Indo-UK Ex Ajeya Warrior on in full swing in Belgaum | Over 200 personnel from both countries engaged in counter-terrorism training

By Lt Col N N Joshi
[PRO, Defence, Tezpur]

Belgaum: The Indo-UK Joint Military training aimed at enhancing counter terrorism skills got underway on 04 April 2013 at the hills of Belgaum. The Joint Training code-named Exercise Ajeya Warrior will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together on a joint operation in counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment. This is one of the major ongoing bilateral defence cooperation endeavours between the two countries and is the fifth in the series which initially started as a biennial feature in 2007 to be held in India and UK alternatively.
The four-week exercise will witness about 100 personnel of the Royal Welsh Regiment of the UK Army and a similar strength of a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment of Indian Army. The troops of the two countries are in the third week of their joint exercise. The first week comprised of familiarization with the organisation, weapons and equipment of both the armies. In the second week tactical drills of the two countries were demonstrated and practiced.
Both countries have troops deployed in active Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism operations and thus sharing each other’s operational experiences in such diverse environment is of immense value. The exercise curriculum is progressively planned where the participants are initially made to get familiar with each other’s organisational structure, weapons, equipment, confidence training and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advances to joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both the armies are coherently unleashed. The exercise is a great step for the armies of the two democratic countries to train together and gain together from each other’s rich operational experiences.
Training to combat terror: Learning from each others experiences in varied terrain and environment, the company level joint exercise enters the fourth week of the joint training cycle of four weeks. The initial weeks of the joint training included familiarisation, demonstration, lectures and joint tactical exercises. This was divided into indoor and outdoor training. The joint training is being conducted by having two mixed companies of UK Army & Indian Army Soldiers.
The exercise is aimed to build and promote positive military relations between the two countries by undertaking joint training for Counter Insurgency Operations and thereby gaining from each other’s valuable operational experiences. The exercise will also help to evolve joint battle drills for combating such menace.
During the course of Exercise Ajeya Warrior – 2013, the technology advancement has been amalgamated to create a force multiplier and assist the combat troops in conducting its operation. UAVs, Recce and Observation system, Thermal Imaging system, Early Warning detachments, use of Helicopters and sniffer & tracker Dogs assisted the commanders of the joint exercises in achieving their aim.
Having rehearsed and trained on counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment, the troops of the two Commonwealth Nations have graduated to the stage of conducting tactical exercises jointly in rural and semi urban environment. The joint training having exercise on Search and Destroy operations in the past week and will now move on to Cordon and Search operations.
The fourth and last week of training will mark the culmination with the joint exercises on Cordon and Search operations. The drills & procedures of the two most experiences armies in the domain of counter insurgency will be dovetailed into one integrated force.

EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: Ex Ajeya Warrior begins today | Indo-UK joint military exercise in Belgaum, sans bullets? | Pressure on Karnataka Govt to revoke firing ban

From the archives: Soldiers part of an Indo-China joint military exercise (above) and Indo-UK exercise (below). Photos: Livefist/Shiv Aroor

EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore:  India’s name in internationally might take a hit, if the visiting British troops arriving in Belgaum for a month-long joint exercise with the Indian Army, returns without firing a single bullet, thanks to the Karnataka government’s November 2012 decision denotifying the Bagdad Asmara Field Firing Range. Ex Ajeya Warrior to be held from April 3 to April 29 aims at testing the preparedness of both armies to carry out joint counter-insurgency operations, in an international scenario. The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) is the nodal agency for this exercise, directly falling under the Army’s Southern Command.

Sources tell Express that the 100-member strong British contingent is reaching Belgaum today (April 3). While the MLIRC officials refused to give out any details on the joint exercise, Maj Gen K S Venugopal, former GOC, K&K Sub-Area, had told reporters (on the day of him demitting office) in Bangalore on Sunday that the ‘event will go on as per the schedule.’

The guns have fallen silent at the Bagdad Asmara range ever since the state government went back on their earlier stand of notifying the range till 2020. The government had issued a denotification order on November 23 2012, thereby prematurely terminating a contract issued on May 24 2000, permitting the Army to use the land for artillery and field firing purposes (7469 acres) till 2020.

