra - Sangeet, IDAS, Add Director (NADFM)

Smt. Veena Prasad, CGDA addressing the IDAS Officers at NADFM, Pune

34 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Students visit President from Home State

delegation of students and for its outstanding achievements in Minister, Shri Narendra Modi during A teachers from APS, Barrackpore the academic curriculum and extra- Prime Minister Rally 2017. met the President Pranab Mukherjee curricular activities. The meet was organized by 2 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on The alumni of school include NAGA under the aegis of Mandalay March 27, 2017. The school, which ‘Times NIA student 2016-17’, ranked 119th (All India) and 12th (in Master Prantik Mandal and Best Conqueror’s Brigade and Black Cat State) by the Journal ‘Eastern World’ NCC Cadet of the course JUO RK Division. in liaison with CBSE, was selected Jana who was awarded by the Prime - Col Aman Anand

AOC-IN-C, Central Air Command visits AF Stn Bihta

ir Marshal SBP Sinha , AVSM AVM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Central Air Command, Indian Air force visited Air Force Station Bihta on March 21, 2017. The AOC-IN-C reviewed the Ceremonial Parade which was commanded by Gp Capt Abhijit Tokekar VM, Station Commander, Air Force Station Bihta. He inspected the functioning of the unit and also addressed the air warriors. He urged the personnel to remain focused on service task and keep the security of base and assets on top-priority. - Gp Capt BB Pande

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 35 Safety Award 2016

he Naval Aircraft Yard, Kochi, which is the largest TAviation Maintenance Repair Overhaul Establishment of Indian Navy has been awarded the Safety Award 2016 by the Government of Kerala, Department of Factories and Boilers in the category of large factories, for having civilian personnel less than 500. The award was presented by the Labour and Excise Minister of Kerala on March 4, 2017 to Commodore Deepak Bansal, VSM, Commodore Superintendent, who collected the award on behalf of the Yard, along with team comprising of the Works Committee, various trade unions etc. The Aircraft Yard has been rendering yeomen service initiatives, the Command Cultural Trophy for seven to the Navy with respect to repair and overhaul of both consecutive years and, most recently, the Safety Award western and indigenous origin aircraft, aero engines, 2016. Personnel of the unit have also been commended repair of complex PCBs and harnessing indigenous by both the Chief of Naval Staff as also the Flag Officer capability towards obsolescence mitigation of legacy Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command sensors and communication equipment. The Yard for displaying outstanding innovation, ingenuity and has won several laurels in the last one year, including dedication to duty. trophies for Human Resource Development, best green - Cdr Sridhar Warrier Screening Camp For Prostate Disorders

Screening Camp for Prostate Disorders was held to the camp, with 210 Senior Citizens from all walks A at the Command Hospital (Southern Command), of life, including the veterans, attending the camp. Pune on March 5, 2017. The Camp was hosted and The camp was inaugurated by Major General Deepak organised by Command Hospital (Southern Command) Kalra, VSM**, Major General (Medical), HQ Southern and supported by Care India Medical Society, Bhavani Command, Pune. Peth, Pune. The aim of the camp was to garner attention The Senior citizens were screened free of cost for of all aging men on prostate disorders especially prostate disorders by a team of Urologists led by Colonel prostate cancer. There was an overwhelming response S Tripathy, Classified Specialist (Surgery) & Urologist along with Lieutenant Colonel Amit Agrawal, Classified Specialist (Surgery) & Urologist & Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar, Classified Specialist (Surgery) & Urologist. The screening process involved a thorough physical examination of all patients, collection of blood sample for estimation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and an ultra sonography of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and the prostate which was done by the team of radiologists headed by Colonel Samar Chatterjee, Senior Advisor (Radio diagnosis). The specialist officers were assisted by a team of Nursing Officers. These patients would now be followed up in the hospital’s Urology OPD. An audiovisual presentation on prostatic disorders was also screened at the venue. Maj Gen Deepak Kalra inaugurating the Screening Camp for Prostate Disorders - Mahesh Iyengar

