Navy officer penalised over junior`s death

New Delhi: A senior Navy officer has been awarded the punishment of loss of three years seniority by a court martial after a junior officer under his command died after drowning during an exercise off the coast of Gujarat two years ago. Under-training Sub Lieutenant Vipin Kumar had died during a sea swimming drill on December 29, 2011 while he was posted on frontline warship INS Talwar under the command of Captain Ajay Parmar (rank equivalent to Colonel in Army).

"Captain Ajay Parmar was court martialled and awarded the punishment of loss of three years of seniority and other associated punishments after he he was indicted by a Board of Inquiry for the death of the young officer," a Navy source said. After the incident, Captain Parmar was removed from the command of the warship and faced a Board of Inquiry. Sea swimming drill is part of survival training of young officers under which they are made to swim in sea. After the mishap, a number of ships and personnel were pressed into search and rescue operations but the officer`s body could not be located. INS Talwar is the lead ship of the Talwar class frigates of the Navy built in Russia and commissioned in 2003. It is a stealth frigate and has participated in various operations and exercises since her commissioning, including anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. PTI