Bodies replace urns as Army changes policy

A case to revise the policy had been taken up with the MoD by a senior officer, presently a lieutenant general posted at Army Headquarters, during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, after observing problems intransporting the bodies of personnel killed during counter-insurgency operations.

Till then, special permission had to be obtained from the MoD every time bodies had to be airlifted by service aircraft. Given the time and paperwork involved and the lack of adequate medical facilities and morgue in forward areas, the pragmatic option had been to cremate the bodies at the battle front.

This policy dates back to the orders passed by the British during the Second World War to suit their own interests. 8220;One reason could have been the massive cost involved in airlifting casualties, especially from overseas battle zones,8221; says an officer. 8220;Also, this way the exact number of casualties could be concealed,8221; he adds.

Opinion on this policy, said to be 8220;borrowed8221; from the United States, however, is divided. Officers say that with the tricolour-draped coffins reaching towns across the country, the sacrifices made by the soldiers have not only become more visible, but the last rites being performed at nativeplaces has mobilised the entire community towards a national cause.

8220;It is a good move and has had a positive impact on people. They feel close to and involved in what is going on,8221; says Lt Gen Retd J L Malhotra, former Chief of Staff, Northern Command. 8220;However, these operations have been restricted to a small theatre and one wonders if this would have been possible in case of an all-out war,8221; he added.

8220;A Western Air Command signal disseminated to various formations in June directed IAF commanders to give priority to transport the mortal remains of armed force personnel killed during Operation Vijay,8221; an Air Force officer here says. 8220;Local commanders are now empowered to authorise the airlift of fatal casualties without obtaining prior sanction of higher authorities,8221; he adds.

Sending bodies back to native places, however, could also have an adverse impact. 8220;I am against this. Showing women and children wailing has a negative impact and will not motivate the youth to join the Army or girlsto marry army personnel,8221; says Brig K S Kang Retd, former Director Sainik Welfare, Punjab. 8220;It is a wrong precedent as it is not achieving any purpose of patriotism. Only the affected families have projected patriotic feelings, while a majority of the people, particularly the elite seem to have remained unaffected. Moreover, we are making pitiable cases of war widows by parading them all over,8221; he adds.

During earlier operations, it was only in odd cases that the bodies could be sent back to the soldiers8217; native places or that the relatives could come to the battle zone and collect the bodies at their own expense.

As a policy decision implemented a few months back, the Indian Airlines airlifts coffins containing bodies of soldiers killed in war, free of charge. An escort or relative accompanying the coffin has to travel on a full ticket, but is reimbursed by the Army.

Sources add that even with the change in policy, things could be different in case of an all-out war. 8220;At present, operations areconfined to just one theatre. During a war, manpower, transport and time may just not available for sending bodies back,8221; says an officer. 8220;Evacuating the wounded, logistic support and troop movements could take precedencequot;.