Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh: 12 CRPF personnel killed in Sukma district ambush

Raipur: Twelve CRPF personnel were killed on Saturday and their arms looted when Naxals ambushed their patrol party in the Maoist hotbed of Sukma in Chhattisgarh. Four personnel were also injured in the Naxal attack and two of them were stated to be critical. The incident occurred in the dense forests near Kottacheru village under Bhejji police station, around 450 kms away from the state capital, at 9:15 AM when 112 personnel of CRPF's 219th battalion were out for a road opening task.

The Bhejji area in south Bastar region of the state is notorious for Naxal attacks and many security personnel have been killed here in the past. The Naxals also looted ten weapons like INSAS and AK series assault rifles and two radio sets from the killed men, officials said. "The troops were part of the road clearing party that has been securing an under-construction road between Bhejji and Kottacheru. They were ambushed by Naxals who set off multiple hidden IEDs on the ground and opened fire. The squad effectively retaliated before twelve made the supreme sacrifice," acting CRPF DG Sudeep Lakhtakia told PTI.

He added that Maoists are trying to disrupt normal life and activities in this area as the Central Reserve Police Force has increased its presence here and got re-opened a local 'haat' (market) last year here after it was forcibly shut by the red ultras. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh who will be travelling to Sukma. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister 

Raman Singh has strongly condemned the Maoist attack and described it as a "cowardly act".

Security personnel have laid down their lives to free Bastar from violence and Maoist terror. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. "I salute their sacrifice," the CM said, adding ultras were frustrated with development of road network in the region. He also extended condolences to the bereaved families. The CRPF chief and senior officials are also rushing to Raipur. A senior Chhattisgarh official told PTI that the road opening party was passing through the forests between Bhejji and Kottacheru villages when Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on them.

According to a CRPF official, summer season is regarded as an offensive period by rebels as they observe annual 'tactical counter offensive campaign' (TCOC). The dry weather is a favourable period for carrying out ambushes in the vast jungle terrain and this attack would have been planned by Maoists led by hardcore naxal cadre Hidma who is active in southern part of Bastar, the paramilitary official added. However, further investigation would reveal the details, he added.

The injured have been air-lifted and brought to the CRPF field hospital in Bheji and few others have been transferred to Raipur. A special counter-Naxal team of CoBRA has been rushed to the ambush spot as reinforcement to sanitise the area and launch a search. Another senior CRPF officer said the ambush site has very weak mobile phone connectivity and communication is being done through satellite phones.

"It is estimated that a hundred plus Maoist squad was present in the area when the ambush was launched. These are preliminary inputs. More details are awaited," the officer said. The deceased CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Jagjit Singh, Assistant Sub-inspectors H B Bhatt and Narender Kumar Singh, Head Constables Jagdish Prasad Vishnoi and P R Minde and Constables Mangesh Pal Pandey, Rampal Singh Yadav, Goraknath, Nand Kumar Patra, Satish Kumar Verma, K Shankar and Suresh Kumar. Constables Jaidev Parmanik and Salim are critically
injured.

The CRPF is working without a regular chief for over a week now as the government has not appointed a new Director General after K Durga Prasad retired on 28 February.

China's naval efforts may prove wanting in front of Indian Navy's experience 

Viraat and Vikramaditya at sea for first time - Jan 2, 2014. Image Source- Indian Navy 

With the decommissioning of INS Viraat -- world’s oldest aircraft carrier -- on Monday, India is left with a single carrier, the INS Vikramaditya. Now it is steadily pacing towards having a second carrier, an indigenous one, which will be called the Vikrant like the first ever Indian carrier. 

India has been operating aircraft carriers for decades, starting from its first one, INS Vikrant, then to Viraat and now Vikramaditya. In the future it is looking at operating the new Vikrant,  

"The threat scenario during the era of Viraat was different as compared to now, when there is growing Chinese naval activity in areas surrounding India. And if a conflict breaks out, India needs to be better prepared in regard to the protection of its carriers," explained an expert. 

China, on the other hand, has built ships and submarines to protect its first aircraft carrier, Liaoning. Although being a formidable neighbour, China may not fall in comparison with decades of experience .. 

The Liaoning. Image source- Reuters 

In September 2012, China had commissioned the Liaoning -- procured from Ukraine and then reworked upon. In November, 2016, it was reported that the carrier was combat ready. It is now quickly building its second one, Type-001A. And reports are emerging of its third carrier, Type 002, being built. 

China has been showing its military prowess, including conducting military drills, with Liaoning, in the disputed South China Sea. It had recently passed through the Strait of Taiwan, causing the country to reach a state of operational readiness. And all this is happening in India’s neighbourhood. 

With progress of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), starting from Gwadar Port, and China having provided naval warships to Pakistan for the site’s protection, India needs to star .. acting fast to better secure its areas with the growing military presence of China around it. 

