Withdrawal of TA from Sitabuldi Fort to have long term repercussions
| Date :03-Nov-2019 |
The entrance of 118 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army at Sitabuldi Fort.
By Vikas Vaidya :
It came like a bombshell when the Southern Command, Pune, directed 118 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army (TA) to vacate the Sitabuldi Fort and move its base to Bhusawal with immediate effect. It was a surprising as well as disheartening for retired Territorial Army Personnel as for no reason the TA was withdrawn. Sub Area HQ, known as UMANG was brought in place of TA. 118 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army (TA) was in Nagpur for the last 80 years.
Participants of a recruitment drive conducted by 118 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army at Sitabuldi Fort. (File photo)
According to retired TA personnel the unit is being given offending treatment for the reasons best known to authorities. These retired personnel feel the injustice is not being made only on TA but on Vidarbha too. UMANG (Uttar, Maharashtra and Gujarat), the Army unit could have sent to Kamptee cantonment and it was most suitable where ample land is readily available with Army for the same or to Bhusawal also where several buildings are vacant. Sitabuldi Fort got connected to 118 TA battalion that has completed 80 years of its existence.
It was established in year 1939 and became known as Nagpur Terriers and ex-personnel calls the action as the violation of regulations guidelines of Regional Army. UMANG was provided temporary accommodation at Sitabuldi Fort as land was being scouted for them. However, the pristine surroundings of fort seem to have enticed the Army officials who now are keen to set permanent base and hence TA is being moved out of Nagpur, opined retired officials. With its withdrawal from Sitabuldi Fort and from Nagpur too, the purpose of Territorial Army got defeated. Now there will be no unit of Territorial Army in Vidarbha. The unit will not be there is only one aspect.
Another very important setback that Vidarbha’s youngsters suffer. The youths of Vidarbha would not get opportunity to join Territorial Army, as in future the recruitment drives would be conducted in Bhusawal Expressing regret over the development, some officials said the competent authorities have given partial treatment to TA. Is it a kind of ‘award’ for doing so much good work, asks a retired official sarcastically. Now, Sitabuldi Fort becomes out of bound for civilians and the occasional education trip on weekend was stopped by Army personnel.
Nagpurians would rarely get a chance to view inside of Fort. This is another disadvantage to be experienced by the citizens. People from Nagpur and Vidarbha were able to give lessons of knowing more about fort and Territorial Army to their wards which would become a distant part now. The ex-personnel also questioned the haste on part of senior Army authorities as 118 TA is given deadline to wind up its establishment at Sitabuldi Fort. Territorial Army has made immense contribution in 1962, 1965, 1975 wars and in Kargil War too. Even after making so much contribution, withdrawing them in this manner would result in losing their morale, pointed out an official. Most important loss that Vidarbha would experience is of security. This is an act of total neglect from security point of view. Territorial Army had played active role in city’s security too. Some persons have decided to approach Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis but they are not very much hopeful of any positive move.