Harassing girls gets IAF man arrested

VARANASI: The Government Railway Police (GRP) Mughalsarai on Sunday arrested an Indian Air Force personnel Shailendra Kumar for alleged sexual harassment of girls travelling in a train.

According to reports, a group of students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Madhepura in Bihar had gone to Delhi on an educational tour. On Saturday evening they boarded a sleeper coach of 2394 Sampurna Kranti Express at New Delhi railway station to reach Patna. Kumar, who was also travelling in the same bogie, allegedly started harassing the girls in inebriated state at night.

When the train reached Mughalsarai railway station in the morning the principal of school Devraj Dwivedi contacted the inspector GRP Ratan Singh Yadav to register a case. Yadav said that after lodging an FIR Kumar, who is posted in Delhi, was arrested.

via Times of India

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Jawan at Alandur Dargah called us terrorists, Visitors inform police

CHENNAI: Two city residents have lodged a police complaint against an armyman guarding the Army quarters at Alandur, accusing him of terming them terrorists and restricting them from entering a dargah located on the Army property.

A Ibhrahim Sheriff and S Ayub Sherif, residing at Alandur, stated that they were entering the dargah on Friday for prayers when the armyman stopped them and sought their identity cards.

According to their complaint with the St Thomas Mount police, a quarrel broke out between them and the guard, identified by them as one Shajith, when they refused to show him the ID cards as they are regular visitors to the dargah and that none had asked them for the ID cards. “We asked him to let us in as it was already late for the prayers when he got angry and termed us as terrorists,” they said in the complaint.

Army officials could not be contacted for comments on the allegations. A police officer said the complaint was received at the station. “Ibhrahim and Ayub have said that the armyman prevented them from entering the dargah. We’ve made a CSR (community service register) entry on the complaint, but no FIR has been filed,” the officer said.

The dargah at Army’s land at Alandur has been in a controversy in the last few months as objections were raised to a board put up by Army warning against trespassing. Recently, an under-construction prayer hall adjacent to the dargah was also demolished mysteriously overnight.

Nazir, whose family is taking care of the supposedly 700-year-old dargah, said the Army is suddenly imposing restrictions on visitors to the dargah. “I was there when the quarrel broke out between the two devotees who had come to the dargah on Friday. The Army man verbally abused them, and at one point, he called them terrorists. I had to pacify them so that things don’t turn ugly. I don’t understand why they have suddenly started asking ID cards for those who come to pray here,” he said.

via The New Indian Express

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Colonel accused of sexually harassing colleague's wife, 4 other women

After the incident of a Brigadier in Jammu harassing his assistant, another case of misbehavior has come to light in Army.

A colonel deployed in Sri Ganganagar of Rajasthan is accused of sexually harassing the wife of a fellow colleague and four other women.

According to sources in Army, the incident happened when the commanding officer was sitting in the mess of the unit with colleagues and their wives. Drunk officer touched colleague's wife and started teasing her.

The incident was exposed when the woman could not take it anymore and slapped the officer hard. The husband of the woman complaint about the incident involving commanding officer to the senior officials. The victim woman also gave her complaint in written.

After the incident, four more women gave written complaints about the commanding officer and said that they have also been the victim of his harassment in the past. The order of investigation in the case has been given under section 125 of Army Act. As per the rule, the accused is kept in military custody till the court of inquiry is held.

Defence Ministry also confirmed the incident and said " The investigation of the incident will be completed soon. Such incidents cannot be tolerated in Indian Army." The colonel was recently transferred to Sri Ganganagar unit. There have also been complaints against him from the previous unit like being drunk on duty and coming late to work.

 

via Daily Bhaskar

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SC blasts Army for eyewash in arms sales scam

Dhananjay Mahapatra.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the Army for letting off senior officers with "pittance of a punishment" for illegally selling non-service pattern weapons in border districts of Rajasthan and sought the Centre's view in two weeks on reopening the cases to award deterrent punishment

A bench of Justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde said the weapons could have fallen in the hands of terrorists or gangsters who could kill many and it was being done by senior Army officers who are duty bound to protect citizens.