While experts said India has the experience in operating the air wings from carriers, what is badly needed for the Vikramaditya and future carriers is protection and support against submarines. This can be done in the form of a carrier battle group. "This means more ships and anti-submarine helicopters," said a Naval expert. 

"An aircraft carrier never sails alone. It is a high value unit, so one needs other ships and anti-submarine helicopters to protect it," added the expert. 
 .. 

A problem point for India is it currently has a minimal number of anti-submarine helicopters, meant to provide close support to the carrier and its group. "The issue is not that we don’t know how to protect our carriers, the issue is regarding such helicopters. To be combat-worthy, merely having an aircraft carrier and an air wing is not enough, we need a support system," explained another expert. 

The need for this system becomes increasingly important keeping in view China’s recent naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, which India considers as its backyard. The Indian Navy has also sighted Chinese nuclear submarines in the region. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil 

Lanba had stated in December last year that a Chinese nuclear submarine had done a port call in Karachi. Soon thereafter satellite images of Chinese nuclear submarines docking in Karachi were made public on Twitter. 

Nation's enemy is our enemy: Ex-IAF man's sons disown him

The two sons of ex-IAF airman Ghouse Mohammad Khan, who is allegedly part of the Islamic State-inspired module, have disowned their father following his arrest on Thursday saying that they came to know about his terror links only through media reports.

The development comes a day after the father of Saifullah, suspected to be a member of the same module and who was killed in an operation by ATS, had disowned him for his alleged links with terrorist activities.

Khan's sons Abdul Qadir and Abdul Adil said, "One who is an enemy of the nation is also an enemy of ours. Now, we have no relationship with our father. The law is free to take its course against him."

"For the past two years, we have had no information about him. He didn't even bother to know whether we were alive or dead," they added. They said that their father, who retired in the 1990s from the Indian Air Force, used to spend most of his time in Lucknow.They added that the family members had no knowledge regarding his activities there.

Khan, hailing from Bachrawan area of Rae Bareli, settled in Jajmau in Kanpur along with his family -- which includes his wife, two sons and two daughters -- about five years ago. Sleuths of Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) have recorded the statements of the two sons and other relatives and friends of Khan.

Sri Lanka’s Fighter Selection – An Opportunity for India

In August 2016, the Sri Lankan government made the announcement that it was seeking to procure between eight and 12 combat aircraft to replace its ageing air force assets. While there has been much speculation about Sri Lanka’s choice – with the Sino-Pak JF-17 reportedly being strongly pushed by Pakistan – it is suggested that this selection process can offer India a unique opportunity both to strengthen military ties with Sri Lanka as well as to make a breakthrough into the aviation export market.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is facing the prospect of being without a single combat aircraft, despite operating a force with three dedicated combat aircraft squadrons – No.5 with F-7G, the No. 10 with the Kfir C.2/7, and No. 12 with the MiG-27M. The Sri Lankan government revealed that, by August 2016, only a single Kfir (out of seven survivors) was operational, while none of the F.7Gs and MiG-27Ms were operational.1 Cabinet Spokesman and Parliamentary Reforms and Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka expressed the situation in stark terms:

“At the moment, only one Kfir aircraft – the remaining six aircrafts cannot be used. We have seven MIG aircrafts and eight other aircrafts but none of them can be used. The Government will consider all offers and select a suitable one…”2

While the government’s official position is that the fleet requirements have not yet been finalized, it is apparent that the SLAF is seeking multi-role combat aircraft to replace its current fleet.3 Aircraft manufacturers will be courting the SLAF. With the JF-17 being pushed strongly, one may soon witness the Russians and Swedes entering the fray with a variant of either the MiG-29 or the Su-27 and the Gripen, respectively. For its part, India may be in a position to use its unique diplomatic and geographic proximity to offer two products – the Tejas and the Advanced Hawk – as possible contenders to meet the SLAF requirement.

It should be noted that India’s foray into military aviation exports has been plagued by missteps, shortfalls in support and poor communications. The sale of Dhruv helicopters to Ecuador was widely hailed, and rightly so, as a major breakthrough for Indian arms export. However, after a number of crashes (several of which were caused by pilot error), the helicopters were withdrawn from use, citing, among other things, poor spares support from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).4 The sale of Chetaks to Suriname was plagued by poor contract management and “financial and administrative obstacles”, which led to the helicopters being ready long before pilots were ready to be trained, leading to a delay in delivery of the helicopters.5 Subsequent supplies of aircraft have been gifts or heavily discounted sales of Chetak and Dhruv helicopters and Dornier Do-228 surveillance aircraft to the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Nepal and Bhutan.