36 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 National Cadet Corps Holds Bi-annual Conference

he two day Bi-annual conference of the National TCadet Corps (NCC) was held in New Delhi on March 7-8, 2017. Additional Directors General and Deputy Directors General representing the Heads of NCC from all the states in the country attended this conference. Whilst inaugurating the conference Lt Gen Vinod Vashisht, AVSM, VSM and BAR, Director General, National Cadet Corps highlighted the efforts made in the past six months to improve the training, infrastructure and logistic supplies by the NCC. The major issues discussed in the conference included early fructification of the ongoing expansion plan of the NCC as per the Govt directions to meet the aspirations of the youth. Increasing the representation of the girl cadets up to 33% in a time bound manner was impressed upon. Also the concerned Directorates were exhorted to establish towards social awareness and community development NCC footprint in remaining five districts of the country in programmes. He also stressed the need of institutionalised Chhattisgarh and North East Region. training to be the main focus area. He appreciated The Director General emphasised that empowered the contribution of all Directorates towards Swachhta and disciplined youth are the need of the hour. This Abhiyan and also towards spreading awareness towards requirement of resurgent India should be our prime digital economy. focus and NCC should also consciously contribute - Lt Col Umang Kohli Senior Medical Officers' Conference at Head Quarter IAF, Nagpur

aintenance Command Senior Medical Officers’ “Share and Learn”. The Conference was inaugurated MConference was organised at Headquarters by Air Marshal Pankaj Aneja Vishisht Seva Medal, Maintenance Command, Indian Air Force Nagpur on Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance March 04-05, 2017. The theme of the conference was Command, IAF. Director General Medical Services (Air) Air Marshal Pawan Kapoor Vishisht Seva Medal BAR PHS delivered the Keynote address. He emphasized on minimizing the human errors in clinical practice and developing a healthy patient doctor relationship. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command released a CD containing presentations of the talks delivered during the proceedings as well as references to important policy letters. The conference was attended by all the Senior Medical Officers of the Maintenance Command as well as some specialist Medical Officers from Air Force Hospital Kanpur. Discussions centered around medical administrative and domain issues relevant at the Station Medicare Centre level. Presentations on Occupational Health and Safety, Medical Response during a Terrorist Attack and Processing of Files; The IFA perspective were particularly appreciated. AOC-in-C MC and DGMS (Air) releasing CD - Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 37 Senior Mission Leaders Course at Manekshaw Centre

enior Mission Leaders (SML) SCourse started in the year 2005 and is the highest recognised course in the UN system. Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) under MEA conducted the course from March 20-31, 2017. The purpose of the course is to strengthen the senior leadership’s capacity on effective planning and conducting of integrated peace support operations. It provides a forum to interact on diverse issues related to peace and security; and challenges faced by them in UN missions. Participants in this course were high ranking military officials ( and above), their equivalent in Police course. The inaugural session saw Peacekeeping Operations. Ms Preeti and Administration (including opening remarks by Lieutenant Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of Ambassadors of countries). General JS Cheema, DCOAS (IS&T) External Affairs, was the Chief Guest A total of 25 participants followed by remarks from Mr Jack and delivered the Inaugural Address. from 18 countries attended the Christofides, Director, Department of - Col Aman Anand Car Rally

nder aegis of DGMS (Army), a Uhealth awareness car rally was flagged off on March 14, 2017. The rally consisted of 10 Officers including one lady officer and three other rank. The rally starting from Delhi covered Chandimandir, Udhampur, Sri Ganganagar, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kolkata, Gaya, Lucknow and back to Delhi. The Chief Guest Lt Gen Velu Nair, PVSM, AVSM, VSM**, PHS, Director General of Medical Services (Army) and Colonel Commandant flagged off the rally. The theme of the rally was “BEAT DIABETES AND PROMOTE ORGAN DONATION”. - Maj D Prakash Rao

