Lok Sabha Question No. 231 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Deaths of Soldiers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.231

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## DEATHS OF SOLDIERS

*231.  DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: DR. BHARATIBEN  D. SHYAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether around 1600 soldiers from Indian Army die without going to war every year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether all such deaths were investigated properly, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the preventive steps taken / being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the number of persons from Armed Forces permitted premature retirement during the last three years and the current year?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 231 FOR ANSWER ON 3.1.2018

(a) & (d): In the current year 84 army personnel have suffered fatal Battle Casualities and 1131 army personnel have suffered fatal Physical Casualities (Road accidents, Train accidents and other reasons). All operational  casualties  are  analysed  by  initiation of detailed situation reports and after action reports.  These reports are examined in detail and lessons learnt from previous operations are promulgated to all formations, units and sub-units. The shortcomings of operations conducted  are  meticulously  deliberated  to  refine  the  battle  drills.    These drills are thereafter imbibed by new units during Pre Induction Training and also to the units deployed in operational area. Realistic  training  on  conduct  of  Counter Insurgency  /  Counter

Terrorism (CI  /  CT)  operations  is  being  imparted to  all  personnel  prior to their  deployment  in  CI  /  CT  environment.    In  addition,  routine  training  is being  conducted  at  unit  /  sub-unit  level  on  nuances  of  conduct  of successful  CI  /  CT  operations.    Furthermore,  After  Action  Reviews  are being conducted after all operations / terrorist initiated incidents.  Lessons drawn  from  such  reviews  have  been  incorporated  to  enable  effective conduct of operations and to avert unwarranted casualties.

The steps taken by the Indian Army are as follows:

- (I) The Army has adopted a robust counter infiltration strategy which has  an  appropriate  mix  of  technology  and  human  resource  put together to check infiltration effectively. Innovative troop deployment, proactive use of surveillance and monitoring devices and the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System have enhanced the ability to detect and intercept terrorists attempting to infiltrate / exfiltrate. The trends of infiltration are being constantly monitored at various levels and requisite actions are initiated to minimise infiltration.
- (II) On occurrence of any Terrorist Initiated Incident or otherwise, the Army  carries  out  review  of  the  security  arrangements  of  all  its camps,  garrisons  and  installations.    Based  on  these  reviews, suitable drills and procedures are adopted to counter such threats. Some of the measures employed are as follows:
- (a) Appraisal and upgradation of intelligence gathering capabilities.
- (b) Upgradation of perimeter defence and surveillance capability.

:  2  :

- (c) Provision of suitable weapons and equipment to soldiers.
- (d) Rehearsals of drills to counter terrorist action.
- (e) Timely casualty evacuation and adequacy of medical facilities.
- (III)  Issues of infiltration / suspicious activity close to LC are taken up regularly  with  Pakistan through  military  channels  via  established mechanism of Hot Line Messages and scheduled DDG / DMO talks.
- (e) The  number  of  persons  from  Armed  Forces  permitted  premature retirement during the last three years and the current year is as follows:
- # Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)/Premature Retirement from Service is not applicable in Airmen cadre.

| Year   | Army     | Army     | Navy     | Navy    | Air Force#   |
|--------|----------|----------|----------|---------|--------------|
| Year   | Officers | JCOs/ORs | Officers | Sailors | Officers     |
| 2014   | 126      | 12703    | 74       | 32      | 108          |
| 2015   | 62       | 9296     | 130      | 16      | 59           |
| 2016   | 201      | 12307    | 142      | 26      | 186          |
| 2017   | 204*     | 12600*   | 30       | 15      | 200          |

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