7 Chandigarh ex-jawans pack their bags for Mission Iraq

Undeterred by the controversy over recruitment of ex-servicemen for Mission Iraq or reports of the pitiable working conditions there, seven ...

Undeterred by the controversy over recruitment of ex-servicemen for Mission Iraq or reports of the pitiable working conditions there, seven retired Army personnel from this city are set to leave for Iraq next week.

Selected two months ago, the seven — all were jawans and are now in the age group 42-45 years — are expected to leave between May 11 and 13. They will be the first batch of ex-servicemen from Chandigarh to head for Iraq.

Confirming this, Capt Swaran Salaria, chairman of Trig Guardforce, the private security agency taking them there, said the new recruits would be informed of their itinerary three days before departure.

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A total of 25 ex-servicemen, including some retired officers, were being sent, he said.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Mumbai, he said: ‘‘These jawans will be getting Rs 40,000 in hand besides free food and boarding. They would be working as security guards in establishments as directed by our principal employer.’’

While they will initially be taken to Kuwait, Salaria admitted that they could be deployed anywhere after that: ‘‘Once in Kuwait, they would be given assignments as per the requirement of the US forces. Arrangements for their stay have been made on the Kuwait-Iraq border, though they may be posted elsewhere as per demand.’’

	Under the scanner

	• NEW DELHI: The Protectorate of Emigrants will act against private security agencies if laws have been flouted in despatching ex-servicemen to Iraq. Its report to the MEA is expected Thursday. Service clauses on reservist liability are being looked at to stop such recruitment. — ENS

Delhi-based Capt Arfan, who selected the jawans in Chandigarh, said special emphasis was laid on physical fitness and shooting skills of the candidates. ‘‘Since the Western Command Headquarters is in Chandigarh, we carried out the selections here. Basically, we assessed their levels of physical fitness besides scrutinising their documents. The visas were done in Delhi and have been forwarded to the Mumbai office,’’ he said. On the working conditions, Salaria said the recruits would be taken to their respective work fields at sunrise everyday, and brought back to the base about an hour before sunset. ‘‘Escorts would be provided to them to ensure their safety,’’ he added. The dollar dreams, however, come with a rider. All the selected candidates are required to sign a six-month agreement, which can be extended by another six months. ‘‘The maximum period of appointment would be one year,’’ said Salaria.

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According to him, there are about 50 vacancies for ex-servicemen in Iraq at present. ‘‘We are going slow as locals are creating some problems for the US Army there for the last two-three months. Keeping this in mind, we are abiding by certain norms laid down by our principal employers since we do not want people to take any kind of risk when they land in Kuwait,’’ he said.