38 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Lt Gen visits Military Station Dehradun

ieutenant General BS Negi, Army LCommander, Central Command visited Dehradun from March 11 to 15, 2017. On March 14, 2017, Lieutenant General BS Negi visited , Dehradun where he interacted with Lieutenant General SK Upadhya, Commandant, Indian Military Academy and was briefed on welfare and administrative issues of the Academy. Lieutenant General BS Negi also carried out aerial reconnaissance of the Inter Command boundary during the visit. - Gargi Mallik Sinha Student Rapid Response Force visits Southern Naval Command

2 cadets of Student Rapid Diving Team (Kochi) and were Kozhikode to increase awareness 6Response Force (SRRF) visited also provided a ‘Demonstration- level among students in the field Naval Base, Kochi as part of training, cum- Training session on Nuclear of disaster mitigation and risk on March 21, 2017. The team were Biological Chemical Damage management. These 62 students taken around the Joint Operations Control including Fire Fighting' have been inducted as part of the Centre (Kochi) and given a briefing at the Damage Control Training first phase and have attended a on Disaster Management. They were Facility "Avinash" available in the training camp under the aegis of given practical training on how to naval base, Kochi. operate a fire engine. Subsequently, Kannur, NDRF, Fire the students were familiarised with SRRF is a new Disaster Force, Police, District Medical team the role of divers during disasters, Management wing created on and Disaster Management Wing. by the Naval Command Clearance the initiave of District Collector, - Cdr Sridhar Warrier

Visit of SRRF to Naval base, Kochi

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 39 Long Distance Cycle Expedition on the occasion of 12th AMC Reunion

nder aegis of DGMS (Army), a long Udistance endurance cycling expedition was flagged off on March 17, 2017. The rally consisted of three Officers one JCO and six other ranks including Brigadier AVK Mohan who is a seasoned cyclist & ‘Triple Super Randonneur” and Major Girish. The rally starting from Delhi covered important military stations via Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and terminated at Lucknow on March 22, 2017. The Chief Guest Lt Gen AK Das, VSM, Commandant Army Hospital (R&R) flagged off the rally. - Maj D Prakash Rao ‘Can You Give Us What We Need’ Asks Army Chief

eneral Bipin Rawat chaired now been added which will enable General Rawat took the Ga combined session of ‘the industry and academia to understand opportunity to challenge the industry user and the provider’ attended the ‘Felt Needs’ and come up with and academia by asking them to by renowned industrialists, indigenous solutions incorporating align the solutions to the stated academicians as well as the decision the latest technology trends for problems. ‘We want to fight next war making hierarchy of the Army India’s military power. with technology on our side and not and released the ‘Compendium Giving feedback on the first like the past’, he said. He sought of Problem Statements Vol II’, vol, industrialists and academicians efforts towards the most important which has been prepared by Army expressed keenness to step up R&D need to bring in transparency of the Design Bureau (ADB) after detailed for solutions to Army’s problems and battlefield to allow better decision interaction with all stake holders deeply appreciated Army’s efforts making. Pointing out the drawbacks including soldiers deployed in field. calling the raising of ADB as a path in trial equipment, he asked the The first volume, with 50 breaking step. Mr RS Bhatia pointed industry and academia to focus on problem statements released on 5th that India is probably the only great the fact that Indian Army will fight its December 2016, was received with nation where Industrial might of wars in varied terrain and weather tremendous amount of enthusiasm, the country is not yet reflected in its conditions seeking them to come 28 new problem statements have Defence Forces. up with robust, rugged, miniaturised yet technologically compatible solutions. He further nudged them to come up with a ‘Society for Defence Manufacture’ as the next step. Industry leaders and the academicians who seemed greatly ‘fired up’ committed to work towards ensuring that ‘Indian Army Will Win India’s Wars with Indian Solutions’. - Col Aman Anand

