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Indian Army Raising New Units To Counter China, Pak In Cyber Warfare

By LokMarg 27th April 2023

Amid the rising activities of adversaries China and Pakistan in the online domain to target India, the Indian Army has operationalised new specialist units to counter these threats and challenges under its cyber warfare initiatives.

The decision was taken during the Army Commanders Conference held in the third week of this month headed by Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.
“To safeguard the communication networks and increase preparedness levels in this niche domain, Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) are being raised in Indian Army,” government sources said here.

They said that Cyberspace has emerged as an important component of the military domain both in grey zone warfare as well as conventional operations,” they said.

Highlighting the importance and requirement of such specialist units, the sources said the expansion of cyber warfare capabilities by our adversaries has made the cyber domain more competitive and contested than ever before.

“The Indian Army today is rapidly migrating towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems at all levels,” they said.

Specifying the role of these new units, the sources said: “These organizations will assist the formations to undertake the mandated cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of the Indian Army.”

In the last few years, the Army has taken multiple steps to counter the aggression of adversaries in the form of virtual honey trapping and hacking.

The Defence Cyber Agency is working at the tri-services level to deal with these issues. (ANI)

Indian Army Holds Agniveer Registration Drive In Kashmir

By LokMarg 4th March 2023

Uplona Rashtriya Rifles under the aegis of Haiderbaeg sector Kilo (k) Force organized an Agniveer recruitment registration drive for the youth of Kashmir.

This time there is a change in the recruitment process for Agniveers, candidates will undergo an online entrance examination (CEE) at designated centers, followed by physical fitness tests and then medical tests before the selection.

All unmarried eligible male and female candidates born between October 1, 2002, to April 1, 2006, with requisite educational qualifications can apply to become Agniveer.

The new recruitment process will substantially help the youth.

Before the online entrance examination, there is a mandatory registration process that is needed to enrol the candidates into the scheme. The candidates are advised to register online at the website
www.joinindianarmy.nic.in
at the earliest.

In regards to empowering and employing the local youth and assisting the motivated youth to join the army, Uplona Rashtriya Rifles organized an Agniveer recruitment registration drive where informational, medical, and technical assistance was provided to the local youths for easy registration in the drive.

The session focused on documentation, medical aspects, physical tests, written exams, and aspects of the Agniveer scheme. The stepwise registration process was also explained.

Conducting such events will assist the youth who faced technical issues and help them to move a step forward in achieving their dreams. This also prevents fraud and cyber errors that could happen when the candidates try to enrol themselves online.

The assistance reflects the Army’s continuous support towards for youth to join the ranks thus fostering a healthy relationship supported by the dedication of the aspirants to contribute to nation-building. (ANI)

Army To Buy 307 ATAGS Howitzers

By LokMarg 1st March 2023

In a major stride towards the ‘Make-in-India’ in the defence sector, the Ministry of Defence has received a proposal from Indian Army to buy 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan.

The proposal worth over USD 1 billion has been received from the Indian Army and is under discussion. It is expected to be cleared soon and sent for clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security, defence officials told ANI.
This would be the first order for the indigenous howitzer which can strike targets at around 50 kms and is believed to be the best gun in its class, they said.

The forces have been conducting trials of the gun in different altitudes and terrain. They have been upgraded as per the suggestions made by the users, the officials said.

The technology and know-how of raw howitzer have been shared with two private firms Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge group by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and they would be supplying the system to the forces including over 320 high mobility vehicles.

The trials of the 155mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) were completed at the Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR) between April 26 and May 2.

The ATAGS is an indigenous towed artillery gun system project undertaken in mission mode by the DRDO as a part of the artillery modernisation programme of the Indian Army, the statement added.

Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune is the nodal laboratory of the DRDO for the design & development of ATAGS, along with other DRDO laboratories.

The development has been done with two industry partners, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Bharat Forge Ltd, along with the active participation of other industries.

The reliability of both guns has been proven by firing multiple rounds in various zones, including burst, intense & sustained modes. High accuracy and consistency in range and line with maximum range have been established, the DRDO had said recently. (ANI)

Rajouri Attack: One More Succumbs At Hospital, Toll Reaches 7

By LokMarg 8th January 2023

One more civilian succumbed to his injuries taking the number of killed persons up to seven in two separate firing incidents that took place in the Dhangri area of Rajouri district, officials said on Sunday.

The deceased identified as Prince undergoing treatment died at Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu.
Notably, six civilians including two children were killed and many more injured in two terror attacks in Upper Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district last Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Sunday said that the security forces have neutralized two terrorists involved in the attack.

“On Saturday, around 8 PM, the alert troops of Indian Army deployed on the border fence in Balakot (District Poonch), observed suspicious movement ahead of the border fence and subsequently neutralized two terrorists,” Indian Army said.

The official further said that the area has been cordoned off and operations are in progress.

Six civilians including two children were killed and many more injured in two separate terror attacks in Upper Dhangri village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district in subsequent evening and morning incidents.

Central Reserve Police Force jawans have also been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri.

