Thursday, March 19, 2009

LIMCA RECORD HOLDERS

  • Air Marshal VK Bhatia PVSM, AVSM, VrC & Bar was the first Indian who dared a tandem skydiving jump in India at the age of 56 yrs. This daring feat was performed on 17 Sep 1999 at Agra airfield from an AN-32 aircraft.
  • Group Captain NK Prashar, JD AF Adv was the first to fly X-Air microlight on night on 15 Sep 2000 at Air Force Station Hindon. Subsequently on the same night Sqn Ldr MIK Reddy carried out a skydiving jump from X-Air Microlight.
  • Sqn Ldr Sanjay Thapar VM is the man of many firsts in the field of parachuting, two of his achievements are acknowledged as world records and seven others as National Records. He was the first Indian to introduce tandem skydiving in the Air Force.
  • Sqn Ldr Jay Shankar is an officer from Admin branch and an adventure enthusiast. He is pursuing sports parachuting since 1990. He is a sports parachuting instructor without being a PJI. He has 602 jumps to his credit. For a non-professional paratrooper this number is highly creditable.
  • Sqn Ldr MIK Reddy is a NDA graduate and an adventure freak. He is specialist in watersports, parasailing and skydiving. He has over 780 skydiving jumps to his credit, the highest for a non PJI in the Air Force. He has also conducted many basic skydiving courses and demonstrations independently. He is also the first to carry out a jump from X-Air Microlight at night.
  • Sqn Ldr RC Tripathi. A pioneer of Adventure sports, specialist in parachuting, mountaineering and water sports. As on date he has 1040 jumps. He is the first to jump from an X-Air microlight on 04 Apr 2001 at Air Force Station Hindon. Microlight was flown by Gp Capt NK Prashar, JD AF Adv.
  • Sqn Ldr Vasant Raj and Flt Lt Bhawana Mane. Both are helicopter pilots and the first couple in the Air Force to skydiving together on 30 May 2000 at National Defence Academy, Pune.
  • Flt Lt Kamal Singh Oberh. A young parachute jump instructor, made a jump over South Pole on 01 Jan 2000 and earned the distinction of being the first Indian to perform this daring feat.
  • Flt Lt KB Samyal and Flt Lt Kopal Gupta. Flt Lt Samyal is a professional parachute jump instructor at Paratroopers Training School. His wife Flt Lt Kopal Gupta is a logistic officer at AF Stn Agra. Both Samyal and Kopal became the first couple to do Relative Work on 04 Oct 2000 during the Subroto Cup Football finals at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi. As on date Flt Lt Samyal has over 350 jumps to his credit whereas Flt Lt Kopal has 220 jumps to her credit.
  • In addition, there are few other Air Force personnel, who have also set records and earned their names in Lima Book of Records one being a six man Relative Work by PTS under the leadership of Wg Cdr HN Bhagwat in Aug 2000.

Republic status

In January 1950, India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its "Royal" prefix. At this time, it possessed six fighter squadrons of Spitfires, Vampires and Tempests, operating from Kanpur, Poona, Ambala and Palam, one B-24 bomber squadron, one C-47 Dakota transport squadron, one AOP flight, a communications squadron at Palam and a growing training organisation. Training adhered closely to the pattern established by the RAF, most instructors having graduated from the CFS in the UK and in addition to No.1. Flying Training School at Hyderabad with Tiger Moths and Harvards and No. 2 FTS atJodhpur with Prentices and Harvards, there were IAF colleges at Begumpet, Coimbatore andJodhpur.Licence manufacture of the de Havilland Vampire had been initiated by HAL which, after building a batch from imported major assemblies, went on to manufacture a further 250. In addition, 60 Vampire T Mk. 55s were to be built of which 10 were assembled from imported kits. Nos.2,3 and 8 Squadrons followed No.7 Squadron on the Vampire, but, extraordinarily, 1951 also saw the formation of the last piston-engined fighter combat unit when No. 14 Squadron was raised on the Spitfire Mk. XVIII. Vampire NF Mk. 54 two-seat night fighters were obtained in May 1953 to re-equip No. 10. Sqn at Palam, thus endowing night-intercept capability upon the IAF for the first time. At this time, relations between India and Pakistan were again steadily deteriorating and the IAF, its combat strength virtually unchanged since partition in 1947, was scarcely ready for any full-scale conflict. Plans were accordingly framed for major expansion during the period 1953-57, and the Government began to seek non-traditional and alternative sources of combat aircraft procurement.

Selection of the Dassault Ouragan fighter from France at this time reflected the decision to initiate diversification of supply sources. The first four of over 100 Ouragans, or Toofanis as they were to become known in the IAF, reached Palam from France on 24 October 1953, and this type re-equipped Nos.8, 3 and 4 Squadrons in that order. The Toofanis were eventually to be passed on to newly-raised units Nos. 29 and 47 Squadrons, with the re-equipment in 1957 of Nos. 3 and 8 Squadrons with the Mystere IVA from the same Gallic stable.

