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srai
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by srai »

Originally posted by ASPuar:
but 6 rifles companies do not total to 1200 men.
Good point. Typically, each company (commanded by a captain or a major) has around 120 soldiers in 3 platoons (@40 per platoon commanded by a lieutenant or captain).

My guess would be that since CI operations are man-intensive (and possibly also because of the shortages in officers in the IA), the RR companies may have more men per unit (either at the platoon level, or have 4-5 platoons per company [which would put it at around 200 soldiers each]) while functioning with slightly less higher-ranking officers. There is probably more JCOs assigned per captains.

This makes sense because CI operations require more lower-level decision making (as with the special forces). So the traditional army's top-down hierarchical bureaucratic system plays a less significant role here. That means it is possible to make it work with less higher-ranking officers.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Rupak »

Perhaps someone has a detailed TOE, IIRC roughly speaking this is how the RR Bns are organized

Bn HQ = 80 troops
Admin Coy = 150 troops
Support Coy = 200 troops
6 X Rifle Coy = 750 troops
Total = 1180 troops approx

so give or take a few to arrive a more accurate numbers...
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Bishwa »

It gives the numbers of RR , CRPF and BSF bns and i think the approx total is 120 or so. (The mag gives more specific figures). It also says that RR Bns are larger at 1200 men per bn (is this correct?) and there are now five 'Force HQs' in J and K together (Equiv to five divisions!)


Yes there are 5 : K,R,D,V,U Forces. They are the equivalent of a divisional HQ.

But it does not mean that all troops reporting to these forces are always RR troops.

In the past R force had 1 RR sector and additional infantry brigades attached to it.

On the other hand when 8 Mtn Div came to kashmir it had a RR sector attached to it.

Rupaks figures on strength in a RR unit is correct.

The Rifles Companies are the teeth. You also need a tail.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by ASPuar »

Hasnt 8 mtn div always been in kashmir, srinagar specifically? Or was it perhaps headquartered in bareilly back in the 80s?
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Bishwa »

8 Mtn Div moved to Kashmir from Nagaland. Thus it had pior CI experience

It is 6 Mtn Div which is based in Bareilly. It was moved to Kashmir valley during Kargil war. However it did not participate. After the war it was used for CI in Northern Kashmir before being withdrawn.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by ASPuar »

How right you are, Bishwa. Thanks. I had a somewhat personal rason for asking, having being born in Bareilly. :)
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Bishwa »

No problem.

When 8 Mtn Div moved it came with 2 Brigades. This was then augmented by a RR sector and a couple of independent infantry brigades.

The point I am trying to make is that 5 RR Forces does not necessarily translate to 5 Div worth of RR units.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/14/stories/2003121402671000.htm
More troops committed to LoC deployment

By Praveen Swami

POONCH Dec. 13. Indian troops are engaging in unprecedented winter deployment on the Line of Control, in an effort to block the continuing infiltration of terrorists from bases in Pakistan. Soldiers will hold snow-bound posts through the winter, and at least one entire Division is being moved forward to strengthen defences on the LoC.

Troops of the Poonch-based 39 Infantry Division will be used as a human wall along the southern half of the LoC, running from Akhnoor to the Pir Panjal range.

These troops were successfully used through the summer to provide a second line of counter-infiltration defence behind the LoC itself. In a rare interview, the Northern Army commander, Lt. Gen. Hari Prasad, told The Hindu that the new deployment was expected to effect "a reduction in infiltration."

"Terrorists," he said, "will therefore not be able to replenish their numbers, which are diminishing due to ongoing operations in the hinterland."

Sources say the deployment pattern is the outcome of a new emphasis on protecting the LoC, rather than giving primacy to the task of eliminating those who succeeded in infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir.

Troops guarding the LoC have been provided with new, state-of-the-art equipment, such as pressure seniors and hand-held thermal imagers, to detect night-time infiltration.

Some 40 per cent of a fence to guard large swathes of the LoC has already been built, and Indian troops are capitalising on the ongoing ceasefire with Pakistan to speed up work. When complete, the fence will consist of multiple layers of concertina razor-sharp wire, metal spikes, and, most important, electronic sensors which will alert troops to any movement.

Figures suggest the fencing work, although far from complete, is already having some impact. While infiltration estimates prepared by intelligence organisations are impossible to verify, the actual level of combat engagement with infiltrators along the LoC in Poonch district suggests that successful crossings of the LoC have declined.

In November 2001, 17 infiltrators were killed on the LoC in Poonch, and 28 were shot dead in November 2002. This November, the figure fell to just nine. In general, killings on the LoC mirror the actual scale of infiltration.

Unlike in the past, when large groups of terrorists made their way across the LoC, the fencing and new equipment have ensured transgressions generally involve relatively small numbers.

Equipment, of course, is not fool-proof. Hand-held thermal imagers, which detect heat emanating from the human body, are limited by the radiation from rocks and livestock. On the night of November 20, troops of the 15 Maratha Light Infantry detected a group of up to 10 terrorists crossing through the Saujian sector. The subsequent encounter, however, only led to the elimination of one terrorist. The thermal imaging equipment was rendered ineffective by large herds of livestock roaming the area.

Data obtained by The Hindu for sectors controlled by the 25 Punjab Regiment and the 6 Mahar Regiment shows that of the seven crossings of the new fence by terrorists, two led to interdiction, one failed, and four succeeded. Interdiction rates are expected to improve once the fence's electronic components are operational.

