Tired of insurgency, terrorism and border intrusions, the Indian Army decided to think out of the box. They went out and procured nearly two dozen “silent reconnaissance vehicles for missions beyond enemy lines” worth Rs. 1 crore (approx $210,000). And just to be extra conspicuous they disguised these “silent reconnaissance vehicles” as ………. golf carts. [TimesOnline UK] (tip Sandeep via email)
The scandal emerged in a scathing audit of the military’s recent spending by India’s civil servants after army chiefs were given powers over their expanding budgets to combat terrorism.
Nothing fools the terrorists like golf carts on the Al-Mujahideen golf course.
Of course, some sacrifices had to be made to procure these vital recon vehicles.
The report details how the army bought Dhruv helicopters that can fly to a height of only 5,000 metres (16,400ft) — well short of the 6,500 metres required to patrol the Himalayan battlefields. Thousands of Russian-made heavy artillery shells that do not fire were bought and the Northern Command, which oversees Kashmir, bought stretchers that were unsuitable for evacuating combat casualties.
And like the late king of infomercials would’ve said: “But wait! There’s more”.
An additional five golf buggies, worth 1.5 million rupees, were bought by the Western Command. It was claimed that the electric multi-utility vehicles were to be used to transport patients in military hospitals. Several actually went to courses in Ambala and Jalandhar.
No truth to the rumor that Jeev Milkha Singh has been appointed Minister of Defense.
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