They can’t fire: MP | During an informal interaction with Express at Bangalore International Airport on March 30, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Belgaum Suresh Angadi said that he is not against the Army, but only the range. “I am not aware of the joint exercise. The state government circular clearly says that they can’t fire even a single bullet. The Army has been shown another place for the range and they should move on,” the MP said.
Angadi has been waging a battle against the Army for shifting the range after he built the Angadi Institute of Technology and Management in the danger area of the range. While the Army says that the institute has come up flouting all norms and sans any NOC, the MP claims that he is well within his rights to provide better education to the children of his constituency.
Training badly hit: Army | Army sources with the Southern Command say that the recruitment training, commando operations have been hit ever since the firing ban came into force. “Now, the joint exercise too will be affected. Today, there is not a single notified firing range at Belgaum. It is an infantry outfit and how can the soldiers be trained without firing their rifles? We are aware that the training in Belgaum has been badly affected,” says a senior Army officer with the Southern Command.
“Even the training at the Junior Leaders Wing –- that conducts the elite commando course for the Army – is tweaking their schedules unable to find an answer.  This has a direct impact on the national security,” the officer said.
Pressure on New Delhi | With the state getting on to election mode, the Army officials have to keep their gun powder dry to sort out the issue permanently, till a new regime takes charge. The Land, Works and Environment wing at the Army HQ in Delhi is preparing a strategy to address the issue. The joint exercise might be held finally as a formality, rather than a prestigious combat event, if the firing permission doesn’t come through.
The Army HQ now wants New Delhi to impress upon the Karnataka government to revoke the denotification so as to undertake firing during the course of the exercise. Army sources say that for the smooth conduct of Ex Ajeya Warrior, the firing ban has to go.
Belgaum DC to decide | A senior government official, who requested anonymity, told Express that the Army's better PR could have saved the situation for couple of more years. "The Army can pay compensation and acquire the land even now. How can a private land be leased out for a national cause without the compensation being paid? The Army knew it in advance about the joint exercise and they should have taken special permission. Now the matter has to be dealt with the Belgaum DC as he is the state government's representative to take a decision," the official said.

Ex Ajeya Warrior | The Indo-UK joint exercise is conducted alternatively in each country with the last one in India held in 2010. Indian Army conducts joint training exercises with lots of foreign countries, including the US, China, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
“The issues involved in the joint training are inter-operability, functional capabilities, familiarity of each others’ weapons and ground-level tactics in dealing with Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism situations. The exercise is also aimed at increasing defence cooperation, understanding the synergy between both the armies and countries,” says a source.

 Copyright@The New Indian Express

* To read previous articles, click the links below

1. http://tarmak007.blogspot.in/2012/12/battle-of-belgaum-upset-army-readies.html 

2. http://tarmak007.blogspot.in/2012/12/im-not-against-army-let-them-compensate.html

CLOSE COMBAT-4: Cementing buddy concept while training recruits in counter-terrorism operations

 Photos: Altaf Hussain, in special arrangement with MLIRC

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

PART-IV

Belgaum: The Indian Army is putting its men through new-age tactical strategies to take on the growing challenges of terrorism in urban areas. At the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) here, the recruits are given training in a series of counter-terrorism operations, some of which were demonstrated to Express on Thursday.
Interacting to this Correspondent during a live demonstration of slithering and room intervention operation, Brig Santosh Kurup, Commandant, MLIRC, said that the focus of intense training imparted on the recruits hovers around the concept of buddy pair.

“We need to adopt new methods while flushing out terrorists. In the rural setting, it becomes inherent for a large column of troops to cordon off the suspect area. But in an urban scenario, it is often found that the terrorists are holed up in small groups and at different locations. We can’t cordon off the entire area in this case,” Brig Santosh said.
The MLIRC hence trains recruits in "small team operations", teaching them tactical movements needed to zero-in on specific locations. “It’s a huge challenge to undertake counter-terrorism operations in heavily populated areas. The main ingredients for a successful operation are surprise, swiftness & professionalism in conduct. The troops have to undergo intense training to attain a certain level of confidence to undertake such missions. The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in operations” says Brig Santosh.
At the centre, the recruits are trained in slithering operations from a Mi-17 chopper model, which is fixed on the top of a gigantic concrete structure, at 30-40 feet height. Armed recruits are made to slither from the ‘chopper’ and take positions within seconds after they touch-down. “We teach them slithering techniques and room intervention tactics. During room intervention operations, the buddy pair concept is strictly followed. When a solider is in action, he is always covered by his buddy. All training today revolves around the buddy system,” the Commandant said.
At MLIRC, the recruits are exposed to various modern counter-terrorism training tools. “Be it the simulators, gen-next firing ranges, paint-ball guns, laser-beam techniques and exhaustive training modules, the recruit is put through a rigorous regimen. The aim is to adapt in keeping with changing times and technology,” Brig Santosh said.

(To be continued)
Copyright@The New Indian Express

Close Combat-3 | Jungle Camp: 12 minutes, 22 obstacles & a trigger-happy climax

 Photos: Altaf Hussain in special
arrangement with MLIRC

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Belgaum: For the recruits of Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC), the training at the Jungle Camp is one experience they will carry all through their lives. Situated 25 km from heart of the city, Rohideshwar Camp (Jungle Camp) is one of the premier training facilities for the recruits with the settings similar to that of a jungle. The camp acts as a perfect platform for the recruits to fine-tune their jungle craft.

There are 22 obstacles laid out in a span of 1.2 km and each recruit will have to clear them under a simulated condition, in the minimum possible time. Some of the obstacles are: Burma bridge, Spider web, Tarzan swing, Hand and Foot bridge, 10-feet wall, Tiger jump and a nine-feet ditch with fire. The bonding among the group was visible, when Express was taken through a demonstration by 15 recruits. Some were seen using their rifles to pull out their buddies, while doing the Barrel Crawl and the wire obstacle.