Nonetheless, since terrorists now have to cut the fence to get through the LoC, tracing and interdicting them has become easier than it used to be. Intelligence officials will also, on the basis of incidents of fence-cutting, be able to more accurately assess the scale of infiltration than has been possible hitherto. Pakistan's recent protests about the fencing work, which it claims to be a violation of the terms of the 1971 Shimla Agreement, is believed by military planners to be a consequence of this fact. "I agree there cannot be zero infiltration even after the fence is fully in place and operational," Lt. Gen. Prasad said, "but the quantum of infiltration will certainly reduce substantially."

Infiltration has also become difficult since Pakistani troops are no longer firing to cover the movement of terrorists from across the LoC.

Since the ceasefire began, there has only been one fire contact actually on the LoC, in the Lipa Valley area. Pakistani troops did not respond to fire. Indian soldiers subsequently found blood-trails leading back to the Pakistani side of the LoC. Lt. Gen. Prasad, however, refused to comment on how long he expected the ceasefire to hold. "Your guess is as good as mine," he said. "It all depends on the intentions of Pakistan. If they want to keep the proxy war going in Jammu and Kashmir, they will have to continue infiltrating terrorists."
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

Posted first by nabhendu
Delhi bid to beef up SSB

RAJEEV BHATTACHARYYA

New Delhi, Dec. 18: The Special Services Bureau (SSB), which has been assigned the task of policing the volatile Indo-Bhutan border, is likely to get a few more battalions.

The proposal is part of Delhi’s strategy to improve management of the country’s borders. A source in the Union home ministry said as many as 12 new battalions could be added to the SSB.

“This expansion is required for various reasons. Firstly, the SSB has the unenviable task of guarding both the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders. Both the borders are sensitive and frequented by militants and smugglers,” the source said.

The SSB’s role in guarding the 370-km Indo-Bhutan border assumes more importance in view of the ongoing operation by the Bhutan Royal Army to flush out militants of the Northeast from the Himalayan kingdom.

Though it is almost certain that all the camps will be dismantled, it will be a challenging task to prevent further attempts by the militants to sneak into the jungles and re-establish their bases.

The present strength of the SSB is about 30,000, which makes it the third largest paramilitary organisation in the country. Once its expansion is completed, the manpower will increase to over 40,000.

An official said the proposed addition of new battalions was part of the overall modifications being planned to tackle militancy in the region. The Union home ministry is planning to assign the task of combating militants to the Assam Rifles and the CRPF, while the BSF and the SSB will be asked to focus on the frontiers.

Created under the Cabinet Secretariat in 1963 and brought under the Union home ministry only two years ago, the SSB is supposed to have expertise in gathering intelligence, which distinguishes it from other paramilitary units.

It was initially deployed in the areas near the Indo-China border, where it trained the local populace in handling arms and ammunition.

Union minister of state for home in charge of the Northeast, Swami Chinmayanand, said the process of recruitment to the proposed new battalions of the SSB would begin shortly. “The decks have been cleared and the process will be initiated soon,” he said.

The minister indicated that once the operation by the Royal Bhutan Army was over, Delhi would do an “evaluation” of the security requirements along the border.

“It is necessary to ascertain the kind of infrastructure that will be required to check illegal activities. This includes an estimate of the number of outposts that need to be set up and identification of the strategic points where these should be located,” he said.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

Did not know where to post this:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/372428.cms
A 'force' to reckon with, this R-Day
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2003 08:12:22 AM ]

GANDHINAGAR: The Narendra Modi government has decided to mark the Republic Day celebrations by commissioning the much-hyped Chetak Commando Force.

A top home department source told TNN here on Friday that 160 commandos are currently being trained at the Karai police academy near Gandhinagar to tackle terrorists and secure the state's sensitive spots.

Nationalist symbols will be highlighted at the Republic Day celebrations slated to take place in Jamnagar . The armed forces are likely to be involved in a big way at the parade.

Chetak was the dearest horse of Maharana Pratap, who challenged the powerful Moghul empire. "The Chetak commandos wear dark blue uniform, and will look much like the black commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG)," a senior official said, adding, "It will be responsible for all VVIP security in Gandhinagar. It will also safeguard key state installations."

Interestingly, however, Modi's security will not be transferred to the Chetak Commandos and will continue to be with the NSG commandos. The formation of the force was one of the major electoral promises of the BJP.

The commando force, which will operate with semi-automatic weapons, will increase its strength to 300 over the next couple of months.

The commando personnel being trained at Karai for the last four months are the cream of the state reserve police (SRP). The idea was mooted as the BJP felt SRP jawans were unable to fight terrorist forces.

Government officials have held a series of meetings with local interests in Jamnagar in an effort to involve all sections of society, including the Opposition Congress, which boycotted the Independence Day celebrations at Patan.

A cricket match in the presence of some of the best-known cricketers with Jamnagar connection, and cultural programmes will also be part of the celebrations.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03dec19/news.htm
Centre nod to Gujjar Scouts in J&K NEW DELHI, Dec 18: The Government has given its approval to raise a new force comprising Gujjars and Bakkarwals of Jammu and Kashmir for deployment on the difficult terrains of the State to check infiltration from Pakistan and take on mercenaries and local militants in these areas.

The force to be named as the Gujjar scouts will be formed on the pattern of Ladakh scouts and attached to an Army unit.

Official sources told UNI that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will soon meet and approve this decision.