Re-equipment of the combat units necessarily assumed an overriding priority in view of the growth of what were seen as threats to India's integrity, but expansion of airlift capability was also vital. A second transport squadron, No. 11, had been formed on C-47 Dakotas in September 1951, and considerable enhancement of the Service's logistic support capacity was heralded by procurement of 26 Fairchild C-119G Packets from the United States which reached India by the end of 1954. Rapidly to assume the status of an airlift backbone, the C- 119Gs were issued to No. 12 Squadron, which, for some years, operated them in concert with the C-47s, the older transports eventually passing to a newly-raised unit, No. 43 Squadron. A second batch of 29 C- 119Gs was obtained in July 1960, and the transport fleet was further augmented by another 24 C-119Gs in May 1963 under US emergency military aid.

Both the establishment of a Maintenance Command and resurrection of the Auxiliary Air Force took place in 1955, two units of the latter being formed as Nos. 51 and 52 Squadrons at New Delhi and Bombay. A third AAF unit, No. 53 Sqn, was raised at Madras in the following year, and four more added over the next two years, Nos. 54 (Allahabad), 55 (Calcutta), 56 (Bhubaneshwar) and 57 (Chandigarh) Squadrons. The AAF squadrons were equipped with the HAL-designed HT-2 trainer - officially introduced into service on 10 January 1955 - and the Harvard, although Vampire FB Mk. 52s were added in 1959.

Heavy bombers and jet fighters

No. 2 Squadron had re-equipped with Spitfire XVllls in the interim, and No. 9 Squadron re-raised on this type; No. 101 Photo Reconnaissance Flight was formed in January 1948 on Spitfire PR Mk. XlXs, this unit being destined to achieve full squadron status in April 1950. To make up attrition suffered in the Kashmir operations, a further batch of Tempest IIs was procured from the UK in December 1948. The same year witnessed various equipment changes, one of which was to have a profound effect on the composition of the RIAF. The Service, wishing to establish a heavy bombing element, contracted with HAL to "re-construct" a force of B-24 Liberators from the mouldering remains of nearly 100 ex USAF bombers of this type at the immense Care and Maintenance Unit Depot at Kanpur.

Despite the scepticism on the part of the US and British advisers concerning the feasibility of the scheme, the first half-dozen HAL-reconditioned B-24s were ready by November 1948 and, on the 17th of that month, No. 5 Squadron was formed with these heavy bombers. Later, in early 1950, No. 6 Squadron was to re-form at Poona also with B-24s, while No.16 Squadron was to be established to provide back-up training on the type. To supplement the Tiger Moths, Prentice basic trainers were delivered to the RIAF during the course of 1948, eventually to see service at Jodhpur, Tambaram and Ambala, but truly epoch making in so far as the Service was concerned, was the arrival in India on 4 November 1948 of three Vampire F.Mk.3 jet fighters. These were the precursors of more than 400 Vampires of various types that were procured by the Service over the following years. The achievement of operational status on the Vampire FBMk.52 by No. 7 Squadron in the following year was to give the RIAF the distinction of becoming the first Asian air arm to operate jets.

Independence and partition

The stimulus provided by the Second World War had raised RIAF personnel strength to 28,500 including some 1,600 officers, by the time hostilities terminated. In August 1945, No. 4 Squadron was designated a component unit of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan, exchanging its Spitfire Vllls for Mk XlVs in October and arriving in Japan aboard HMS vengence on 23 April 1946. Meanwhile, from late 1945, the remaining Hurricane-equipped RIAF fighter squadrons converted to the Spitfire at Kohat, Samungli and Risalpur and by mid-1946 the entire RIAF fighter force was Spitfire-equipped. The year 1946 also saw the establishment of the first RIAF transport unit, No.12 Squadron which had first been raised on Spitfires at Kohat in December 1945 and received C-47 Dakotas in Panagarh in late 1946. A decision had also been taken to re-equip the fighter squadrons with the Tempest II, and implementation of this decision began during the autumn of 1946, No. 3 Squadron at Kolar becoming the first to re-equip, followed by No.10 Squadron later in 1946.

Personnel strength had meanwhile been virtually halved to some 14,000 officers and men in the post-war rundown, but the British authorities had made their own assessment of India's post-war defence needs. As of October 1946, they envisaged expansion of the existing ten RIAF squadrons into a balanced force of twenty fighter, bomber and transport squadrons. Owing to the rapidly changing political situation, however, definitive decisions concerning Indian defence were, in the event, to be left to the emerging Government of Independent India. No. 4 Squadron converted to the Tempest 11 upon its return to India from Japan and Nos.7 and 8 Squadrons also relinquished their Spitfires for the more efficacious Tempest fighter during the summer of 1947. Nos. 1 and 9 Squadrons, too, received Tempest lls at this time, but on 15 August 1947, and with the division of both India and its armed forces, these units stood down and their equipment was transferred to the newly created Royal Pakistan Air Force. Thus, the principal components of the RIAF at partition were Nos. 3,4,7,8 and 10 Squadrons with Tempest us, No. 2 Squadron with Spitfires and No. 12 Squadron with C-47s, plus No. 1 Air Observation Flight, the establishment of which with AOP Auster 4s, 5s, and 6s, coincided with independence. No. 6 Squadron, which had been in process of converting from Spitfires to C-47s at Drigh Road, had been stood down and its transports transferred to Pakistan.