“Every recruit has to clear these obstacles within 12 minutes, without missing any single point. During their 34-week training, the recruits have to undergo a 15-day capsule at the Jungle Camp, which culminates with a 22 km speed march. Here the recruits are tested for their endurance and team spirit. During the speed march, a recruit will have to may have to bear the load of others, or even carry a buddy who might have got injured,” says Col Tushar S Bhakay, Deputy Commandant, MLIRC.

The Army officials at MLIRC say that the Jungle Camp is the grand finale of the rigours 34-week training. “It is here that a recruit is taught the basic concepts of ambush, patrolling, night navigation and two-sided defence exercises. He gets to learn these basics by actually performing them on ground. We also ensure that, at the end of the day, he draws certain important lessons and also the mistakes that he made, which are made known to him so that they are not repeated, “ says Maj Yogesh Dhumal, Training Company Commander, MLIRC.

After negotiating the obstacles and when the heartbeat is running high, the recruits are to immediately engage the different types of targets at the firing range, located at 200-meter distance. The targets are moving, static and rotating, again testing the concentration and skills needed to take on them. Each platoon is given adequate number of ammunition to engage the targets within a stimulated time.

This correspondent was also given a chance to fire at square plates with 10 rounds with the instruction to clear each target with one bullet. “During this firing practice, given the limited time, one has to carefully choose his target and not waste his ammunition,” says Maj Yogesh, who was seen hitting the target with every shot.

To be continued 

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Maratha Troops have a ball during Holi celebrations

Photos: Shakeel Ahmed in special arrangement with MLIRC

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Belgaum: The troops of Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) celebrated Holi at the camp on Wednesday, exhibiting bonding and camaraderie in abundance. The PT Ground inside the Centre was packed with Army men of all ranks and file, right from morning itself.

Owing to drought and water shortages prevailing in the region, the troops celebrated a dry Holi this time. Everyone present in the ground was seen dancing with colours splashed all over. The recruits also used the opportunity to show their affection to their instructors by throwing them up in the air.

“Festivals like Holi and Eid have a very significant place in the hearts of the Maratha Regiment. It is an ideal opportunity for everyone to bond with their buddies and seniors alike. This is what makes Army special and we look forward to these festivals every year. It is also time for our families to joy the fun,” says Col Tushar S Bhakay, Deputy Commandant, MLIRC.

Preparations for celebrations began the previous evening itself, when the troops assembled at the Military Mahadev Mandir, near the camp. The Holi pyre was lit after performing the rituals as per the Maratha traditions. It was a rare sight to watch with the Army men of all faiths chanting the mantras while the pyre was lit.

“Every Army unit has their own traditional festivities and we give absolute importance to them. Participation in these celebrations is part of our duty and we take lot of pride in it. The soldiers are very religious and they never miss an opportunity to visit their religious places of interest. We also ensure that the religious sentiments of our troops are kept intact,” says Lt Col Nawal Joshi, General Staff Officer-1, MLIRC.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Close Combat-2 | A Kashmiri village in Karnataka to train soldiers in counter-insurgency Ops

 Photos: Altaf Hussain in special arrangement with MLIRC

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Belgaum: Welcome to ‘Surankot’ – a Kashmiri village far away from Kashmir situated inside the training area of the Maratha Light Infantry and Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It is in this mock-up village soldiers sharpen their skills in counter-insurgency operations. Termed as the Low Intensity Conflict Operation (LICO) Village, it has everything that resembles a Kashmiri ambience, sans the snow.
Belgaum’s Surankot has a Sarpanch House, a LICO Hut, a clinic, a primary school, typical dhoks (traditional Kashmiri huts), place of workship – all erected amidst thick jungle. Interestingly, these houses are not empty, but adequately furnished with essential commodities you may find in a Kashmiri home.
 “The LICO Village is one of its kind and we teach the recruits every minute details that are critical while undertaking  Search Ops. We incorporate additions from time to time to these installations based on the rich experiences from the instructors, who had been in the forward areas,” says Col KM Bhagwat, Training Battalion Commander.
During a special mock-drill exercise shown to Express, around 20 recruits armed with rifles and stun grenades surrounded the LICO Hut based on inputs that some terrorists are taking shelter in the village. The team was divided into various sub-groups based on the tasks assigned to them – one to provide protection and secure the area, another to enter the house in order to search.
The sensors fitted inside the LICO Hut act as IEDs (improvised explosive devices), to gauge the alertness of the recruits entering it. These sensors are fixed right from the entrance door, on walls, inside cupboards, on utensils, under the doormat and the most crucial area – the stairs. “The hiding terrorists will use every possible items found inside the house to lure the search team into danger. They place the IEDs generally on innocent looking items,” says an Army instructor.
The most-striking feature of Belgaum’s ‘Surankot’ is an underground tunnel that connects one of the rooms in the LICO Hut to an unknown destination outside, which the terrorists may use to escape, when surrounded. “The tunnel is specially provided to tell the recruits that in a real-scenario one cannot rule out the possibilities of such escape routes. The idea is to expose the recruits to the modus-operandi of the terrorists he will encounter while undertaking search operations,” the instructor said.
Interestingly, foreign armies often undertake joint training at MLIRC’s LICO Village. The troops from various countries display their drills in carrying out search operations.

(To be continued)

Copyright@The New Indian Express