The sources said the Gujjar scouts will be drawn from 1000 youngsters of the Gujjar and Bakkarwal community who are the worst-affected people in the State.

The scouts will be trained in anti-insurgency operations and armed with the state-of-the-art equipment. They will be deployed on the higher reaches and their job will be to seek and destroy the ‘Jehadis’ hiding in these areas, the sources said.

Being the residents of these areas, the Gujjar and Bakkarwal youth are well conversant with the topography and would be put on the grid with the nearest Army or BSF unit, the sources said, adding the move will ensure that those

recruited have a stake in fighting terrorism in the State.

The Army’s top brass had pointed out that by employing locals, the forces would get better intelligence which would translate into better results. The intimate knowledge of the terrain which locals have will also come in handy during operations, the sources said.

The sources said the need for such a force was felt during the May

2003 "operation Sarpvinash" in the HillKaka forests in Surankote area of Jammu division.

They said the militants had set up bases in the area for the past four years and that there were at least 10 such places on the Pir Panjal ranges where the ultras had built well-fortified bunkers.

Media reports then suggested the Government officials were surprised that the security forces conducting counter-insurgency operations in the State had very little idea about such deep penetration by militants, mainly mercenaries, and that it was for the first time that the Army Chief had brought it to the notice of the CCS.

The sources said the strategy of the mercenaries is to lie low, build up their strength to the optimum level and in due course of time confront the security forces all along the Jammu-Srinagar highway and create safe zones in the forests of Surankote, Thana Mandi, Kalakote and other areas.

The next move of the militants would be to carry out mass killing in areas like Doda, starting at the Synthan Pass connecting Verinag to Kishtwar, Bhadarwah and Doda itself, to make it conform to the Chenab formula of Sir Owen Dixon, which envisaged partition of the State with areas north of the Chenab going to Pakistan, they added.

Their another objective, the sources said, has been to keep the infiltration routes in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch free from any Army intervention by terrorising the Muslim Gujjar population.

The sources said locals of remote mountain village of Marrah in Poonch district put up a strong defence against the Lashkar-e-Toiba jehadis operating in the area.

Early this year, the villagers of Marrah revolted against the atrocities comitted by militants and formed a ‘vigilante Army’ which called itself the Pir Panjal scouts.

The Pir Panjal scouts, along with the Army, drove the ultras out of the HillKaka bowl, their base above Marrah. The village now has over 50 armed volunteers to defend it, and no militants have visited it since August.

The Government in 1963 had formed the Ladakh scouts in the wake of 1962 war against China.

The Ladakh scouts or the "snow Tigers", comprising local Buddhists and Tibetan commandos, is one of the Army’s most decorated units with more than 300 gallantry awards to its credit, including one Ashok Chakra, ten Mahavir Chakras and two Kirti Chakras.

It was the first unit of the Indian Army to successfully launch the counter strike against Pakistani incursions in the 1999 Kargil operations in the Batalik sector. (UNI)
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03dec23/news.htm
Army to raise TA Bns, units of surrendered militants

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: In a move aimed at ensuring the safety of people living near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir from armed infiltrators, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the Army’s proposal for raising six Territorial Army battalions.

The Cabinet also gave the green signal to the raising of a separate Army battalion comprising surrendered militants, labelled in local parleys as ‘Ikhwanis’ to provide them gainful employment and give them means for self-defence.

The battalions, to be raised over a period of one year, would draw manpower from the border areas and would be essentially tasked to protect their ‘home and hearth’ on and near the LoC from marauding terrorists, a Defence Ministry spokesman here today said.

"The TA battalions would also be tasked to keep a vigil on the LoC and address environmental concerns", he said. Unlike the majority of TA units who constitute a part time force, the personnel of these battalions would be embodied to TA units outside the states to enable them draw full salary.

So far, the surrendered militants, whose figures have dwindled alarmingly from a peak of over 3,500 in 1994-95 to just a few hundred in 2003, have only been given rehabilitation packages in fits and starts.

They have been getting only meagre sustenance allowance, but with the ccs clearing the proposal to band them together as well equipped infantry battalions, these surrendered militants will now be eligible for receiving regular salaries as also special allowances for undertaking scouting work in anti-militancy operations.

Army sources said of the six TA battalions being raised, four would be based in vulnerable areas of Jammu in Basholi, Brahmana Di Bari, Kishtwar-Bhaderwah and Poonch- Rajouri sector and two in Kashmir valley in Kupwara-Baramulla sector and in district headquarters of Anantnag in south Kashmir.

The raising of two battalions to be based at Basholi and Brahmana Di Bari assume significance as both these places straddle the key Jammu-Pathankot highway from where the International Border with Pakistan is just a few kilometres away and which have been a scene of spate of terrorists hits recently. (PTI)
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Jagan »

Originally posted by Jagan:
The December issue of Force has soem good details on the numbers in Kashmir. IIRC it states that

It gives the numbers of RR , CRPF and BSF bns and i think the approx total is 120 or so. (The mag gives more specific figures). It also says that RR Bns are larger at 1200 men per bn (is this correct?) and there are now five 'Force HQs' in J and K together (Equiv to five divisions!)
Add 7 ITBP Bns to the above
Srinagar, June 26- Sh. S.C. Chaube, D.G, ITBP visited ITBP units from 12 June to 15 June deployed in the Kashmir Valley for curbing militancy. He reviewed the preparedness of the ITBP units in CI Ops, ROP duties and security of Jawahar Tunnel. He inspected 4th,6th,7th, 8th, 11th, 14th, and 22nd Battalions of ITBP along with Sector Hqr J&K-1,2 and the office of IG Zone during his visit.
However three of the ITBP Bns will be replaced by CRPF
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/04jan22/news.htm

CRPF to deploy 9 more Bns in Srinagar

NEW DELHI, Jan 21: After replacing eight border security force battalions in Srinagar, CRPF will soon induct nine more battalions as part of the process to phase out BSF and ITBP from internal security duty in the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir by 2005.