"It shocks our conscience that they were let off with pittance of a punishment," the bench said. It told attorney general Mukul Rohatgi that the general court martial (GCM) proceedings for award of punishment to 72 officers and a junior commissioned officer (JCO) found guilty of selling NSP weapons were a mere "eye-wash".

The court asked the AG to inform the court within two weeks why the proceedings against these 73 Army officers be not reopened to decide afresh the quantum of punishment. "You (Army) dismiss cadets for drunken brawl and abusing seniors. But you let off senior officers with reprimand," the bench said.

"If this is happening in one command (south-western) of the Army, what about the position in other eight commands? Should such officers there go scot free? Why should there be not an inquiry? Why not enlarge the scope of the petition," the bench asked during the fresh hearing on a seven-year-old PIL filed by advocate Arvind K Sharma.

"We are only asking this, an Army officer illegally sells his NSP weapon when he is there to protect the citizens, is he fit to continue as an officer," it said, adding, "That is why weapons are sold like toys. That is why in Delhi everyone whips out a weapon."

Of the 29 officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel, colonel and major found involved in the sale of NSP weapons, 15 were 'punished' with 'severe reprimand and a fine of Rs 500', two were 'reprimanded' and rest were awarded punishment ranging from one to three years loss of seniority either for the purpose of promotion or pension.

The 25 officers posted in Indian Army Training Team in Bhutan, who were found to have imported ammunition in excess of the authorized 50 rounds, were all let off with 'severe displeasure (non-recordable)'.

However, the bench was against ordering a CBI inquiry into the affairs of Army and wanted the Army to set right its wrongs.

"A lieutenant colonel sells 17 weapons, his and 16 others, and gets three years forfeiture of seniority, another sells 11 NSP weapons and gets two years forfeiture, the third sells five and gets one year forfeiture. It is not how many weapons they sold. What shocks our conscience is that they are part of the disciplined force where a small indiscipline results in termination of service," the bench said.

via Times of India

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Sodomy charges against Brigadier at LoC

Manu Pubby. 

A Brigadier commanding a critical Army formation on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has been placed under investigation after facing allegations of personal misconduct, including alleged sodomy of a junior colleague, sources told India Today.

The officer, who had taken command of a brigade that comes under the Rajouri-based 25 Infantry Division, is facing a detailed inquiry after the complaints surfaced a few days ago. Given the Army's strict code of discipline, the allegations are of a serious nature, given the rank of the officer and the position he occupies.

Officials in Army HQ confirmed that an incident had come to light but refused to go into the details of the matter. "An incident of alleged misconduct has come to light. The matter is being investigated by the concerned authorities," a senior officer said.

Army HQ has denied that the officer concerned has been taken off charge of the LoC brigade and has been placed under attachment of the 25 Infantry Division which is commanded by Major General Saranjit Singh.

The allegations, details of which cannot be revealed at the moment, have come as a surprise given that the Brigadier concerned is a high profile officer who has been highly decorated and had recently picked up the one-star rank. He also comes from a highly regarded regiment. India Today is withholding the name of the officer concerned until the Army investigations are completed.

In the past, the Army has been unforgiving of any acts of personal misconduct by officers and soldiers alike. While there have been several dismissals from service and even imprisonment of soldiers found guilty of sodomy, such allegations against senior officers are rare.

It may be recalled that the Rajouri-based 25 Infantry Division has been facing a barrage of ceasefire violations over the past two years from Pakistan and has seen the death of several soldiers at the hands of the Border Action Team that carried out a beheading last year.

via India Today

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IAF Chief hints at induction of women officers in combat roles

Induction of women officers in combat roles in the Indian Air Force (IAF) now seems possible.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha indicated this in an interview with India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) when he said that their chances ‘in the near future are very bright’.

He pointed out that IAF had already opened all branches for induction of women as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers, except in the fighter stream of the flying branch.

"The probability of women pilots flying in combat roles in the near future is very bright," he said.

Although it may take some time for the decision to take effect due to procedural approvals, including from the defence ministry, the air chief's statement is a clear indication that a positive decision has possibly been reached and could soon be announced.

