Sri lankan ship on Official visit to kochi-:24-27 Oct 16

Token of friendship:The Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command and the Commanding Officer of the visiting Sri Lankan naval ship exchanging mementos in Kochi on Monday.

Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLN) Sayura and Suranimila are on a official goodwill visit to Kochi from 24-27 Oct 16. During the visit, various professional and social interactions have been planned at Southern Naval Command which will enhance mutual cooperation and understanding between personnel of two forces. On 24 Oct 16, the Commanding Officers of Sri Lanka Naval Ships called on the Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral  R J Nadkarni,VSM, Southern Naval Command.Other planned interactions during the stay of the Sri Lankan ships include exchange of visits by specialist officers and personnel from both the Navies on different ships as well as sports activities between the Navies. 

SLNS Sayura is an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) while Suranimila is a fast attack vessel (missile) commanded by Captain Prasanna Amardasa and Captain P. Vithana respectively.

On their way back on October 27, the Sri Lankan vessels will undertake joint exercises with Indian naval vessels based at Kochi.

NAVAL COMMANDER CONFERENCE : 25-27 OCT 16

New Delhi: Top naval commanders assembled in capital to review operational and functional issues of Indian Navy .It is very vital meeting keeping the current situation concerning national security. Indian Navy, like the other two Armed Forces, is required to maintain a high degree of operational preparedness to deter or neutralize any threat aimed at the country's maritime security

The Honorable Defence Minister is scheduled to address and interact with the Naval Commanders on the opening day of the Conference. The Conference will also be used as a platform for interaction and enhancing mutual understanding between the naval top-brass and other government officials.Talking to journalists after the opening address in Naval commander conference in New Delhi, Manohar Parikar also praised the navy for its capability of integrating different weapons and latest technology  of different origins."I am quite happy that the navy is enhancing its three dimensional capability keeping sharp eye on its vital role in coming decades . It is a leader in Make in India, as all 42 ships being made are indigenously designed ships.

As part of Navy's future  planning, the Conference will discuss a series of measures under the Make in India scheme and recommend ways to further indigenise defence procurements, in order to overcome the major challenges being faced. The Commanders would also discuss on the Navy's roadmap for the future, including key technology , improved logistics. He also discussed different aspects for manufacturing and developing ships ,submarines  in India. Indian navy is currently having 90 percent indigenisation in float component (hull design and material), 60 percent indigenisation in move component (engines) and 30 percent in fight component (weapons and sensors).

Asked about recently signed MOU between India and Russia for kamov choppers and frigate minister reveals that choppers will be made in India by kamov and HAL Pvt Ltd. and for Frigates, the deal was stuck due to non availability of power plant as it was being imported from Ukraine and Ukraine stopped defence trade with Russia since 2014. Now, we will buy power plant and fit on board ships, Mr Parikar said.Two out of four frigate will be manufactured in India and rest in Russia. Recently, India has convinced Ukraine to provide engines that can be fitted in the improved krivak class frigates which will boost up the commissioning of the two frigates.He also discussed and assures to sort out anomalies in rank structures of armed forces comparing with its civilian counterparts after reviewing orders from 2008 on-wards. Issues pertaining to pending 7 CPC for armed forces will also be discussed.

AFT Ordered Sukhoi Pilot’s dismissal to release : Need To Reform Military Law

NEW DELHI : More than three years after Flt Lt Ishan Sharan, a Sukhoi Pilot in Indian Airforce was dismissed from service for an affair with wife of a fellow officer, AFT found faults with the proceedings of the enquiry conducted by IAF and directed that his 'dismissal from service' be converted into 'release from service'.

Sqn Ldr Anindita Dasgupta posted at Air Force Station Jodhpur committed suicide on the night of November 27, 2012. She was married to Sqn Ldr Vishak Nair. During inquiry, it was revealed that her marriage was on the rocks as she was in an affair with Flt Lt Sharan. The enquiry resulted the dismisal of Flt Lt Sharan from the service on June 28, 2013.  Bench observed that such cases where relationship been made with mutual consent should not be treated so harshly. Moreover keeping records of concerned officer towards service should not be viewed so seriously as lead to dismissal or even graver punishments that the IPC and statutory Acts of the Army, Navy and Air Force provided for," The bench of Justice Amar Saran and Lt Gen Gautam Moorthy observed on September 14 this year that air force proceeded with single minded intent to dismiss the officer as the case was spoiling the image of service and social moral within the service."While not condoning extra marital relationships, we must, at the same time, reflect upon the changes in our society. With women joining the armed forces in large numbers, working closely and socialising with their male counterparts, it is unreasonable to expect that the armed forces would be immune to social changes in relationships between the two sexes.

"It would be inexpedient and unwise to ask the air force to take a fresh look at the entire episode in the light of the conclusions we have drawn. However, we cannot allow the stigma of dismissal to continue to remain on record given the special circumstances of the case. Hence, we believe that the ends of justice would be adequately served if the dismissal from service of the applicant is converted into release from service" the bench directed.  