Nine battalions of CRPF have been readied to be moved to Srinagar to replace six battalions of BSF and three of ITBP, CRPF Additional Director General Himanashu Kumar told reporters here after reviewing its

contingents that will take part in the Republic Day parade.

"The task is expected to be accomplished soon and we hope to completely substitute BSF and ITBP in Srinager by 2005", he said adding CRPF has already replaced eight battalions in Srinagar and five BSF battalions in Manipur recently.

Asserting that the force played a crucial role in the anti-Naxalite operations across the country, he said following a central coordination committee decision in November, 11 more CRPF battalions have been deployed in Naxalite-affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chattisgarh raising the deployment in the states to 21 battalions.(PTI)
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

I want to know what is the exact relationship between the SFF and the Vikas Regiment. I think there is a general opinion that they are just two names for the same force. That is wrong, because we know that the Vikas Regiment has non-Tibetan personnel too.

I think the "Vikas Regiment" is a framework that allows the SFF to be used for India's own ops. Right now of course it is under the MHA like NSG, SSB, CISF etc.

The JAK Rif was also under the MHA under very recently.

Force Feb 2004 has a cover story on Paramils:

BSF
ITBP
AR
CRPF
NSG

+ a couple of articles on the Civil Defence and Home Guard ad also interview with CG chief.

Info on BSF air wing, arty wing, BOPs etc. The BSF got their Mi-17s in Nov 2003 itself.

http://www.forceindia.net/

CISF should have been covered. The SSB though has had a couple of articles earlier recently.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

There was a news item in a paper(s) couple of days back according to which the IA is creating another new corps in the Northern command. Cant find a link.

Under the scheme responsibility of the LoC/IB and the hinterland will become exclusive reponsibilities of the news corps. The Ladakh based Corps will continue as it is.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40612
Divided over unified command

-K Governor pitches for Army, Home Ministry turns down plea

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 6: The Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down a request by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha who sought a greater role for the Army in the Unified Command to handle counter-insurgency operations in the state.

In a 12-page letter to the MHA, Sinha had stated that Udhampur-based Army Commander (Northern Command) should be a part of the Unified Headquarters (UHQ). The UHQ is currently headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

It is understood that Sinha cited the example of Assam — where he served his last term as Governor — to pitch the case of the Northern Army Commander being made the Vice-Chairman of the UHQ. In fact, the UHQ in Assam has the Eastern Army Commander as its Vice-Chairman.

Sources said that Army Chief Gen N.C. Vij also followed up by writing a letter to the MHA along similar lines. The MHA, after discussing the issue with the Chief Minister, had replied in the negative to both, saying there was no reason to change the existing system. The decision has the approval of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.

At present, General Officers Commanding 15 and 16 Corps, based at Srinagar and Nagrota in Jammu, respectively are members of the UHQ as Security Advisors to the Chairman. Apart from the State Chief Secretary, Inspector Generals of BSF and CRPF in J-K are also part of the UHQ.

Sources said the Governor had written the letter following recommendations by a committee headed by A.K. Bhandari, former special secretary (J-K) in the Home Ministry.

The committee — which had representatives from the state government, Army, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies — had suggested multi-layered security in the state with reduced role for the Army in counter-insurgency and internal security.

Sinha, in his letter, even suggested the setting up of a separate committee — in addition to the UHQ — without any political elements. ‘‘He recommended a much greater coordination between the paramilitary forces deployed in J-K — the CRPF and the BSF — and the Army. He said it would translate into improved security scenario and intelligence,’’ the sources said.

The Chief of Army Staff, for that matter, had recommended that the BSF and the CRPF should be under complete command of the Army in the state. At present, they are only under ‘‘operational command’’ of the Army. According to sources, the Army chief stated that various security agencies working under differing rules of engagement and legislated authority did not induce coherence.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Sanjay »

Will try to e-mail Jagan and co. the SF and COIN/Paramil articles from Force.

I have them and will be delighted to send them.

Aditya.g asked about the Assam Rifles - things aren't too good right now. Compared to the RR units, the army has treated the AR as a lower priority for reorganization and re-equipment.

Some of the officers in the AR are worried about certain discipline issues regarding the "policing" role they've been playing from time to time.

AR is also caught between the MoD and the MHA - neither fish nor fowl.

It has not put forward as aggressive or proactive reequipment program as the other forces. Mind you, they are well trained and impressive performers.

Yet, they are expanding and will continue to play a vital COIN role. But I fear that unless they are treated in the same way as the RR, they will lose the remains of their army character and degenerate especially if the MHA gets their hands on them.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

Sanjay,

Can you please tell us a bit about the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP)?

What is the difference between the two?
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

15 Feb 2004: Changing the title of this thread:</font>
Old= Changing Compositon of COIN forces in J&K
New= Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces </FONT>
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Sanjay »

GRP - state run
RPF - central govt run under min of railways.

