New Delhi: After some of its officers were beaten by sailors on-board a warship, an Indian Navy panel has recommended that junior sailors and under-trainees be made to go through extensive drills and parade practice to address the issue. 

In March 2017, four sailors had to be airlifted from naval warship INS Sandhyak during its routine deployment in the Bay of Bengal after they had a fight with officers on board. A board of inquiry was instituted under a senior officer to probe the matter, which made several recommendations to avoid such incidents in the future. 

“One of the major recommendations of the board was to carry out extensive drills and parade practice for under-trainees and junior sailors through a harbour-training programme,” a Navy circular accessed by MyNation said.

The circular issued by the directorate of naval training issued to all commands of the maritime force also asked the formations to submit regular updates on complying with the orders.

In the armed forces since the British era, troops were harassed by means of additional physical training and other drills.
 
Last year in March, the Navy had said, “INS Sandhyak, while on a routine deployment off Paradip in the Bay of Bengal, reported an incident of insubordination involving young sailors.”

The Navy confirmed that the young sailors involved in the incident had been directed to disembark the vessel to facilitate the investigation. 

The Navy has taken strict disciplinary action against the sailors involved in the brawl with officers and some of them have even been court-martialled from service.