After the killing incident on January 1, the locals of the Dhangri village demanded the deployment of forces to boost security in the area.

The Union Home Ministry had issued an order to deploy an additional 18 companies to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the civilian killings in the two terror attacks in the Rajouri district.

While four people were gunned down on January 1 evening, two children were killed and several others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occurred in the same vicinity in Rajouri’s Upper Dhangri village on January 2 morning.

The injured were being treated in Jammu hospital. (ANI)

Capt Shiva Chauhan Underwent Rigorous Training To Achieve Feat: Indian Army

By LokMarg 3rd January 2023

Fire and Fury Corps officer Captain Shiva Chauhan underwent rigorous training including endurance training, ice wall climbing, avalanche and crevasse rescue, and survival drills, as she became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the world’s highest battleground on the Siachen Glacier.

Captain Shiva Chauhan was put through rigorous training along with other personnel which included endurance training, ice wall climbing, avalanche and crevasse rescue, and survival drills, at the Siachen Battle School, the Indian Army informed on Tuesday.

She got inducted to the Siachen Glacier on January 2, this year after an arduous climb.

The team of Sappers led by Capt Chauhan will be responsible for numerous combat engineering tasks and will be deployed at the post for a duration of three months.

Earlier today, the Indian Army informed about the feet achieved by Captain Shiva Chauhan.

“Capt Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed in Kumar Post, at the highest battlefield of the world,” tweeted the official account of Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army.

The Twitter post has added the caption, ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’, celebrating Shiva’s feat.

The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 1984. (ANI)

Chinese Army Behaving Like Hooligans, Streetfighters: Naravane

By LokMarg 14th December 2022

The Indian Army maintains a “professional stance” in warfare and would rather open fire than resort to “wielding clubs,” said former Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane in a reference to the Chinese army engaging in fisticuffs with Indian soldiers in Galwan valley and most recently in Arunachal’s Tawang.

General Naravane asked if the Chinese army (People’s Liberation Army) has gone down to the level of “prehistoric times” by using “clubs and barbed wires”.

His remarks came days after the Chinese army attempted to change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 through a faceoff with the Indian troops, in which they were pushed back by the Indian Army without suffering any casualties.

“We would still like to maintain that we are a 21st-century Army. To start going back to clubs and barbed wires is going back to prehistoric times. It is a very regressive way of going. We would still like to maintain that in warfare also there are certain rules. It is not that you do whatever you want to do. We would still like to maintain a professional stance. Therefore, rather than resort to wielding clubs, we rather open fire,” he said in ‘Podcast with Smita Prakash’.

“That is how an army fights by using the weapons at your disposal and not getting into fisticuffs. Are we hooligans or mafia? We are professional. Is that the level PLA has gone down to? Hooliganism and streetfighting? Or they are a professional 21st-century army? On one side they try to show their technological prowess, on the other side they are coming with barbed wire clubs. It is ridiculous,” the former Army Chief said.

Talking about the Galwan valley clash in 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and several Chinese soldiers were also killed, General Naravane said that the Indian Army countered them in the same way that was used against it.

“Although we did not fire, we also resorted in a similar vein. It was always a question of who will open fire first. Since we felt that we had the measure of the PLA troops over there, we also countered them in the same way that they were taking action against us which was basically by the use of non-lethal, that is not actually firing, although casualties did occur. They were carrying sticks and we were also carrying sticks,” he said.

Asked what went through his mind when Colonel Santosh Babu and his men were killed in the Galwan clash in 2020, General Naravane said that the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice died in the line of duty.

“Any casualty of course hurts you. Every man is your man or son or daughter as a chief or a battalion commander. So any such news come, obviously you feel saddened. On the other hand, you also feel that what they have done is in the line of duty. They have certainly given as good as they got,” he said. (ANI)

Oppn Leaders Meet At Kharge Office Ahead Of Parl Session

By LokMarg 14th December 2022

Ahead of the beginning of the day’s proceedings in Parliament, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday convened a meeting with floor leaders of opposition parties to discuss the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal’s Tawang sector.

On Tuesday, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were rocked by the issue with the Opposition staging a walkout after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Tawang clash.
“A total of 17 parties attended today’s meeting and decided to raise the issue for discussion if not allowed it has been decided that parties will walk out from the house,” a leader who participated in the meeting told ANI.

The Opposition, the participant said, has also decided that if a discussion is not allowed, they will boycott the House.

The meeting was held in Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s chambers to plan the Opposition strategy on India -China tussle and other issues in the House.

Kharge on Tuesday said that the opposition staged the walkout as Singh did not give a clarification on his statement in Parliament on the reports of clashes between the Indian Army and Chinese troops.

Speaking in both Houses separately, the Defence Minister informed that the “Indian Army bravely stopped the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) PLA troops from encroaching on Indian territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts”.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary meeting also took place in the Parliament Library building today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Singh and National BJP president JP Nadda were also present at the meeting.