Both forces very poor performers compared to their overall potential.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Sukumar »

The idea of raising a "Gujjar Scouts" is brilliant. The IA has used the Gujjars regularly for scouting and intelligence. This will make it more formal as well as provide these scouts with the right training.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Rajit »

Aditya, SFF/Vikas is under Cabinet Secratariat aka RAW, not MHA.

God help us if the MHA ever gets hold of it.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Sunil »

The decision to raise a Gujjar Scouts is an interesting one and speaks to a rising degree of support of IA ops in the region.

Scouts formations are generally raised to build on local support for law enforcement. Usually the scouts draw on the locals for manpower, officers and non-coms are either provided from other formations, or in some cases the leading families of the area are approached for help.

It is important to distinguish a scouts formation from a Village Defence Committee. A VDC isn't as well trained and it is localized to a village (and the surrounding region). Most scouts come with special abilities, for example, ladakh scouts people tend to have very favorable qualities when it comes HAA. The scouts formation offers much needed employment and enhances the feeling of security that people desire.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by RayC »

Scouts were raised from locals to work as Stay Behind Parties in the event of territory being overrun by the enemy. They were to operate from prelocated caches. This was post 1962.

Now, they are as good as enyone else as normal infantry. The officers are from affiliated Regiments.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by RayC »

Border Management enlarges the scope to beyond the borders and into the hinterland; not only the immediate hinterland and well inside since it is not a purely military problem, but that which encompasses the foreign assisted terrorists and their collaborators within the country. The security or the border is but an extension of the security of the interior. What all agencies are responsible for internal and external security?

What encompasses Border Management?

It encompasses:

" Security beyond the immediate border. That is, to ensure that inimical elements are not congregating/ propagating anti Indian sentiments.
" Security at the border.
" Security in the immediate hinterland to the border.
" Security within the country where the terrorists have their reach.

To look at each segment in isolation brings out wrong conclusions and grandiose ideas like having 8 Strike Corps and their like. If that was so, the Defence Budget would 'eat up' everything else. Surely that would not make Indian Shining.

To my mind (and I could be very wrong) it would be asinine to dismember Pakistan or even 'capture' it. That is but an illusion. I am aware that I will be hauled over the coals for this statement, but stop looking at a School Atlas. Look at a metre map and along with it the military resources and real-politics.

I am emphasising this since many a grandiose schemes have been advocated like reaching the Indus by D plus 4. That is pure day dreams and of those who have no concept of the ground realities. One must understand the nitty gritty of conducting warfare to realise that fantasying is stupid to put it mildly.. Indeed, if that was possible, I am sure our Generals would not have been devoid of the intelligence that our forum members have. They would have ssurely taken the guidance of those who are more brilliant them out here.

Much that I hate to be a Devils Advocate lets see some great educated post so that the Generals learn; many of them I have asked to watch this site for sheer education since good views come out of this forum.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

RayC,

Are there any long term plans to convert the Ladakh Scouts into a regiment or maybe merged with the JAK LI? What is their approximate strength these days?

What exactly is the military meaning of a "Scout"?

ToI - No Gujarat regiment, says George

A more detailed article -

MidDay: Gujaratis are not martial enough: Army
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Priyank »

The Ladakh scouts have been converted into an infantry regiment now. This was done some time after the Kargil war.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

Hmm are you sure that your are not confusing the Ladakh Scouts with the NLI (Pak Army).

Aditya, SFF/Vikas is under Cabinet Secratariat aka RAW, not MHA.

thanx, i did not realise that these were different! :o
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Priyank »

I distinctly remember reading about the Ladakh scouts being made into a full fledeged regiment after the Kargil war. Anyway, here is what google comes up with on the topic :-
In September 2000 the Indian Government approved a proposal to restructure the Ladakh Scouts, on the lines of infantry regimental centers. This paved the way for raising more battalions ... With the up gradation of status for the Ladakh Scouts, Indian Army would be left with only three scout units -- Garhwal and Kumaon Scouts deployed on Indo-Tibet border, and a small detachment of Dogra Scouts. With this restructuring, the regiment of Ladakh Scouts obtained the same status as other regiments of the Indian Army
This is from global security (link).
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Hinudtan Times. No URL
After J&K, Armoured regiments off to HP

(HT Chandigarh, March 15, no archives)
Man Aman Singh Chhina
Chandigarh, March 14

IN A departure from tradition, the Indian Army has started deploying Armoured regiments in Infantry locations at high-altitude field areas. To begin with, a Cavalry regiment and a Mechanised Infantry battalion based in plains of the Western Command have been moved to the Sugar Sector (Kinnaur district) in Himachal Pradesh.

The Cavalry regiment and Mechanised battalion could not, of course, take their tanks and Infantry combat vehicles along with them and the armour has remained in its respective permanent locations. A contingent of troops has stayed back to look after them, while the tank men meander around in the mountains sans their iron steeds. Their tenure would last six months each, inform sources.

Army sources say the concept is the brainwave of Chief of Army Staff General N.C. Vij, who thought that the Dogra Scouts based in the Sugar Sector had remained there for long enough. The Dogra Scouts have been moved to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Army Chief, who is also the Colonel of the Dogra Regiment and Dogra Scouts, decreed that Armoured regiments and Mechanised Infantry battalions would now have to take turns in holding the fort, while Dogra Scouts do their J&K tenure.

Needless to say, the move has attracted criticism and applause alike from military circles. While senior officers of the Armoured Corps are shaking their heads in dismay, wondering what good an Armoured regiment can do in the high-altitude desert of the Sugar Sector, the Infantrymen say the rough terrain will do the Cavalry boys some measure of good.