Yet, unlike sales to Ecuador and Suriname, India is geographically proximate to Sri Lanka and, if an Indian choice is made, use can be made of Indian Air Force support facilities. Furthermore, India has had a somewhat low-key but nonetheless important role in equipping the SLAF. In the past, India had provided 24 L-70 guns, 24 battle-field surveillance radars, 11 upgraded Super Fledermaus radars, four Indra- I & II radars and 10 mine-protected vehicles to assist in the defence of SLAF air bases. These proved useful against air attack by the former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)’s air wing consisting of armed microlight aircraft as well as from LTTE infiltrators.6 India is already a major supplier to the Sri Lankan Navy with two 105m Offshore Patrol Vessels under construction at Goa.7

Should the SLAF desire a supersonic multi-role aircraft, India’s Tejas Mk.1, despite its still being in the developmental phase, could be a viable option. The aircraft has already demonstrated significant capabilities in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles and the limited number of aircraft being sought by the SLAF lends itself to relatively easy accommodation with HAL’s production schedule and capacity. Moreover, as the Indian Air Force will be undertaking training and conversion activities with the type, Sri Lanka could benefit from this process.

On the other hand, if the SLAF is seeking a cost-effective multi-role aircraft with a relatively low operating cost – and is willing to forego the “prestige” of supersonic aircraft - then the BAE-HAL Advanced Hawk has the potential to meet this requirement. The Advanced Hawk has significant combat capabilities with provision for Brimstone air-to-ground missiles and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles.8 As a subsonic aircraft with a dual training role, the operating costs of the Advanced Hawk would inevitably be lower than any supersonic combat aircraft while still offering substantial combat capability. This combination of capability and cost-effectiveness is an important consideration given the SLAF’s problems with its existing combat assets and the acquisition and operating costs of modern supersonic aircraft.9 In addition, the large fleet of BAE Hawks operated by the Indian Air Force and the strong overhaul and maintenance facilities available in India could make the Advanced Hawk attractive to the SLAF.

If India is desirous of securing this order, it must not treat it as a purely transactional arrangement. The export of Indian combat aircraft would be a major step forward for Indian arms exports and, as such, India should be flexible in respect of prices. India should also not hesitate to offer attractive financing packages and lines of credit at low interest rates to encourage Sri Lanka to “buy Indian” – the lack of such packages reportedly playing a role in the SLAF declining a Pakistani offer of the JF-17.10

From all angles – political, economic, diplomatic and military – India is in a position to meet the SLAF’s potential combat aircraft requirements. It is a rare confluence of circumstances that has the potential to operate in India’s favour if the Indian political, bureaucratic and military-industrial leadership has the will and desire to see a sale of Indian combat aircraft to Sri Lanka become a reality.

Warning for India: Chinese air force inducts new stealth fighter ahead of schedule

China has put into service its fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter that many experts say will give the PLA Air Force a massive firepower boost, state media reported on Thursday.

The fighter was earlier thought to be combat ready only by 2019. But the secretive J-20 stealth fighter - a fifth-generation jet that Chinese analysts claim is on a par with the US F-22 - had entered service, an official military channel reported late on Thursday, Reuters reported.

In September, Chinese social media websites showed photos of the J-20 being deployed in southwestern Sichuan province on the Tibetan plateau - not far from the border with India.

The PLA website however then denied those reports, saying the jet was still undergoing trials and was likely to first be deployed on the plains. The PLA said then that the Tibetan plateau was an unlikely site for its first deployment as its airports weren't even ready to accommodate the fifth-generation fighter.


J-20 DEPLOYED IN TIBET?

Thursday's report did not provide details on where the fighter will likely be deployed. Last year, a photograph supposedly showing the fighter at the Daocheng Yading airport, which was shared on social media websites but not verified, had led to media reports suggesting the J-20 had been deployed in Tibet.

The Yading airport is located in Sichuan province, not in the Tibet Autonomous Region but in a prefecture bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). It is China's highest airport. Much of the PLA's air force deployments aimed at India are located in five civilian and military airports in the TAR.

"It is said that J-20 will be put into service soon but the China-India border is apparently not the ideal place for its deployment. In addition, the world's highest airport there does not have a complete set of supporting facilities and such shortage will impede the function of J-20," said a report published on a website of the PLA, China Military Online, which usually carries officially-sanctioned reports and statements.

"J-20 will not be deployed in Daocheng Yading airport as the airport is too close to the border, and it is vulnerable to India's first wave hit. If India is to deploy BrahMos missile on the China-India border, then the Daocheng Yading airport will likely to become its target," the report suggested.


HIGH-ALTITUDE OPERATIONS

China's other advanced fighters, such as the Su-27 which is also used by India, and the J-10 had been modified and acclimatised to high-altitude operations, the PLA website reported. Despite China's massive infrastructure developments in Tibet, the report claimed India had been more aggressive on its border deployments, including C-130 transport planes from the US and Heron unmanned aerial vehicles, not to mention the BrahMos.