The RIAF had lost many permanent bases and other establishments as a result of the division of the country, but was to have virtually no breathing space in which to recover from the surgery that had accompanied partition before the Service was to find itself once more firing its guns in earnest. On 27 October 1947, No.12 Sqn was to initiate the remarkable feat of air-lifting the Ist Sikhs from Palam onto the rough and dusty Srinagar airstrip without planning or reconnaissance as the initial Indian response to the sizeable insurgent forces that were pouring across the border into Jammu and Kashmir. On 30 October, the first Spitfires from the Advanced Flying School at Ambala reached Srinagar and were soon engaged in strafing the raiders beyond Pattan. Within a week, the Tempests of No. 7 Squadron were playing a decisive role in the battle of Shelatang which halted the forward momentum of the insurgents.

The fighting was to continue for 15 months, with heavy RIAF involvement throughout, a ceasefire eventually coming into force on 1 January 1949, but despite being continuously on an operational footing throughout this period, the reorganisation and modernisation of the Service continued unabated. The Combined Services Headquarters had meanwhile been separated for command purposes and Air Headquarters established in New Delhi. This included the Operational and Training Commands, No. 1 Operational Group having been formed to supervise all RIAF units and their support elements engaged in the campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.

War In Burma

On 1 February, No.1 Squadron arrived in Burma with its Lysanders, flying tactical recce missions from Toungoo before transferring to Mingaladon with a flight deployed at Lashio. I A F personnel were soon hanging pairs of 250-lb. bombs on each of their Lysanders and with these, flew low-level unescorted missions against the principal Japanese air bases at Mae-Haungsaun, Cheingmai and Chiangrai in Thailand. However, the Japanese advance was relentless and with the final evacuation of Burma, No.1 Squadron personnel were flown to India, where at Risalpur in June 1942, the unit began conversion to the Hurricane IIB fighter. No.2 Squadron had also equipped with Lysanders by the end of 1941, being confined to anti-invasion exercises until, in September 1942, it emulated the IAF's premier unit by converting to Hurricanes. The third IAF unit to operate the Lysander was No.4 Squadron, formed with four aircraft on 16 February 1942. This squadron was to continue to operate the Westland aircraft until it, too was re-equipped with the Hurricane in June 1943. Six months earlier, No.6 Squadron was raised with personnel from Nos 1 and 2 flights, being Hurricane-equipped from the outset. Between March and December 1942, 10 aircrew schools were opened in India, and the first Harvard Is and IIs were delivered to No. 1 Flying Training School at Ambala, this school having been established to provide basic and advanced training for IAF pilots over a four-and-half month course. By the end of that year, however,or a decade after the IAF's creation and three years into World War II, the Service could muster just five squadrons. The coastal defence flights had now been disbanded and most personnel of Nos.3 and 6 Flights were combined with regular IAF personnel to form No. 7 Squadron which was equipped with the U:S. - built Vengeance 1 dive bomber in mid-February 1943. No. 8 Squadron was raised meanwhile, on 1 December 1942, absorbing the remaining coastal defence flight personnel, and also issued with the Vengeance, to achieve operational status on 25June 1943.
The Vengeance suffered numerous defects and teething troubles, necessitating temporary withdrawal from the two IAF squadrons, but the problems were eventually mitigated if not eradicated, and No. 8 Sqn flew its first operational Vengeance sorties against Japanese targets from Double Moorings, Chittagong, on 15 December 1943, No. 7 Squadron, which had flown its Vengeances on some missions against dissident tribesmen in North Waziristan, started operations in the Arakan from an airstrip at Uderbund, near Kumbigram, where it arrived on 12 March 1944, the two squadrons converting to Vengeance IIIs during the course of operations and both flying with considerable distinction.No. 7 Squadron discarded its dive bombers in favour of Hurricane IIs for the tactical-reconnaissance role in November 1944, No. 8 Squadron becoming the first to convert onto the Spitfire VIII during the previous month and commencing operations on 3 January 1945 in the Kangaw area.

