Ex-gratia for employees for fatal incidents: Election Commission

With engagement of about 4.5 lakh government employees in the twin elections in Odisha, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced upto Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for any fatal incident, official sources said.

"If any official dies following a Naxal attack or is killed by anti-social activities during the election duty, the family members of the person concerned will get Rs 20 lakh as ex-gratia," an official release by the Chief Electoral Officer Odisha said.

The commission has also declared that the officials engaged for election work will be provided an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh in case of any fatal incident.

The EC announcement came after a large number of government employees expressed their unwillingness to undertake electioneering activities in Naxal infested areas, which are going to polls on April 10 in the first phase.

The pollings are scheduled to be held in the Left Wing Extremism (LEW) hit districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Bolangir, Malkangiri, Nuapada Kalahandi, Senepur, Ganjam and Gajapati.

Most of these districts are bordering Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattishgarh, sources said.

"The polling will be conducted in Maoist-hit areas under the tight security cover by engaging personnel of central para-military force," said Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ex-gratia-for-employees-for-fatal-incidents-election-commission-1975349

BSF to get 2 choppers for anti-Maoist operations

NEW DELHI The Border Security Force (BSF) air wing will get two new advanced military helicopters by this year-end for aiding security forces in anti-Maoist operations. 

The new choppers, Mi-17 (V-5 variants), are part of the first batch of the machines which will be delivered to the Border Security Force under the eight-helicopter deal that the force is expected to get as part of modernisation of its air fleet. 

“We are hopeful of getting two helicopters by this year-end, preferably in September. This is part of the eight-chopper package that our air wing is supposed to get,” BSF chief Subhash Joshi said. 

The new choppers will add to the existing fleet of eleven helicopters which are currently tasked to carry troops, material and casualty evacuation in Maoist violence affected states. Both Indian Air Force and BSF choppers are part of this existing fleet. 

Joshi said the new choppers are expected to be deployed first in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) theatre. 

These helicopters are advanced versions of the existing fleet of Mi-17s and will be equipped with sophisticated avionics and on-board navigation systems making them more suitable for both day and night operations in Maoist-affected areas. 

The Mi-17 V-5 helicopters have an on-board weather radar along with the state-of-the art autopilot and latest night vision devices which are at present not available with the Mi-17s. 

Source: Oman Tribune 16 March, 2014