Flt Lt Ishan Sharan, an alumonous of RIMC (Rastriya Indian Military college, Dehradoon) who hails from Ranchi was a Topper in 180 Pilot Course and has bagged the Chief of Air Staff's sword of honour. He was emerged as the top pilot in all three streams - Fighters , helicopters and transport. He was inspired to join the IAF by his father Group Captain Pradeep K Sharan. He come in contact with the deceased at Bareilly. They continued to interact with each other even at Jodhpur also. After the husband of the deceased came to know about their illicit relationship through Facebook chat history. Flt Lt Ishan Sharan went on to marry another girl which resulted in pushing Sqn Ldr Anindita Dasgupta into depression. He told IAF Authorities that He has only done the mistake to continue interact with the deceased which was the right thing to do at the time of her distress.

The time has come for reformation in Military Laws governing Indian Armed Forces as the change in the societies go on too. The Armed Forces Act are adapted from the British rules in India. The laws are very strict and has to be amended from time to time. The major areas of focus pertaining to Indian Armed Forces viz. Social media laws, Corruption laws, Butmen system . The increases in Suicide cases, Adulterous activity which downgrade the image of Armed Forces must be dealt as a challenge. The mindset of the Top Brass should be changed and come with a more modern approach to tackle such cases in future.

Sailor ‘secretly filmed sex with colleague in showers of a warship : HMS Diamond harboured at Limassol in Cyprus

A Royal Navy sailor secretly filmed himself having sex with a woman colleague in the showers of a warship, leaving her feeling ‘horrible and violated’, a court martial heard.

Leading Logistician Scott Furber denies a charge of voyeurism in relation to the incident on board HMS Diamond while docked at Limassol, Cyprus, in June 2014.

Furber, 29, and the alleged victim agreed to meet for consensual sex in the showers on board the Type 45 destroyer, against the Navy’s ‘no touching rule’ for sailors, the court martial at Portsmouth Naval Base was told.

But before she arrived Furber, who was a chef on board, set his Apple iPhone on a shelf in the shower and made a ten-minute recording of their encounter. At one point he can be seen grinning at the camera.

Major David Whittaker, prosecuting, said: ‘She agreed to meet the defendant in the shower on board for consensual sex to take place. 

'She arrived in the shower and saw the defendant was already there and sexual activity did take place.

‘Unknown to her when the defendant had arrived in the shower ahead of her, he had put his iPhone on a shelf and recorded the sexual activity.’ 

Major Whittaker said that the recording did not come to light until October that year when the defendant was asked about it by colleagues and a superior officer became aware of the incident.

He added that the first the alleged victim knew of it was when the issue was investigated and she was informed by her boss.

Major Whittaker said that Furber, currently serving at shore-based HMS Excellent in Portsmouth, initially denied making the recording and had told investigators that the only recording on his phone was of his fiancee. 

   The incident took place on board HMS Diamond  at Limassol in Cyprus

She said that they had flirted through Whatsapp text messages and arranged to have sex on board the ship later. 

She said: ‘He had it figured out. He said, “Come and meet me” at a certain time in the shower – we shared showers, male/female, where we were living on board. 

He said, “The end shower ... I will be waiting ... just give a knock on the door”. 

The alleged victim said that when she was informed that the incident had been filmed she was ‘shocked, completely shocked’ and it had made her feel ‘horrible, violated’.She denied that she had agreed to film the sex earlier that day when they were on the beach. The court martial continues.

Source - DailyMail.co.uk

OROP - Modi's gift to Veterans

It was like any other afternoon in most part of the world but not in India.  Hope was meeting realization, dreams were fulfilling in North Block, Delhi. A large number of people from age 32 to 96 years were rejoicing in streets for one single reason. People who gave blood and sweat in order to ensure sovereignty of nation. Many of them are in their last phase of life and many are uncertain of their future but they all have one thing in common; they were guards of peace and safety they are VETERANS. Soldiers who believed to be patient and disciplined ran out of patience since last two months but they were still soldiers with a code of discipline. They loose their patience due to long time waiting for their right. A period in which nation saw ten different person as Prime Minister; single ruling party to coalition governments but none of them give heed to their demands but finally hope and dreams realised on 5 Sep 2015. Dream of One Rank One Pension was fulfilled.

Year 1973 when civilians and defence pensions were clubbed under one pay commission by Indira Gandhi led government since then protest continue within the system by military in sporadic manner and veterans were also supporting it but to no avail.

In 2008 after sixth pay commission veterans taken to street for the street for the first time and current crisis was born. In 2012 UPA government made it’s stand clear by stating OROP as impossible. In September 2013 then BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi promised OROP in Rewari Rally after 1 year of formation of government . During June 2015, veterans start their relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in an organized manner and in Aug it converted to fast untill death.

Now as OROP has been announced veterans are not fully satisfied as they allege many of issues and demands were not fulfilled but a large portion of it in compromise mode and decided to celebrate what they achieved after so long wait and negotiation.

Detail order on OROP is yet to arrive by everyone in service and veterans. Hope it doesn’t have hidden surprise or shock for anyone.

Various Organization like UFSEM, IESM, are behind the implementation of OROP and also still waiting for the right calculation of OROP even after declaration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.