In fact, so far, women officers in all the three services "are not being deployed on active duty close to the border wherein they are likely to be exposed to direct line of fire" by an enemy.

But apparently, in keeping with global trends and demands by women for parity even in combat roles, and also to make up for the shortage of officers, IAF, and then possibly the other two services, would gradually unleash them in the defence of the country.

via India TV

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Notice served to Army Chief in dacoity case

Prabhati Nayak Mishra.

A two-judge Supreme Court bench on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and to Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, seeking their response in a case of alleged dacoity by army officials in Assam in 2011. The petitioner in the case has also sought a probe against General Suhag, who was then the head of Dimapur-based GOC 3 Corps, for inaction.

The alleged dacoity took place at the house of Renu Gogoi in Jorhat, Assam on December 21, 2011. Gogoi has claimed that army officials of Corps Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (CISU), Dimapur, led by Captain Rubina Kaur Keer, were involved in the dacoity. On the basis of an enquiry, then Army Chief General VK Singh had imposed a discipline and vigilance ban on Suhag, which was revoked by Singh's successor General Bikram Singh.

In a plea before the Supreme Court, Gogoi said that there has been no progress in the case since her husband lodged an FIR in December 2001, and that the CBI or any other independent agency should take over the probe. The plea also sought direction to the Centre for appropriate action to be taken against senior officers of the Eastern Command under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.

"Give direction to CBI to investigate the instant case.... or Constitute Special Investigation Team to probe thoroughly the instant case at P.S. Jorhat, Assam, under Sections 395 / 397 IPC on December 21, 2011," the plea said.

"Direct Union of India to initiate action against senior officers of Eastern Command under whose jurisdiction the dacoity took place and the said senior officers deliberately covered up the incident and interfered in the ongoing investigation in the case to shield and protect the erring army officials," it said. "The Indian Army after hijacking the entire investigation has punished its officers by simple reprimand, severe reprimand, 14 days RI in military custody and three months in civil prison. Such an act by the Army shocks the conscience."

via DNA

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Sexual harassment of officers' wives: Army closes case against Col Grewal as trial becomes time-bound

Bhartesh Singh Thakur.

The army has closed the case against Col Navin S Grewal of 13 Sikh Light Infantry, accused of sexually harassing junior officers' wives, as the General Court Martial (GCM) going on against him at Ferozepur became time barred.

The orders issued by the Army Commander, Western Command, were conveyed to Col Grewal on Tuesday.

"According to the law, a GCM has to start within three years of the knowledge of the allegations to the competent authority to initiate action. The army had knowledge of offence since 2010 but they started the trial in 2014," said Rajeev Anand, counsel for Col Grewal. The petition of Grewal before the Chandigarh Bench of the AFT against the GCM has become infructuous.

Col Grewal had maintained that the officers' wives had lodged false complaints to save their husbands' careers after their poor performance; and that the charges were barred by limitation. He told the court that he had complained about his junior officers against whom no action was taken.

Charges
According to the chargesheet, among the 18 charges against him was that Col Grewal in February 2010 had "improperly" pulled the hands of wives of his junior officers on the pretext of palmistry at Jalandhar Cantonment. Then in February, March and May 2010, he allegedly "improperly" pulled the hands of officers' wives on the "pretext of dance". In March 2010, while clicking pictures of wives of two junior officers near Chohal dam in Himachal Pradesh, he had allegedly passed a lewd remark.

In March the same year, he allegedly "improperly" tickled the feet of an officer's wife by his foot at Jalandhar Cantonment. On the same day, he allegedly passed a lewd remark at another officer's wife.
In March and April 2010, he allegedly sent e-mails to wives of "two officers containing lewd overtones".

In April the same year, he allegedly "twitched the nose" of an officer's wife and "kissed her on the cheeks". 

In June 2010, he allegedly remarked to another officer's wife that he "treated her like his wife and that she was not discharging her duties properly". 

In July 2010, he allegedly "improperly took an officer' wife to his house and then into his bedroom". In August 2010, he allegedly went to a junior officer's house in his absence and stayed there with his wife for a few hours. 