40 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017 Appointments

ir Marshal S Harpal Singh AVSM VM has assumed office of Director General (Inspection and ASafety) on March 21, 2017. Air Marshal S Harpal Singh graduated with 56th course of National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Fighter stream of Indian Air Force on June 15, 1980. He has over 2400 hrs of flying on various aircrafts. The Air Officer has commanded a fighter squadron, was Chief Operations Officer of a major Fighter Base in the western sector, commanded a radar base and was Air Officer Commanding of a major Fighter Station in the Eastern sector. He has served in various staff appointments at Air Headquarters, Tri Services Organisations and was the Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command prior to assuming the present assignment. He is a Fighter Combat Leader, a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, and has undergone the General Course for Senior Officers at National Institute of Defence Studies, Japan. For his distinguished services of an exceptionally high order he was awarded ‘Ati Vashist Seva Medal’ and ‘’. ir Marshal Devendra Singh Rawat AVSM VSM took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer of ASouthern Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force at Gandhinagar on March 17, 2017. Air Marshal was commissioned on December 15, 1980 in the flying branch of IAF. He has over 2300 hrs of flying on various fighter aircrafts. Courses undergone by the Air Officer include Fighter Combat Leader Course, Defence Service Staff Course, Higher Command Course at Army War College and Senior Defence Management Course at College of Defence Management. He is also an aluminous of National Defence College. In 36 years of service, important appointments held by Air marshal include AOC Jamnagar, Air- 1 SWAC, AD Cdr SAC, ACIDS (Perspective Planning and Force Structuring) at HQ IDS and AD CDR at WAC. Besides having being commended by the Chief of Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding in Chief Twice, he has also been awarded Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the . He is married to Kumkum Rawat and they have a son and a daughter. ir Marshal AVSM VM & Bar has taken over as Deputy Chief of the Air AStaff on Mar 01, 2017. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy. He was commissioned in the IAF in 1981 as a Flying Pilot. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and has the distinction of having the highest flying hours on the Mirage 2000 aircraft in the IAF. He undertook the decisive precision attack on Tiger Hill during Kargil conflicts in 1999 and had also been the Project Test Pilot for the Light Combat aircraft ‘Tejas’. The Air Officer has held various Command and staff appointments such as Principal Director Offensive Operations, Director of Space Application and Commandant Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment. He has also been Defence Attaché to Israel, AOC of AF Stn Jamnagar, Air Defence Commander of Western Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer of Southern Air Command, Training Command and Senior Air Staff officer of HQ EAC prior to assuming the present assignment. For his distinguished service he was awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal & Bar for gallantry. The Air Marshal is married to Mrs Luxmi Nambiar. His son Ashwin Nambiar is pursuing his career in the field of aviation. The Air Officer is an avid computer buff and a keen basket ball player. nspector General TP Sadanandan, TM, assumed duties of Dy Director General (Materiel & IMaintenance) on January 1, 2017 vice Inspector General SK Goyal, PTM, TM who superannuated on December 31, 2016. Inspector General TP Sadanandan is an alumini of College of Defence Management Secunderabad and National Institute of Advance Studies Bengaluru. He is also a Fellow of both Institute of Engineers and Institute of Marine Engineers. He has done several important appointments before being elevated to head the technical division of the organisation. His key appointments include Principal Director (Materiel), Principal Director (Fleet Maintenance) at CGHQ, Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at Headquarters Region (East), Coast Guard Refit and Production Supdt (Kochi). The Flag Officer is married to Jeeja and has two daughters. The elder daughter is a journalist working at Bengaluru and the younger one a student at NCS Delhi. - Wg Cdr Anupam Banerjee, Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman and Comdt VK Vijay Kumar

April 1-15, 2017 Sainik Samachar 41 PHOTOCALL

Indian Naval Mt Everest Mountaineering Team being flagged by Chief of Naval Staff at South Block , New Delhi.

DCOAS (P&S) Lt Gen Subrata Saha PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM ** with DG Army Aviation during farewell visit to Directorate General Army Aviation on March 17, 2017

The team members of the Joint Indo Bangladesh Army cycling expedition with Lt Gen AS Bedi, GOC Gajraj Corps at Agartala, prior to the flag off today. The expedition will travel to Comilla, Dhaka and Jessore before culminating at Kolkata, having covered 500 km in 12 days.

Sources: Fulchand Kitadikar, Lt Col Amit Kumar Kaushik and Wg Cdr SS Birdi

42 Sainik Samachar April 1-15, 2017