Both Nos 9 and 10 Squadrons were raised on Hurricanes in the early months of 1944, and thus, by the end of the year, the operational element of the IAF had risen to nine squadrons, with Nos. 1,2,3,4,6,7,9 and 10 on Hurricanes and No.8 on Spitfires. Five of the Hurricane-equipped squadrons played a major role in the Arakan offensive which began in December 1944, disrupting the enemy's lines of communication and constantly harrying the Japanese forces until victory was achieved with the re-occupation of Rangoon on 3 May 1945. In that month, No. 4 Squadron became the second IAF Spitfire unit when it re-equipped with the Mk VIII version of this fighter, and No. 9 followed suit to complete conversion byJuly, by which time No. 10 had begun conversion, and the Hurricane, backbone of the IAF combat element for much of the war, was rapidly phased out.

During the war years, the steady expansion of the IAF had placed all emphasis on army co-operation and tactical reconnaissance; it had continued to fly ageing equipment such as the Hurricane when such aircraft as the Thunderbolt and Mosquito were being inducted in large numbers by other Allied forces in the theatre and it had, in consequence, suffered a sense of equipment inferiority. Nevertheless, assigned the least glamorous of tasks and flying obsolescent equipment, the Service established traditions of courage and efficiency second to none; its personnel had been awarded 22 Distinguished Flying Crosses and a host of other decorations, and in recognition of its achievements, the Service had been honoured by bestowal of the prefix "Royal" on its title in March 1945.

HISTORY OF IAF

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932.Its first ac flight came into being on 01 Apr 1933. It possessed a strength of six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (literally, air soldiers). The aircraft inventory comprised of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road as the "A" Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co- operation) Squadron.

Cutting its teeth

Four-and-a-half years later, "A" Flight was in action for the first time from Miranshah, in North Waziristan, to support Indian Army operations against insurgent Bhittani tribesmen. Meanwhile, in April 1936, a "B" Flight had also been formed on the vintage Wapiti. But, it was not until June 1938 that a "C" Flight was raised to bring No. 1 Squadron ostensibly to full strength, and this remained the sole IAF formation when World War II began, although personnel strength had by now risen to 16 officers and 662 men.

Problems concerning the defence of India were reassessed in 1939 by the Chatfield Committee. It proposed the re-equipment of RAF (Royal Air Force) squadrons based in lndia but did not make any suggestions for the accelerating the then painfully slow growth of IAF except for a scheme to raise five flights on a voluntary basis to assist in the defence of the principal ports. An IAF Volunteer Reserve was thus authorised, although equipping of the proposed Coastal Defence Flights (CDFs) was somewhat inhibited by aircraft availability. Nevertheless, five such flights were established with No. 1 at Madras, No. 2 at Bombay, No. 3 at Calcutta, No. 4 at Karachi and No. 5 at Cochin. No. 6 was later formed at Vizagapatanam. Built up around a nucleus of regular IAF and RAF personnel, these flights were issued with both ex-RAF Wapitis and those relinquished by No. 1 Squadron IAF after its conversion to the Hawker Hart. In the event, within a year, the squadron was to revert back to the Wapiti because of spares shortages, the aged Westland biplanes being supplemented by a flight of Audaxes.

At the end of March 1941, Nos. 1 and 3 CDFs gave up their Wapitis which were requisitioned to equip No. 2 Squadron raised at Peshawar in the following month, and were instead issued with Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta transports, used to patrol the Sunderbans delta area south of Calcutta. No. 2 CDF had meanwhile received requisitioned D.H. 89 Dragon Rapides for convoy and coastal patrol, while No. 5 CDF took on strength a single D.H. 86 which it used to patrol the west of Cape Camorin and the Malabar Coast.

Meanwhile the creation of a training structure in India became imperative and RAF flying instructors were assigned to flying clubs to instruct IAF Volunteer Reserve cadets on Tiger Moths.364 pupils were to receive elementary flying training at seven clubs in British India and two in various princely States by the end of 1941. Some comparative modernity was infused in August 1941, when No. 1 Squadron began conversion to the Westland Lysander at Drigh Road, the Unit being presented with a full establishment of 12 Lysanders at Peshawar by the Bombay War Gifts Fund in the following November. No. 2 Squadron had converted from the Wapiti to the Audax in September 1941 and, on 1 October No. 3 Squadron, similarly Audax-equipped, was raised at Peshawar.

The IAF VR was now inducted into the regular IAF, the individual flights initially retaining their coastal defence status, but with Japan's entry into the war in December, No. 4 Flight, with four Wapitis and two Audaxes, was despatched to Burma to operate from Moulmein. Unfortunately, four of the flight's six aircraft were promptly lost to Japanese bombing and, late in January 1942, No. 4 Flight gave place in Moulmein to No. 3 Flight which had meanwhile re-equipped with four ex-RAF Blenheim ls. For a month, these Blenheims were to provide almost the sole air cover for ships arriving at Rangoon harbour.

WELFARE

PCO / STD

PCO / STD booths have been established by most of the formations / units for the benefit of NSG personnel and their families.

Aashrey Rehabilitation Centre

In order to take care of and to impart training to mentally challenged children of NSG personnel, an innovative welfare scheme namely “Aashrey Rehabilitation Centre” is run at Manesar.

