You still missed a few bharatis that are to be tagged here. Where is our southie cheerleader
@Syama Ayas in these tags?
Anyways.
Indian army destroyed its own bunkers and played dead enemy combatants for medals
Army officers faked kills for glory
Kanwar Sandhu
Leh/Chandigarh, May 6
The Indian Army could be killing far less enemies in Siachen than it claims. It could also be claiming awards and citations for imagined gallantry. The Leh-based 14 Corps HQ is investigating a massive fraud in which at least a third of 50 claimed “kills” on the glacier last year could be fakes.
In the eye of the storm are the 5/5 Gorkha Rifles and the battalion’s commanding officer (CO), Colonel KD Singh. A young Major of the unit, Surinder Singh, has given an Army court of inquiry (COI) headed by Brig HS Nagra, Deputy GOC, 3 Infantry Division, specific details of fake “kills” made by the company of which he was commander.
The alleged fraud was carried out between July and November 15, 2003. Maj. Singh has claimed that he — and several fellow officers — faked the killings under orders from Col Singh, who allegedly told him (the Major) that he should show “imagination and initiative” in carrying out the acts.
Excerpts from what Maj Singh told the COI:
• On July 29, a lieutenant of his company reported a “kill” in the Chandan complex. But there had been no enemy movement in the area between July 7 and 28.
• On August 8, the same officer shot a fake video of an enemy “kill”. Rifleman Shyam Lal Thapa of the unit posed as the “dead enemy”.
• On August 24, three enemy “kills” were captured on video. Col. Singh rang up to congratulate him the next day, and asked him to ensure a “hazy video”.
• In order to make “enemy activity” realistic, it was decided to first construct an “enemy air defence bunker”, and then destroy it. On September 21, the bunker — in India’s territory — was destroyed by Indian rockets and mortar. A splinter hit Maj. Singh, who was evacuated, and a case for Vir Chakra/Sena Medal for him was moved. The destruction of the “enemy bunker” was recorded on tape.
Maj Singh blew the whistle on the fake kills in December last year, after a disagreement with his CO. He described the fraud to several top commanders, including Army chief Gen NC Vij. Subsequently, Maj Gen RPS Ralhan, GOC, 3 Infantry Division, ordered the COI.
HT sent written queries to the PRO, HQ Northern Command and PRO, Army HQ, seeking comments on the scandal.
The Northern Command PRO did not reply, but a spokesperson in Udhampur said the Army would not like to comment since the matter was “sub judice”. He did not say where the case was pending, and on what issues.
The Army PRO faxed a reply wanting to know specifics like unit names and dates so that he could verify the information.
The scandal is likely to have embarrassed the Army greatly. A few months ago, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Arvind Sharma had actually made a presentation on the Siachen ‘enemy kills’ at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington
