SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE AT VAYU BHAWAN

My grievance about grant of gallantry award  recommended in recognition of my role during Bangladesh Ops of 1971 submitted to Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances has now reached Shri. Amitab Ranjan Sinha, Director Air III, Vayu Bhawan. His contact phone number: 23016326. Indian Air Force Officer Parvez Jamasji, helicopter pilot who served in the rank of Flight Lieutenant during 1971 had received Vir Chakra award for his participation in the same military operation. Apparently, my petition is being processed at Vayu Bhawan as my Unit(South Column – Special Frontier Force) received airlift support from this Air Force helicopter pilot. I would ask my readers to speak to Shri. Amitab Ranjan Sinha and request him to process my petition at an early date.

Rudranarasimham Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162, USA
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:: Grievance Status ::

PORTAL FOR
PUBLIC GRIEVANCES

Brought to you by Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances

Government of India

Grievance Status

Status as on 11 Jul 2015

Registration Number:DARPG/E/2013/82606

Name Of Complainant:R R Narasimham

Date of Receipt:07 Sep 2013

Received by:Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances

Forwarded to:Director Air III

Officer name:Shri Amitab Ranjan Sinha

Officer Designation:Director

Contact Address:Room No.364, Vayu Bhawan DHQ, PO New Delhi

Contact Number:23016326

Grievance Description:

Dear Sir, or Madam,

This grievance pertains to the following petitions registered by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. 1. MODEF/E/2011/00761 dated 24 Sep 2011, 2. CABST/E/2012/00154 dated 26 May 2012, 3. DARPG/E/2013/82597 dated 07 Sep 2013, and 4. MODEF/E/2013/01709 dated 05 Sep 2013.

1.A gallantry award is granted in recognition of a past event and the gallant action would always exist as a past event.

2. In the history of Republic of India, for the first time during 1971, the Prime Minister sanctioned a military action that was not planned by Army/Ministry of Defence.

3. Operation Eagle in which I had the honour to participate was not planned and executed under orders issued by Army Headquarters/Ministry of Defence.

4. The gallant action did not happen in the context of a border skirmish or that of a border conflict. It was not related to the Official War between India and Pakistan that was declared by the Prime Minister on 04 December 1971.

5. The gallant action pertains to a deliberate, planned attack deep inside the territory defended by the Enemy’s Regular Army. I had marched with the men to participate in the attack.

6. The battlefield casualties were treated at the Enemy Post we captured and not in Indian territory.

7. There was no Regimental Aid Post at the border, inside Indian territory. The treatment of battle casualties began at the site of battle, about 40 miles from the border.

8.The Brigade Headquarters which had the primary responsibility for airlifting of battle casualties could not dispatch the helicopter as the Prime Minister did not sanction the violation of Pakistan’s airspace during the first phase of Operation Eagle in the month of November 1971.

9. I as the Unit Medical Officer went beyond the call of my duty to ensure a safe, and timely evacuation of the battlefield casualties. I had marched a distance of over 80 miles from Sunrise to Sunset to complete my task inside the Enemy territory while the Enemy was still dispersed in the area.

10. Indian Army concluded its phase of military operations inside Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 when the Enemy totally surrendered. However, Operation Eagle concluded its military operation during January 1972.

11. The fact that the Prime Minister had established the eligibility criteria for the sanction of military awards, honours, and decorations to the participants of Operation Eagle could be proved by the simple fact that the Gallantry Award of Vir Chakra was given to Shri. G B Velankar, a civilian officer of my Unit who was allowed the use of Major’s rank on a honorary basis.

12. Under the battle plan of Operation Eagle, to grant military awards, the Prime Minister did not impose any time constraints as it was not a battle operation launched by Indian Army.

13. The citation that recommended the grant of Vir Chakra for my gallant action during Operation Eagle was initiated by Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan of my Unit, it was reviewed and recommended by Brigade Commander, Brigadier T S Oberoi, and it was finally approved and recommended by the Formation Commander, Major General Sujan Singh Uban.

14. Special Frontier Force had strictly followed the guidelines included in the battle plan of Operation Eagle and the citation was directly submitted to the Director of Medical Services(Army), Medical Directorate, Army Headquarters, New Delhi before the conclusion of Operation Eagle.

15. I am not responsible for delivering the citation to the MS Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi while I am on operational duty in the field. If the Medical Directorate had failed in the performance of its duty, I should not be penalized.

Date of Action:27 May 2015