Special Camps : Pulse Polio Immunisation

NSG Hospital as well as various units of NSG organize pulse polio immunisation camps from time to time for the benefit of NSG personnel.

Transport

Transport facilities are available for school going children, patients, families and all NSG personnel at Delhi and Manesar.

Canteen

Canteen Stores Department (CSD) facilities are extended to NSG personnel and their families at Delhi and at Manesar. Most of the formations / units have their own facilities also. Wet canteen and dry canteen facilities are also available at Delhi and Manesar down to the unit level.

Shopping Centre

A busy shopping centre consisting of more than 20 shops including outlets / booths of Kendriya Bhandar and Mother Dairy is available at the Manesar garrison. NSG personnel and their families can get all essential articles of household use there. Post office, bank branch and bank ATMs are also available in the complex.

Family Welfare Centre (FWC)

FWC functions at Manesar where family members of NSG personnel can engage themselves in stitching various garments including uniforms and also augment their family income.

Montessori School

A Montessori school up to third standard is available at Manesar.

Cable TV

Cable TV facility is available both at Delhi and Manesar.

Personal Grooming Centre

Training programmes on fashion designing, hair dressing / styling, hair care, skin care etc are organized at this Centre. The recurring expenditure is subsidized.

Cyber Cafe

Cyber Café was set-up at Manesar in 2001 to bring IT awareness among family members of NSG personnel. Broadband is available.

Water Conservation Project

NSG is executing a Water Conservation Project at Manesar in collaboration with IIT Delhi.

FROM THE DG’s DESK

Amongst the soul-stirring happenings in India in the year gone by, none stands out with greater poignancy than the NSG ‘Operation Black Tornado’ against terrorists in Mumbai. The result oriented action of the NSG with successes on more fronts than one will reverberate in the corridors of time. The best of NSG unfolded during the operation when the nation and the world watched with bated breath. The operation was executed by the Black Cat Commandos with professionalism and surgical precision.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 had dawned like any other morning, but no one could have imagined that the events of the day would spill over to the next few days and cause an upheaval within the country and worldwide. Before the arrival of the NSG on the morning of Thursday, November 27th at the scene in Mumbai, 8 terrorists had spread death and mayhem by taking the life of police officers, common people and innocent guests and staff of two prestigious hotels with AK-47 rifles, pistols, explosives and grenades. Soon after their deployment, the NSG officers and Commandos went about their task with purpose and determination. The overriding concern was the protection and security of hostages, the hotel guests and staff.

Within 24 hours of their arrival, the NSG Commandos shot dead two of the terrorists at Hotel Oberoi – Trident and secured the premises thereby allowing search and rescue of frightened inmates in the rooms, restaurants and kitchens, etc. A few hours after taking control at Hotel Oberoi, the NSG also dominated Nariman House where another two terrorists were killed. The last shot by the NSG Commandos was fired on the morning of Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Hotel Taj – Heritage resulting in the neutralization of the remaining four terrorists in quick succession. After taking care of unexploded grenades, live ammunition strewn around and recovery of some loaded weapons, all the venues were rendered safe and made over by the NSG to the local authorities for attending to other legal formalities. Complete co-operation of Maharashtra Police, MARCOS, ATS of Mumbai Police, Indian Army personnel in cordoning off the places of incident enabled the NSG to attend to its job with undistracted dedication. The Fire Brigade did a splendid job in quickly extinguishing the flames in rooms set on fire by the terrorists.

We joined the nation in saluting two of our brave NSG Commandos namely, Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Hav Gajender Singh who made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives valiantly fighting the terrorists during ‘Operation Black Tornado’. Their sacrifices will not go in vain but will inspire all of us and spur the security forces across the nation to rededicate themselves in fighting terrorists and anti-social elements.

Many other tasks entrusted by the Government were accomplished by the NSG. Security cover was provided for the Indo African Summit held in April 2008 in New Delhi and the Beijing Olympics Torch Rally. Post blast investigation and bomb disposal was carried out following the serial blasts at Jaipur, Bangaluru, Ahmedabad, Surat, Assam, Delhi and Mumbai. Anti-sabotage checks were conducted on numerous occasions. The demand for sky marshals has been on the rise with an increase in domestic and international flights of airlines registered in the country. A joint exercise of NSG Commandos with GARUD of the Indian Air Force was held to coordinate and fine tune counter terrorist skills. It marked a new thrust in our preparedness and ability to combat terrorism or undertake a rescue mission.

The international seminar of the National Bomb Data Centre of NSG, held in Feb 2008 on the theme ‘Fighting Terror an Integrated Approach’, went a long way in synergizing our efforts in the task of combating terrorism in its varied manifestations.

Never before in modern times has the country needed highly trained special forces like the NSG capable of undertaking missions for making a breakthrough and dominating crisis situations. The vastness of the country, prevailing security scenario, economic development, rise in air traffic, etc have generated an increasing requirement for speedy response from the NSG in their duties as well as in reaching a trouble spot. Now the time has come for the NSG to spread its wings elsewhere in the country and the Government has decided, in principle, to open NSG Regional Centres.

