Of Fake Killlings and
Gallantry Awards
By Yoginder Kandhari
ENQUIRY into the fake killings in Siachen is
getting murkier by the day. Everyday there are
allegations and counter allegations in the
enquiry proceedings and these are widely covered
by the media. This open enquiry has tarnished
the image of Indian Army no end. In recent times
it is second major blow to its reputation after
the infamous Tehalka expose. That a
soldier can stoop so low as to fake enemy
killings In order to get decorated is indicative
of the fact that the moral fiber in army is
already tattered beyond repair. Sadly, such
exposes rob the sheen out of legitimate acts of
bravery and false the luster of medals awarded
in recognition.
It needs to be understood that gallantry awards
have often left a trail of doubt about them. One
need not dig deep into history to substantiate
this. Instances are galore in none too distant
past when gallantry awards were dished out on
narrow parochial considerations or as cover ups.
Citations for awards are often jugglery of words
to conjure up battle situations and superimpose
those with imaginary acts of bravery.
In this context one can not help but
cite an instance from Indian Army's sojourn in
Sri Lanka. An operation was launched by a Gorkha
battalion in Nitikaikulam to clear the
town of terrorists. A fierce encounter ensued in
which more than a dozen soldiers were killed and
many times more injured, forcing the battalion
to withdraw leaving the dead and injured behind.
The injured included their commanding officer
(CO). Unit authorities had the audacity to
declare the CO to be dead. This infuriated the
then force commander of Indian Army in Sri
Lanka, who incidentally was from the same
battalion, so much so that unit was forced to
launch another operation in the same area to
retrieve the dead and the injured as also the
honour of the unit. Hell was let loose when the
CO's wife found out that the urn handed over to
her did not, in fact, contain her husband's
ashes. After a lot of hue and cry, as a
compromise settlement with the family, a
gallantry award was itched to the commanding
officer posthumously.
One can keep on citing instances to substantiate
the issue in point but the moot point, as to
what motivates army brass to resort to such
dishonest practices, remains unaddressed. Given
the restricted promotional avenues on offer in
army, it is but natural for the people to trick
the system to gain fair/unfair advantage in the
selection process and manipulating gallantry
awards is one such way.
Besides gallantry awards, there is a middle
course as well to circumvent the system to one's
advantage. Rather than going the risky way of at
least having to 'qualify' for the a gallantry
award by way of risk prone postings like those
in insurgency infested areas, at times, towards
end of command tenures commanding officers
manage move of units to Siachen to just 'earn'
one battle report and move out of the area
leaving the troops to rough out the balance of
tenure. Needless to say such battle reports
carry more weightage in promotion boards than
the peacetime ones. The intent in all such cases
is too obvious and message is carried loud and
clear to the subordinates. In fact it is a quid
pro quo between the superiors and the juniors
and in Siachen fake killing issue too same
equation seems to have prevailed till the CO and
Major Surinder Singh fell apart. Thereafter
operation 'cover up' seems to have been let
loose to save respective skins. If Major
Surinder is guilty of fake killings equally
guilty are the superiors at all levels as also
the system which breeds such a culture.
Outcome of Siachen enquiry can easily be
foretold. All enquiries in army follow a
preordained script just like a typical Hindi
movie. Lesser mortals will be punished severely
while others with clout and position will walk
away with mere admonitions and then there will
be an interlude till one fine morning we wake up
to another expose. This vicious cycle will
continue unless basic issues involved are
addressed. It is a sorry situation where one
finds a fine organization going astray. Army as
an institution needs professional interventions
to set it in order if we do not want numerous
supreme sacrifices by the real soldiers to go
waste.
Source: Daily Excelsior, July 27th, 2004
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