Meanwhile, the Armoured and Mechanised troops are reportedly undertaking only short patrols along the Indo-Tibetan borders, as they are not equipped or trained for long-range border patrols. Also, if any conflict-like situation were to take place, these Armoured and Mechanised units would come back to their peace stations and be replaced by the Infantry.

However, there is one small detail that has been overlooked while moving the Dogra Scouts out.

The concept of Scouts, which includes Dogra, Kumaon, Garhwal and Ladakh Scouts, is that the troops are recruited from the local populace and serve in the border states overlooking the Indo-Tibet border. This logic has been turned on its head by the new directives of the Army Headquarters. In a similar move a few years back, the Army had started sending Armoured regiments into Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations after mothballing their tanks. However, the practice was stopped due to its ineffectiveness.

Also, the mobilisation during the Kargil conflict in 1999 led to these units being reverted to their conventional roles. Now, officers and jawans from the Armoured corps are sent on extra-regimental assignments to the Rashtriya Rifles in batches.
(Via author)
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/180304/detNAT01.shtml
MHA opposes new battalions

Chandan Nandy (New Delhi, March 17)

The Defence ministry's proposal to raise 12 new battalions of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) is being hotly opposed by the home ministry.

The RR is under the administrative control of the army. The defence ministry wants to raise six RR battalions this year and six more next year for counter-terrorism operations in J&K.

But the home ministry says the move would lead to "wasteful expenditure" at a time when the state can well do without more troops.

The matter has gone to the finance ministry, which will examine the financial viability of the scheme. The Cabinet Committee on Security will take the final decision.

North Block bureaucrats are understood to have told their counterparts in South Block that there is no need for more battalions.

Their argument is that maintaining the present level of troops would help boost confidence between India and Pakistan.

Besides, the home ministry feels there are adequate number of central paramilitary forces in J&K.

“Does the MoD's proposal mean it wants to continue anti-terrorism operations when it has time and again made it clear that it would engage itself wholly in guarding the borders?” an official asked.

Basically, North Block is a seeking a justification for raising 12 battalions —which will mean an annual expenditure of about Rs 12 crore. This apart, the initial cost of raising the battalions will be Rs 60-70 crore.

The defence ministry, however, says the extra RR battalions would free the Army's regular troops.

The defence ministry and Army officers argued that last year the Centre had decided the Army would play a leading role in counter-terror operations in J&K.

Tug of war

REQUEST: Defence ministry wants to raise 12 new RR battalions

CENSURE: Home ministry says it’s wasteful expenditure as there’s no need for more troops

FINAL SAY: Finance ministry is looking at financial viability. CCS will take a decision
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by advitya »

Aditya
Look at this:

http://mod.nic.in/pressreleases/content.asp?id=677
New Battalions of Rashtriya Rifes


March 18, 2004
Magha 28, 1925
New Delhi


A national English daily has published a report today that the proposal of the Defence Ministry to raise new battalions of Rashtriya Rifles is being opposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report is not correct.

The new raising are being implemented, as planned, on schedule. Three battalions are in the process of being raised and nine more are being raised as planned.

There has been close cooperation between the Ministry of

Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs in all matters affecting national security, particularly, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Rashtriya Rifles have an important role in combating terrorism and counter Insurgency

operations. Being manned entirely by army personnel, the Rashtriya Rifles have been intimately involved in counter insurgency operations since inception. Due to this, they have developed a unique capability and ethos making them a very effective force. Besides, the Rashtriya Rifles will

provide necessary backup to the regular army formations in a conventional role, should the need arise.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Adi »

Ah, the day a release will state "We have also noted the speculation and concern that this report has triggered on a leading defence website. We would like to assure members of Bharat Rakshak that there is an unprecedented synergy and convergence on all matters between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs."

Here's dreaming... :D
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Thank you for that update advitya; seems that the MHA babus saved some of their H&D by asking the MoD to issue a denial instead.

Some general info on Village Defence Committees:

http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2003/kashmir20031213b.html
Village panels play key role in blocking terrorists' routes

13 December 2003
The Hindu
Luv Puri

RAJOURI: The newly-constituted Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have started playing an important role in blocking the movement of terrorists at strategic points in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

The VDCs, mooted as a self-defence mechanism in the mid-Nineties, did not evoke much response. In a focussed campaign, particularly in the Muslim-dominated Rajouri-Poonch belt, the security forces have now been able to establish VDCs in strategic points where there is free movement of terrorists. For instance, in many sensitive areas such as Marah, Draba and Surankote town where terrorists used to pass through with ease, the VDCs have made a great difference. The handpicking of some areas for setting up VDCs has paid rich dividends as it has blocked routes to various other terrorists-infested parts of Jammu or even Kashmir and now the militants have to take longer routes to reach their destinations. In Marrah area of Poonch district, 38 VDC members, mostly Muslims, have blocked the routes terrorists take and now the latter have to trek an additional 15 to 20 km. In the Draba area in the same district, the VDC personnel have blocked the terrorists' routes across the mighty Pir Panjal ranges.

In Surankote town, another major crossing and once considered a hub of terrorists, 100 VDC members were recruited in the last two months. The age-profile of the recruits to the VDC ranges from 18 to 75. A week's training is imparted to these men to prepare them for the difficult battle in their own terrain. Senior police officers, however, point out that the VDCs are provided with the archaic .303 rifles, which cannot match the assault weaponry of the terrorists.

