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Air Force can use fire against Naxals: Antony | The Union Government on Wednesday clarified that there is no permission required to exercise the right to self-defence. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had asked for permission to fire on Naxals to avoid any ambiguity. Replying to a question
raised by lawmakers K Malaisamy and NR Govindarajar over IAF asking for permission
to open fire during anti-Naxal operations, Defence Minister AK Antony said: "While
permission is not required to exercise the right to self-defence, based upon past
experience and intelligence input the Indian Air Force has sought approval of
the Government for 'Rules of Engagement' for self-defence. These have been proposed
to avoid any ambiguity and damage/injury to the helicopter and to the occupants."
Earlier, the IAF had approached the Defence Ministry for permission to fire on
Maoists if their copters are attacked. The IAF has deployed copter to assist the
state forces in their combat against Maoists in Central India. Replying to another
question raised by Bala Apte over the production of Light Combat Helicopter, Antony
said : "The design and development programme for Light Combat Helicopter was approved
in October 2006. The first prototype (technology demonstrator) is expected to
get the initial operation clearance by around mid 2011." "There is a proposal
for export of indigenously developed helicopters. HAL has exported five numbers
of the indigenously developed Helicopters Dhruv to Ecuador and one to Mauritius,"
he added. |
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