The future portends greater testing times for the security forces of our country. Appropriate anti-terror laws, improved intelligence collection systems, use of latest technology, enforcement of responsibilities and duties by every citizen will definitely play a crucial role in the security and stability of our country from threats emanating across borders, over land, on water and in air.

The NSG will continue in its endeavour to meet the raised benchmarks and develop innovative methods to cope with the future security concerns of our country. Instead of being surprised, we must have ways to surprise the foe. Our earlier revamped training methods stand vindicated and we have to now further update and modernize our training modules with the times to enable the NSG Black Cat Commandos to execute their assigned tasks with utmost confidence and strength to live up to our motto: Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha.

The NSG has entered a glorious 25th year of its existence, studded with spectacular achievements. I take this opportunity to wish all the members of NSG and their families a very happy, healthful and prosperous New Year 2009. May the New Year turn your dreams into reality and all your efforts scale higher peaks.

JAI HIND.

REPORT FORM : BOMB BLAST (IED)

To enable the National Bomb Data Center to fulfill its role in the collection,
collation, interpretation and dissemination of technical information on the unlawful
use of explosives in India, this form should be completed and forwarded by mail
or fax to :-

Director, National Bomb Data Center
Training Centre, NSG
Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana –122051
Tele No – 0124-2864640/42

Fax - 0124-2338271
E-Mail - Director NBDC:
dir-nbdc@nic.in
Bomb Data Officer NBDC: bdo-nbdc@nic.in

STATISTICS OF BOMB BLASTS

As seen in the years gone by, this year too, the IEDs have remained the frontline weapon of the terrorist organisations to target the security forces and the civilian population alike. There have been 376 IED blast incidents out of a total 530 bombing incidents reported for the whole of India during 2007. The database for this summary is based on the reports forwarded by various organisations/agencies, internet and media.

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF BOMB BLASTS


LEGEND
2006
2007

DECREASE IN NUMBER OF BOMB BLASTS


LEGEND
2006 2007

NO CHANGE IN NUMBER OF BOMB BLASTS


LEGEND
2006 2007

BOMB BLAST FREE STATES / UNION TERRITORIES (2007)

Andaman and Nicobar

Chandigarh

Delhi

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Daman and Diu

Goa

Himachal Pradesh

Lakshadweep

Sikkim

NATIONAL BOMB DATA CENTRE


DO’S AND DON’TS FOR THE PEOPLE


Incidents of Bomb explosions are not new to the people of our country, especially in the case of those states and cities where the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by militants has been a regular feature. We are aware that bombing incidents can occur at any place like railway stations, bus terminals, markets, departmental stores and Government Offices. The basic aim is to cause injuries, create confusion and lower the morale of people.

The availability of Bomb Disposal (BD) squad in a particular area may ease out the problem as far as the disposal of Bombs is concerned. However the actions of neutralization and disposal of Bombs can take place once the BD Squad has been summoned and can reach the location well in time.

In most of the cases, the BD squad gets information regarding the bomb threat after the bomb blast has already taken place. In most of the cases if the information is received in time by the authorities the blasts can be averted and damage to life and property can be reduced.

Hence the task of giving the timely information regarding the presence of any suspicious object rests on the citizen/residents of the area. It is imperative that general awareness is generated in the mind of the public regarding noticing and reporting of suspicious object to the law enforcing agencies.

It is also important to note that mere informing the presence of any suspicious object by the common man is not adequate. The foremost task would be to ensure that the immediate vicinity of the object is vacated by the people so as to reduce the loss of innocent lives in the eventuality of explosion occurring before the Bomb Squad can reach the spot.

Instead of waiting for police to come and do the task, the people available in the area should carry out the following on noticing the suspected object:-

Clearing/evacuating the area.
Screening the object by putting sand bags around it.
Ensure that no one touches or approaches the suspected object.

Awareness of bomb security can be imparted to the masses by educating them on how to get into the habit of looking for suspicious objects and immediately informing the authorities and what sequence of actions they are required to take till arrival of law-enforcing agencies and/or BD Squad. Do’s and Don’ts in the event of a bomb threat would constitute a major point of focus in this awareness program.

Do’s

Always keep an eye for suspicious object.
Recognize an IED. Never handle an unclaimed object.
Notice your surrounding for anything out of place.
Evacuate all the persons immediately to a safe distance.
Open all windows and doors.
Remove all valuable and hazardous materials like fuel and electronic items.
Place sand bags around the suspected object. The height of sand bags should be
three times the height of suspected object.
Inform the bomb disposal squad.
Inform fire brigade, hospital and ambulance.
Do handle the package alone if you are duty bound to handle the object.

Don’ts

Do not spread rumors.
Do not touch, disturb, and approach the suspected object.
Do not try to submerge the suspicious object in water.
Do not try to open or puncture the suspicious object.
Do not try to be a dead hero.