The bulk of the newly constituted 200-odd VDC members are Muslims and their identity is kept a secret. They are emerging as the prime providers of information about the movement of terrorists. The security agencies claim that as the local intelligence network of the security forces has been strengthened in these spots, the terrorists are in disarray. A senior police officer said, 'this is a small beginning, but it will encourage others'.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/08/04/stories/2003080400711300.htm
Village defence panels losing ground

Aug 04, 2003

Budhal (Rajouri) Aug 3. Once flaunted as the finest self-protection mechanism in the remote hills of Jammu and Kashmir against militancy, the Village Defence Committees are now fast losing ground due to poor weaponry and lack of support from the authorities.

...
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=9057
JAMMU KILLINGS: Defence Committee ran out of ammo

...

"We would have beaten them back and saved our people, if our ammunition had not exhausted around 3 am after the six-hour-long gunbattle with 30-40 odd heavily armed terrorists in the village," Singh, who was admitted to the Government Medical College hospital here, said.

Singh, who lost his sister and her daughter in the attack, said the militants, mostly foreign mercenaries with long beards, swooped down on Dansal village and cordoned it off, with the assistance of local ultras, around 9 pm on Sunday night.

...
Singh also expressed resentment over the state government not arming VDCs with modern weapons. "We had been given only .303 rifles with 50 rounds each... In the presence of militants who are equipped with sophisticated weapons like AK rifles, Pika gun rocket launchers and grenade launchers".
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/08/09/stories/2003080904171200.htm
Doda's forgotten army

...

Special Police Officers are volunteers, paid just Rs. 1,500 a month. Doda district is policed by some 8,000 SPOs, various assigned to counter-terrorist units of security forces or to Village Defence Committees. Pochhal, for example, has three SPOs in its VDC, and all 10 members share their salaries. "Most of the poorer VDC members", explains Hari Ram, "used to work outside the village as labourers for at least a part of the year. The salary, small as it is, is the only way they can afford not to go." When the SPO scheme gathered momentum in the mid-1990s, volunteers were assured those who performed well would be hired as proper policemen.

From the outset, delayed wage payments marred the SPO scheme, but the promise of a job kept the volunteers going. Now, the strains are starting to tell. Earlier this year, 40 SPOs from the hard-hit village of Thatri mutinied. One, Meher Singh, now works as a cook in a private home in Kishtwar. "I hadn't received my salary for six months", he says bitterly, "and had to watch how people who had never done a day's work were hired as policemen."

...
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/582640.cms
Army in J&K grow more muscles

AARTI TIKOO

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004 04:27:38 AM ]

MAMUN (Pathankot): At a big dusty arena, between T-55 and T-72 tanks, a man who was in the Hizbul Mujahideen marches in, comes to attention and salutes an Indian army officer.

From a small village close to the LoC in Uri, near Baramulla, Altaf Mohd Dar (name changed), the former warrior in the battle to get Kashmir into Pakistan has just vowed to fight for India.

Having returned with 749 (One Bn i guess. What is the TA's TOE?</font>) others from a three-month training course organised for Kashmiri youth recruits into the Territorial Army, Dar is in the final stage of becoming part of the Indian military system.

Now 33, he’s had a long journey here. “I crossed over to Muzzaffarabad (capital of PoK) in 1990 and took up the gun under the spell of the movement for freedom,” he says. He got gradually disillusioned. “I realised Pakistan was misusing Kashmiri Muslims for the revenge they wanted to take. They sent their men from Pakistan and Afghanistan to kill our own Kashmiri brethren,” Dar says.

He gave up militancy in 1995 and since then was jobless. Till he came to know of the army’s offer: they’d decided to raise seven new battalions of the TA and wanted Kashmiris. The normal age-bar limit had been lifted. And there were perks: Dar’s children have been admitted to an army school.

The offer fills a desperate need. Ashfaq Haroon Wani (name changed), 19, a school dropout from Sopore, is another recruit. “We belong to poor families and it’s the power and a joy of living that attracts us to join militancy. But the Indian army has plugged the root cause by employing us,” he says.

“We need to motivate our own people to give up this war of bloodshed,” say the boys. “We can do it.” How, in a region where the Indian army is considered an enemy by many? “We have a Kashmiri Muslim identity, our people would relate to us and trust us. Our first effort would be to wipe out the bad impressions they have about the Indian Army. Show them its link with our safety and employment,” argues Bashir Hamid (name changed), from Baramulla.

“Boys, if you have any questions, please ask without any hitch,” says Col Sanjiv Sood, commanding officer of the armoured regiment. “We’ll be happy if you show inquisitiveness in learning how to use the equipment.”
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Some big news on the SSB i.e. <S>Special Services Bureau</S> Sashashtra Seema Bal.

Things have been moving very fast now across all forces. But I was hoping that the SSB would be merged with the ITBP instead, which would have fulfilled two goals:

(1) Immediately increased the overall size of the ITBP. It is actually shocking how small the ITBP is @ 25 Bns IIRC.

(2) Out of the 25 Bns four are on ROP duty in kashmir. These were reserves and meant to be posted in peacetime locations. Unfortunately now every single ITBP Batt has an operational role. With SSB duties thrown in they would have had better options while rotating troops.

IMHO the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders do need a more visible central prescence, but creating a force for them exclusively is wasting away the manpower.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=43654
A force set to emerge from China border


RITU SARIN

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24: For four decades, a 25,000-strong force has worked in the shadows along India’s border with China. All along, the Government refused to publicly acknowledge its operations in trying to assimilate the population living in the states nearby with the Indian mainstream.