 

via Hindustan Times

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Shame: Army man tries to molest 17-year-old girl on-board train

Guwahati: An Army man put the nation to shame on Tuesday after he was alleged of sexual harassment.

The man tried to molest a 17-year-old girl on-board Dibrugarh-Delhi Rajdhani Express on Tuesday.

According to the NF Railway spokesperson, the girl accompanied by her uncle was travelling in three-tier AC compartment of the train.

Loud noises were heard from the compartment at around 4 am as she raised alarm when the army man tried to molest her while the train was near Chaparmukh station.

According to reports, the army man was recognized as Kulvinder Singh posted in Amingaon camp. He is recruited at the Military Engineering Service unit in the Indian Army.

The Railway Protection Force (RPG) immediately reached the spot and held him. The accused was further handed over to the Government Railway Police at Guwahati Railway Station.

via Daily Bhaskar

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Navy Seeks to Oust Squatter Army From Prime Delhi Plot

N C Bipindra.

NEW DELHI: Away from the high seas, the Indian Navy has won a battle of sorts after 20 long years, wresting a key piece of land for building its headquarters in leafy Lutyen’s Delhi.

However, there is still a lot of ground the force has to cover before its coveted headquarters takes shape. As of now, the Navy is ready to lay the foundation stone for the new building on 5.41-acres on August 20. It is also ready with a blueprint for the construction of the headquarters at an estimated cost of `400 crore.

The land that has been identified is on Rajaji Marg, behind DRDO Bhavan and opposite Sena Bhavan. Close to Raisina Hills, the plot is just a stone’s throw away from South Block and is located diagonally opposite to the official residence of the British High Commissioner to India.

But the major hurdle before the Navy is to get the land vacated of its existing establishments, all belonging to the Army. The Army has been holding on to the land, which actually belongs to Urban Development Ministry.

Apart from a parking lot on the premises for vehicles used by armed forces officers working at Sena Bhavan, the land also houses an Army canteen and a few commercial establishments such as tea vending outlets, all occupying the World War-II hutments that were established there by the British as their military barracks.

“The biggest challenge is to get the land vacated so that work on the Naval headquarters can start. But implementation of that work is now at the door of the Ministry of Defence,” said a senior Navy officer.

The task of identifying land for the Navy has been a work in progress for two decades now and one of the plots that was proposed for it long ago was the where the mammoth DRDO Bhavan stands today. “But there was no concrete, formal allotment of that land to the Navy. Hence it would be incorrect to claim that it was ours,” said another officer.

At present, the Navy’s establishments in Delhi function out of seven locations, including the South Block, Sena Bhavan, Varuna Complex near Delhi airport, a building in R K Puram and another in Kailash Colony. Once the planned new headquarters comes up, the Navy intends to vacate its offices out of four of these locations and remain only in South Block, Varuna Complex and at the new headquarters on Rajaji Marg.

“We will completely vacate the offices from other locations. However, South Block establishments would remain with us,” the officer said.

South Block now houses the offices of the Navy chief, vice chief, deputy chief and several other operationally key positions. The Varuna Complex houses a mess and the National Maritime Foundation.

The issue of providing land for the Navy’s headquarters has been moving back and forth between the Defence Ministry and the Urban Development Ministry since the early 1990s, but the effort found traction only in 2010 when A K Antony was Defence Minister and M M Pallam Raju was the Minister of State for Defence. Raju followed up the matter with S Jaipal Reddy, who was then the Urban Development Minister. The matter was again discussed between Antony and Kamal Nath in 2011. In October 2012, the plot behind DRDO Bhavan was allotted for the Navy headquarters.

If all goes according to plan, the Navy would take about three years to get the government’s sanction for funding the headquarters building and another six years to shift to the new premises. That would be possible only after the plot is vacated by the Army and the commercial establishments removed.

But ahead of that the Navy is awaiting a VIP to be available on August 20 to do the foundation stone laying for the new Naval Headquarters in the capital.

Rs 400cr is the estimated cost of constructing the new headquarters on the 5.41 acres of land

via The New Indian Express

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