SCHEDULE OF COURSES : 2008-09


Course Duration in weeks No of courses planned Capa-city per course

2008

2009

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

1

Police Commando Instructor

12

03

200

07

27

27

17

02

25

2

VIP Security

06

03

200

28

06

27

06

23

04

3

VIP Driving

03

04

30

01-20

10-29

05-24

16

04

4

Bomb Disposal (State Police)

06

03

100

07

16

25

04

03

13

5

Bomb Disposal (Defence / Central Police)

06

01

100

23

04

6

Bomb Disposal
Refresher

03

01

100

05-25

7

Post Blast Study

03

01

20

22

10

8

Left Wing Extremism

04

02

75

22

18

05-31

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR COURSES

CONDUCTED AT NSG TRAINING CENTRE, MANESAR, GURGAON, HARYANA

1. General. These joining instructions are meant to facilitate the trainees for the following courses at Manesar near Delhi :-

(a) Police Commando Instructors Course (PCIC).

(b) VIP Security Course.

(c) VIP Driving Course

(d) Bomb Disposal Course.

(e) Bomb Disposal Refresher Course (BDRC).

(f) Post Blast Study Course (PBSC).

(g) Left Wing Extremism Course (LWEC).

2. Location of Training Centre. The NSG Training Centre is located at Manesar, a village of Gurgaon District in Haryana. Manesar is situated on Delhi-Jaipur National Highway No . 8 and is approximately 50 Km from New Delhi Railway Station and 20 Km from Gurgaon Railway Station. It is approachable by bus from Delhi. All buses from Delhi / Gurgaon going towards Jaipur pass in front of the campus.

3. Postal Address. The postal address of the Training Centre is:-

Training Centre,

National Security Guard,

P.O . Manesar, District – Gurgaon,

Haryana –122051

4. Fax. The fax numbers are :-

(a) Trg Centre, NSG – 0124-2337799.
(b)
Manesar Exchange – 0124-2337053.

5. E Mail Address. The E Mail addresses are as under :-

(a) IG, Training Centre - igtrg@nsg.gov.in

(b) DIG Training Centre- digtrgcentre@nsg.gov.in

6. Important Telephone Numbers. Manesar telephone exchange can be accessed from Delhi and other places by prefixing 91 and using STD code 0124 respectively. The junctions numbers are from 2338157, 2338159 & 2864800.

7. Transport. Two NSG buses ply for NSG personnel from New Delhi and Old Delhi railway stations as under :-

(a) Departure from Old Delhi Railway Station 1130 and 1745 hrs.

(b) Departure from New Delhi Railway Station 1200 & 1800hrs.

(c) Departure from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (as required).

8. Own Arrangement of Transportation. Trainees arriving at other railway stations or by other modes of transport will have to make their own arrangement to reach Manesar.

9. Reception. All trainees nominated for various courses are required to report at the Training Centre, two clear days prior to commencement of the course. As all courses commence on Mondays, the trainees should arrive on preceding Saturdays. Trainees arriving directly at Training Centre, Manesar will report to Duty Clerk, Training Centre. A reception centre is set up at New Delhi and Old Delhi Railway Stations, next to the MCO Counter from 0800 to 1800 hrs for two days preceding the commencement of the course. The unit of the trainees is required to intimate the Training Centre, at least 15 days in advance, the name, rank, mode of travel and expected time of arrival of the trainees at the Railway Station / Bus Stand / Training Centre Gate, so that necessary arrangement for reception and transport can be organised.

10. Accommodation. All the trainees are accommodated at Training Centre, NSG. Gazetted officers are put up in the Officers’ Mess while ACs / SOs, Rangers / Consts are put up in JCOs’ / Rangers’ Messes respectively.

11. Medical Certificate. Each individual should have a medical test done before coming on the course and should carry a medical certificate from the concerned physician stating that the trainee is fit to undergo the subject course at NSG. However, the Medical Officer of Training Centre also examine the trainee and his decision is final.

12. Identity Card. Each trainee should be in possession of his photo identity card.

13. Photograph. Trainees will bring two latest passport size photographs duly attested.

14. Red Ink Entry. Individuals with red ink entry are not accepted for any course. A certificate to this effect from the individual’s unit will be sent along with the trainees. Trainees who are not in possession of such certificate are returned to unit (RTU).

15. Mess Maintenance Allowance (MMA). For the duration of the course, MMA with regard to Army officers is claimed by Training Centre. A certificate to this effect will be brought by the officer from the respective unit (No MMA will be claimed by the unit during the course duration).

16. Mess Advance. The trainees are requested to deposit mess advance for courses as mentioned in the appendices.

17. Leave. No leave is granted during the course except on compassionate grounds. Trainees who miss 10% of the working days of training , for any reasons, are RTU. Parent department must ensure that trainees detailed on courses are not recalled for court evidences, departmental courses, and such like duties during the course.