On March 27, when Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani presents colours to the Special Service Bureau (SSB), this will change. Along with a new name, Sashashtra Seema Bal, the SSB will finally leave behind its covert past and emerge as an overt, public force guarding the country’s less sensitive borders.

The force was set up four decades ago in 1963, following the Sino-India conflict, with the agenda of keeping an eye on the areas bordering China. While the SSB charter got a rewrite to a more overt role back in 2001, it is only on March 27—the force’s 41st raising day—that this will be announced with fanfare.

At the SSB’s headquarters in New Delhi, a building out of bounds for journalists till now, hectic preparations are on for the award of colours.

SSB Director General Divakar Prasad told The Indian Express that they got short notice to prepare for the honour. ‘‘All these years our battalions have been deployed along the Chinese border, but now the population has been integrated. Various government agencies have also reached these far-flung areas for development works. The SSB has accomplished its task and moved on.’’

But a 4,000-strong component of the SSB, Prasad admits, will still be involved in intelligence-gathering operations, now along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders. ‘‘The rest of the force has been put through reorientation and training and the men are happy with their new role,’’ he says.

The 2001 amendment in the SSB’s role followed a detailed report by former Home secretary K. Padamanabhaiah recommending the same in view of the lowering in tension along the Sino-India border. Then, post-Kargil, another former Home secretary, Madhav Godbole, recommended policing of the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders by the SSB due to nagging problems of infiltration and smuggling in the areas.

Already, the SSB deployment in some pockets has yielded dividends in terms of recoveries of drugs and other contraband. SSB officials say that unlike the unobtrusive deployment along the states bordering China, the deployment along Nepal and Bhutan has been done with the mutual consent of the two neighbours.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Lok Sabha polls are to be held in J&K. Additional manpower is a must...

http://www.expressindia.com/election/fullestory.php?type=ie&content_id=44661
To build confidence among the citizens and create an atmosphere for free and fair polls, as many as 600 companies of security forces have been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.

...

‘‘To add to the present strength of 40 CRPF battalions, more companies have been sent

...

After BSF, it is CRPF that has a maximum deployment here. With 40 more companies, the present strength of BSF has shot up to 273 as against 272 of CRPF.

Besides these ITBP, SSB and CISF have also deployed their companies in the region. Around 1,099 booths have been identified as highly sensitive while 1,382 are sensitive zones.

In Jammu region, Udhampur tops the list with a maximum of 353 hyper-sensitive booths followed by 233 in Doda 178 in Poonch, 133 in Rajouri and 104 in Kathua.

In four phases 63.76 lakh voters will go to poll for five constituencies. As many as 7,217 polling booth have been formed and 9,500 electronic voting machines have already reached state.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Link from official army site reveals that they have further formalised the role of porters:

http://www.armyinkashmir.org/articles/army_helps.html
Porter Companies- Besides the Army has already raised four porter companies and is in the process of raising 13 more such companies. These Porters are in the S1 and S2 grades. They get a basic pay of Rs 2550 and Rs 2610 per months respectively. They get DA in addition and 10 percent of pay in Field Area and another 5 percent in High Altitude areas. They are primarily being used in border fencing tasks. Each company has a strength of 600 Porters. This means upto 10,200 poor civilian will get employment.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by JCage »

Hi all,

This article is a GOLD MINE. Written by an IPS officer-- the ex head of the BSF- it has amazing details form the horse's mouth of the insurgency in the NE.

Details of how Bangla intell DGFI helped ULFA, how the NSCN got its arms and munitions, how an attempt to use the Kukis as a buffer against the Nagas backfired, how Operation Golden Bird came about, how the ceasefire granted to the Naga terrorists by the GOI was a mistake...

Its got it all! Must read account of the NE.
http://www.usiofindia.org/article_oct_dec03_8.htm
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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Bangladesh and its impact on our borders

http://www.usiofindia.org/article_oct_dec02_4.htm

Boder Surveillance: Can technology help

http://www.usiofindia.org/article_oct_dec03_9.htm

The Insurgency in Manipur
http://www.usiofindia.org/e_n_rammohan.htm
(By the Ex Director BSF)

And a blueprint for COIN in Manipur
http://www.usiofindia.org/article_apr_jun02_7.htm
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

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http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=45024
NEW DELHI: The Army has proposed to raise additional Rashtriya Rifle battalions in J-K thus increasing the present strength to 66 units by June 2005. The plan was approved by Army chief Gen N.C. Vij at the bi-annual Army Commander’s Conference here and will be put in motion by the month-end. The Army is keen to raise several ‘‘home and hearth’’ territorial battalions for the North-East after succesfully implementing the programme in J-K. ‘‘We will recruit men from the states where they will be deployed and will have the advantage of knowing the local language and terrain,’’ said a senior Army official.
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Re: Reorganizing India's COIN & Border Mgmt Forces

Post by Aditya G »

The latest Force confirms that the Ladakh Scouts has indeed been elevated to the status of full-fledged Infantry Regiment. Its Karakorum and Indus wings (name based on their AOR) have been disbanded.

Along with JAK LI and Ladakh Scouts, what is the total number of Infantry Regiments in the Army?

Another snippet -

Sub Sector West, Sub Sector Turtuk and Sub Sector Haneef are the same thing. The last one is what is used today.
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