At the same time, it concluded, "India is not yet the biggest threat for China and though confrontation events along the border would occur from time to time, the overall situation is rather stable. In this way, China does not put too much emphasis and focus targeting India."

Indian Navy to be without minesweepers for at least 3 years

The Indian Navy will be without a single minesweeper till 2021 as the existing fleet of 6 vessels will be decommissioned by next year, a parliamentary panel report has revealed.

Navies use minesweepers to keep sea lanes mine-free, secure major harbours and destroy minefields near enemy shores while undertaking offensive action.

India could sign a Rs 32,640-crore deal with a South Korean shipyard for building 12 mine countermeasure vessels (MCMVs) in the country by March 31, but the first of those are likely to be delivered only in 2021. Any delay in hammering out the deal could further upset the navy’s calculations.

In its latest report tabled in Parliament, the standing committee on defence asked the government to make “sincere and concerted efforts” to equip the navy with the critical capability.

“The MCMVs are slated for de-induction by 2016-2018. 2016 has already passed and moreover, building the MCMVs will also take considerable time. The committee feels that the entire process of procurement of MCMVs will be delayed inordinately,” the report said.

The new MCMVs will be built at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in collaboration with Busan-based Kangnam Corporation under the government’s Make in India initiative. Though the deal was supposed to be closed last year, discussions on technology transfer to India caused some delays.

All 12 vessels will be constructed in India, and are expected to have 60% indigenous content. The construction of the first vessel is expected to begin in April 2018, and deliveries likely to be completed between 2021 and 2026.

After scrapping an earlier tender to import minesweeping vessels due to alleged irregularities, the government nominated GSL in February 2015 to build minesweepers in partnership with a foreign shipyard under the Make in India programme.

Until now, the GSL has spent Rs 800 crore on scaling up infrastructure to kick off construction of the vessels.

Facilities are being created for building glass-reinforced plastic hulls, a design that reduces the ship’s magnetic signature and allows safer navigation through waters that could be mined. The minesweepers will have a displacement of 800 to 1,000 tonnes.

Mines are deployed to limit the enemy’s ability to use the sea. These underwater weapons can detonate on contact, or be activated by magnetic and acoustic signatures.

Situation worsens at Indo-Nepal border, thousands gather to pelt stones at Indian soldiers

Tension escalated at the Indo-Nepal border on Friday, a day after a Nepalese citizen was allegedly killed in firing by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans as arguments between the Indian and Nepalese side over what India claimed to be an “illegal bridge” on no man’s land spiralled.

Over 5,000 Nepalese citizens staged protests during the day that saw two SSB officers and a sub-inspector along with a few civilians sustaining injuries in stone-pelting by the agitators. Seven SSB jawans were injured on Thursday too.

The massive crowd dispersed only after the chief district officer (CDO) of Nepal’s Kanchanpur district announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim’s family later in the evening. This came even as the border remained sealed on Friday and the SSB monitored movement on the bordering areas along with Lakhimpur Kheri police. Officials said “a few anti-Indian elements tried to misuse the occasion to create panic among residents of bordering districts.”

In a meeting between Nepalese and Indian officials on Thursday, it had been decided that construction work on the bridge on no man’s land would be stopped permanently and there would be no protests thereafter. However, on Friday thousands of Nepalese nationals gathered near Basahi village of Sampoorna Nagar at border pillar no. 200 and started protesting. They also brought with them the body of the Nepalese citizen who died in the firing on Thursday. Indian officials are yet to confirm the death of the man.

In Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said India has sought from Nepal the postmortem and forensic reports of the Nepalese national allegedly killed in firing by the SSB. “The government of Nepal is being requested through diplomatic channels to share postmortem and forensic reports to facilitate the process,” Baglay said.

Kheri superintendent of police Manoj Kumar Jha told TOI, “We only showed resistance and never hit back. Nepalese protesters were pelting stones at us and a total of 17 persons, including a sub-inspector and two SSB men, were injured. Fortunately, Nepal police also tried to control the situation and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh was announced by the Kanchanpur CDO. The border is still sealed, though the situation is under control.”

Meanwhile, the SSB’s 26th battalion has been put on high alert and the district magistrate of Pilibhit is in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary as well as officials in Nepal. AK Das, SSB’s deputy inspector general, said, “The situation continued to be tense as the Nepal police was finding it difficult to effectively control the agitated local crowd. This was the reason they repeatedly resorted to stone-pelting at the Indian side.”

Das added that SSB’s 26th battalion had been directed to take all precautionary steps in the border district that lies next to Uttarakhand and that officials of the two border districts, Kanchanpur of Nepal and Lakhimpur Kheri in India, had met after the incident and agreed to maintain peace and order. “The Union ministry of home affairs has been informed about the situation as well as the joint proceedings being carried out by officials of the two countries,” he said.