18. Pay and Allowances.

(a) Trainees should bring adequate money for their daily expenditure and for payment of messing charges. For courses exceeding one month, pay and allowances are remitted to the Commandant, Training Centre, Manesar by demand draft payable at SBI Extension Counter, NSG Campus (Code 3370) ( for other than Army pers). No advance / credit facilities can be extended by the Training Centre. It has been our experience that parent units faulter in sending the monthly salaries of individuals, causing acute hardship to trainees and leading to avoidable correspondence.

(b) Army pers attending a six week Bomb Disposal course starting in middle of the month would not have placed a demand in their parent unit for pay and allowances. Hence adequate money should be carried by such trainees to cater for their incidental expenses for the duration of the course.

19. Security of Valuables. The Training Centre has no arrangement for safe of custody of valuables. The trainees are advised not to bring valuables with them.

20. Bringing of Families. Trainees are strictly forbidden from bringing their families to Manesar. They are also advised not to bring their families with them and accommodate them under their own arrangements at Delhi / Gurgaon or any place in and around Manesar, as trainees are not permitted casual leave / out passes.

21. Dispersal. Trainees coming to Manesar for courses for a duration of four weeks or less are advised to arrange their return journey reservation in advance. In case of those attending courses of more than four weeks duration, return journey railway warrant should be brought by them to enable the Training Centre to arrange for their reservation. Transport will be provided from Manesar to Bus Terminals. No railway warrants will be provided by the Training Centre.

22. Library. The Training Centre has a well stocked library. It also subscribes to several popular and professional journals , periodicals and magazines. The library is open on all working days from 0900 hrs to 1530 hrs during winter and 0800 hrs to 1300 hrs during summer. For drawing of books, trainees may contact the librarian.

23. Medical. The Centre has an MI Room with Medical Officer. Serious cases are referred by the Medical Officer to the NSG Hospital located in the same garrison, where adequate medical facilities and specialists are available. More serious cases are evacuated to the Army Hospital / Civil Hospital at Delhi / Gurgaon. All ranks are advised to take adequate anti-malaria precautions during their stay at Manesar. ACR medical facilities do not exit in the NSG MI Room.

24. Gymnasium. The training Centre has a well equipped gymnasium with a full range of variable equipment and large number of stretching machines for physical conditioning by all ranks.

25. Sports and Games. Facilities for indoor and outdoor games are available. These include hockey, football, basket ball, volley ball, tennis, baseball and indoor games like carom, chess and table tennis. There will be compulsory games in the evening. All ranks must bring their game dress with them.

26. Cinema. The Station has an open air theatre where films are screened twice a week. A sum of Rs 10/-p.m is charged from all ranks. Satellite TV facility exists for viewing satellite channels through cable connection. Video films are also shown in the messes and recreation rooms.

27. Canteen and Co-operative Stores. The Training Centre runs a well stock CSD and Wet Canteen. In addition , the station has a Kendriya Bhandar to cater for the daily needs. No credit facilities are extended to the trainees. A shopping complex is also available in the Garrison.

28. Bank. There is a State Bank of India (Extension Counter) inside the Garrison. Its code number is 3370.

29. Post Office. A Sub Post Office functions within the Garrison. The postal address of the Centre is : Training Centre, NSG, PO: Manesar, District : Gurgaon, Harayana – 122051.

30. Weather. The weather in Manesar is akin to that of North Western India with severe winters and summers. Woollens are required from November to March. Manesar gets rains from June to September.

31. Adm Staff.

(a) Each State / CPO/ Defence Services will send the follower staff with their trainees as
under : -

Vacancies

Cook

Safaiwala

Barber

Washerman

Remarks

(i)

01 to 04 trainees

01

-

-

-

(ii)

05 to 10 trainees

01

*01

*01

*01

*any one out of three categories

(iii)

11 to 40 trainees

02

02

01

01

(iv)

41 to 100

03

02

02

02

(b) Follower staff should report minimum three days in advance for the purpose of continuity of payment between two courses and to establish the administrative infrastructure before arrival of trainees. There are instances when follower staff did not report to the Training Centre as per the prescribed scale. This had caused administrative problems to Training Centre. To avoid hardship to trainees it must be ensured that adequate follower staff is despatched to the Training Centre.

32. Stationery. Trainees should bring sufficient quantity of writing material / stationery required for the course as the same will not be issued by the Training Centre.

33. Last Ration Certificate (LRC). All officer trainees from Defence Services and CPOs should bring their Last Ration Certificate (LRC) or official letter from their unit / organisation stating that the officer is eligible to be issued rations in kind. The date upto which rations have been drawn by the officers in the previous unit must also be clearly mentioned.

34. Dissemination of Joining Instructions. From past experience it has been noticed that units detailing trainees on the courses are not given a copy of joining instructions by their department / headquarters resulting in ambiguity on various issues including awareness about the pre-course standards. It is requested that these joining instructions be disseminated down to all units concerned.

Followers