The BJP MPs gave a rousing reception to PM Modi and also congratulated the BJP state president of Gujarat CR Paatil for the historic win in the western state.

The Winter Session of the Parliament began on December 7 and will have 17 working days. (ANI)

Richa Trolled For Tweeting About Galwan Incident

By LokMarg 24th November 2022

Bollywood actor Richa Chadha has come under fire for posting a tweet on the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died.

On Wednesday, Richa had reacted to Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi’s statement that the Indian Army is ready to execute orders like taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sharing a post on the statement, Richa took to her Twitter handle and wrote, “Galwan says hi.”

As soon as she tweeted this, all hell broke loose on social media and people started to slam her for allegedly insulting the army by talking about the 2020 clash between India and China.

One user wrote, “Mocking the sacrifice of our soldiers at Galwan valley. Shameful & disgraceful.”

Another user shared, “‘Galwan says hi’ writes Richa Chadha in response to a statement by a commanding officer on POK. Disrespecting those who gave their lives for India. Mocking the Indian army. She proves once again there is no limit to how low this industry can sink. A boycott is all they are worth.”

BJP’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa tweeted, “Disgraceful Tweet. Should be withdrawn at the earliest. Insulting our armed forces is not justified.”

Meanwhile, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi’s statement was made with reference to Defence Minister’s previous address in which he reiterated New Delhi’s resolve to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying all refugees would get their land and homes back.

Lt General Upendra Dwivedi said, “As far as the Indian Army is concerned, it will carry out any order given by the Government of India. Whenever such orders are given, we will always be ready for it.”

“The military is always ready to make sure that ceasefire understanding is never broken as it is in the interest of both nations, but if broken at any time, we will give them a befitting reply,” said Dwivedi, Northern Army Commander on the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. (ANI)

Amid Chinese buildup, Indian Army Built Infra For 450 Tanks, 22,000 Additional Troops

By LokMarg 15th November 2022

Amid reports of Chinese buildup across the Line of Actual Control, the Indian Army has built infrastructure for housing 450 tanks and over 22,000 troops in the Eastern Ladakh sector opposite China, defence sources said.

The sources said that to counter the Chinese aggressive movements in the Pangong Tso lake which is both in India and China, the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineer has inducted new Landing Crafts in both Eastern Ladakh which has given a huge impetus to the patrolling capabilities and induction in men and material. The assault craft can carry 35 troops or one keeps with 12 men.
“Habitat and technical storage to include assets for 22,000 troops and approximately 450 A vehicles/guns have been constructed in the last two years. Focus has now shifted to undertake the construction of Permanent defences and infrastructure to improve defence preparedness in extant working season apart from completion of ongoing projects,” defence sources said here.

Speaking about the permanent defences being built along the borders, Indian Army’s Engineer in Chief Lt Gen Harpal Singh said: “3D-printed permanent defences have been constructed for the first time by Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers in the desert sector. These defences were trial tested against a range of weapons from small arms to the main gun of T90 tank.”

He added that such defences are able to withstand blasts, can be erected within 36-48 hours, and can be relocated from one place to another.

“With this, trial for similar permanent defences have also been carried out at eastern Ladakh and found to be useful,” he said.

Highlighting the infrastructure development being done by the Border Roads Organisation along the China border, defence sources said that presently nine tunnels which include a “2.535 Km long Sela tunnel, which will be the highest bi-lane tunnel in the world once completed. 11 more tunnels are also under planning.”

“The BRO has been entrusted with the task of constructing one of India’s highest airfields at Nyoma which is very close to the China border and will boost Indian capabilities there,” they said. (ANI)

Rajnath Singh Attends ‘Shaurya Diwas’ In JK’s Budgam

By LokMarg 27th October 2022

On the 76th Infantry Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attended the ‘Shaurya Diwas’ programme organized by the Indian Army in Budgam.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was also present at the programme. Singh also visited an exhibition by the Indian Army on the occasion.

Infantry Day is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the Indian Army repelled the first attack on Indian soil on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley.

The victory was accomplished by the personnel of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment.

On the 76th Infantry Day, the Defence Minister also extended greetings and warm wishes to the courageous infantry personnel and their families.

“On the 76th Infantry Day, greetings and warm wishes to our courageous infantry personnel and their families. Indian infantry has been associated with utmost courage and professionalism. The nation salutes their bravery, sacrifice and service,” tweeted Singh.

Rajnath Singh has been the second top Union minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir this month.

Earlier, Union Home minister Amit Shah was on a three-day visit to the Union Territory from October 4.

Later in the day, the Defence Minister will reach Leh on a two-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Indian Army celebrates October 27 every year as the ‘Infantry Day’, as it was on this day that the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and displayed resoluteness and extraordinary courage to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders in 1947.

That is why every year on October 27, the Indian Army celebrates it as ‘Infantry Day.

This year both the Indian Army and the Air Force are going to celebrate this special day as “Shaurya Diwas” because Thursday is also the golden jubilee celebration of the Indian Air Force’s Kashmir Air Base. (ANI)