Troops Dip Into Their Pockets to Fight J and K Terror

Troops Dip Into Their Pockets to Fight J and K Terror By Pradip R Sagar Published: 22nd Nov 2015 09:10:27 AM Photos Army pays tribute to Colonel Santosh Mahadik who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir Army pays tribute to Colonel Santosh Mahadik who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir NEW DELHI: The death of Colonel Santosh Mahadik in a gun battle with terrorists last week in Kashmir has angered officers involved in anti-terrorist operations over the government’s apathy in equipping them to fight “highly motivated” and heavily armed militants. In mountainous terrains like Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, soldiers need much more than just deadly firepower; they need protective gear that provides a shield while keeping them agile. Sadly, bureaucratic hurdles have held up acquisition of critical gear like bulletproof jackets, ballistic helmets and primary assault rifles. Some commanding officers, however, won’t let recalcitrant babus in South Block endanger the lives of their men. Officers in Kashmir Valley are buying the much-needed gear from the open market with money from welfare funds of their units. An Army officer in Jammu & Kashmir told The Sunday Standard the government is not giving them equipment required for close quarter battle. “I can’t let my men die because they don’t have basic protective gear. I am buying them from the open market from my regimental funds. Though the fund of my unit should be for welfare of my troops, nothing is more important than the lives of my men,” said a commanding officer of an artillery unit posted in north Kashmir who has just procured 200 ballistic helmets. A commanding officer of an infantry battalion posted in Baramulla has bought firing gloves and knee guards for his unit. The battalions are also buying harnesses for their bullet proof jackets, tracking gears, shoes, pouches, etc. A soldier with the obsolete INSAS rifle An Army unit’s welfare fund is a contributory one by troops and from profits from CSD canteen sales. It is used to organise celebrations on a unit’s Raising Day, regimental festival day, for improving accommodation of jawans and for incidental expenses of the unit. Over 850 army personnel have died in Operation Rakshak, the Army’s counter insurgency operation, in the last 10 years in Jammu & Kashmir; 72 have been killed this year. With heavy and ineffective bulletproof jackets and helmets provided by the Defence PSU Ordnance Factory Board, troops in counter-insurgency operations find it difficult to operate against militants. The government has not yet provided new primary assault rifles for jawans after weapons produced by foreign vendors were found to be unsatisfactory and expensive, leading to cancellation of the contract. The Army has been battling to replace its two-decade-old indigenous INSAS rifles, which has been a “disappointment”. The Army proposed to buy 66,000 5.56 mm assault rifles to replace INSAS that has been in use since the 90s despite complaints of being faulty.