Army asks defence ministry for 18000 new personnel to secure camps and military establishments

Indian Army has asked the Defence Ministry to approve raising 370 new platoons (around 18,000 personnel) of the Defence Security Corps (DSC). These personnel would be imparted with better training with weapons like AK-47 assault rifles and light-machine guns (LMGs).

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This is needed to strengthen the security for military camps and establishments across India.

A tri-service committee, chaired by former Army Vice-Chief Lt-General Philip Campose (Retd), had recently submitted a report on alleged gaping holes in the security infrastructure of defence installations in the country. The report, apparently, has been made after an extensive audit last year.

However, the government has not yet begun implementing the committee’s recommendations, even though there have been several terrorist attacks on military bases like Pathankot, Uri and Nagrota in the recent past.

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As per the Defence Ministry, it has issued "broad guidelines" based on the recommendations to the Army, Navy and IAF headquarters.

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It was a recommendation of this committee that the DSC be revamped. As of now, it consists of over 64,500 jawans that arw re-employed after they retire from the armed forces.

The Army seems to have agreed to this recommendation, which is why it has asked for equipping each of the 370 new platoons (a full platoon has a junior commissioned officer and 55 other ranks) with at least two LMGs and a light 2.5-tonne vehicle, along with bullet-proof jackets, headgear and night-vision devices.

As per an ET source, the initial cost for raising these 370 platoons will be around Rs 1.3 crore.

(Image source LiveMint)