Monthly Archives: August 2018

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 13

The Border Security Force on Wednesday accused Pakistan of not honouring the agreement made between Directors-General of Military Operations of the two countries on May 29 to fully implement the 2003 ceasefire pact on the International Border.Kamal Nath Choubey, Additional Director General, Jammu Frontier, BSF, talking to the media after the wreath-laying of the martyred soldiers, said: “Ceasefire is always a bilateral decision, we have always maintained the sanctity of the ceasefire, but Pakistan has always violated it. The decision was meant to be honoured, but Pakistan didn’t.”He said Pakistan was violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control repeatedly, but India had never done so.“Due to the experience with Pakistan, the BSF is always prepared for retaliation. There is no let-up in border surveillance, neither during ceasefire nor other times,” the ADG said.“Every instrument required to protect the territorial integrity of the border is maintained,” he added.Earlier, the wreath-laying ceremony was organised at Frontier Headquarters of the BSF at Jammu to pay tributes to the four personnel. The cremation of the martyrs will be done at their respective hometowns. The ADG said the nation would remain indebted to the brave border men for their supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty.The wreath-laying was attended by legislators Bali Bhagat, Chander Prakash Ganga and Gagan Bhagat, DGP SP Vaid and other senior officers of the BSF, police and the administration.BJP making forces ‘sitting ducks’: CongJammu: The killing of four BSF soldiers on the border evoked a strong reaction from opposition parties, which are accusing the ruling BJP of making security personnel “sitting ducks” to reap political benefits. “Pakistan’s repeated treacherous acts during Ramzan shows that it is taking advantage of the fact that the Narendra Modi-led government lacks a clear policy to deal with it effectively and silence it in an appropriate manner to maintain peace on borders,”a J&K Pradesh Congress Committee statement said.  Mehbooba pays tributes to martyrs, calls for peaceSrinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep anguish and grief over the death of four BSF personnel, including an officer, in Pakistani shelling in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district on Wednesday. Paying tributes to the slain personnel, the CM reiterated her demand for cessation of hostilities along the borders to protect lives and properties of border people. She said the suspension of operations elsewhere in the state had given the people a sigh of relief and hoped the same would be extended to the borders and an atmosphere of peace would return to these areas. The CM extended her sympathies to the bereaved families while praying for peace to the departed souls. 

As children, many of us have dreamt of following our father’s footsteps once we grow up. On the night of June 12, 1999, Hitesh Kumar was only six-years-old when his father, a lance naik in the 2nd Battalion of Rajputana Rifles was killed in Tololing, in Kargil. Upon hearing the news of his father’s demise, a young Hitesh decided that he would grow up and join the Indian Army.

Today, after 19 odd years, Hitesh has achieved what he had dreamt as a child. After successfully passing out from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, he has been commissioned in the Indian Army as a lieutenant.

To add to it, Hitesh will also be serving in the same battalion as his father. Times Of India reported that right after the passing out parade, Hitesh paid tribute to his father, Bachan Singh, at the memorial built in lance naik Bachan Singh’s memory in the Civil Lines area of Muzaffarnagar.

A Tough Childhood

Life was very difficult for the family ever since Bachan Singh was martyred. However, his wife Kamesh Bala soldiered on, dedicating her life to the task of raising two sons.

Talking to Times Of India, the mother said, “It has been a difficult life since Bachan was martyred. I dedicated my life to raising my two sons. Today I am proud that Hitesh was commissioned into the Army. His younger brother, Hemant, is also preparing to join the Army. There is nothing more I could ask for.”

Hitesh told the daily, “For 19 years, I dreamt of joining the Army. It became my mother’s dream too. Now I want to serve my country with pride and honesty.”

The 2nd Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, one of the senior-most rifle regiments in the Indian Army, won Tololing, marking India’s first success at Kargil.

Bachan Singh was shot in the head and died on the battlefield at Tololing. On the very same day 17 others also died fighting, said Rishipal Singh, who was in Bachan’s battalion, to Times of India.

According to official Indian government figures, the three-week-long Kargil war killed 527 Indian Army Soldiers and left many injured.

Jamnagar, June 8

An Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet on Friday developed a technical snag during landing at the Jamnagar Air Force base, an IAF official said.The pilot of the aircraft is safe as he ejected in time, said the official.”At around 9:20 am, the pilot of a Jaguar aircraft, on a routine mission from Jamnagar, safely ejected when the aircraft developed a snag during the landing phase. It was a minor accident. Pilot is safe,” said the official.He said a court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the incident.According to him, the plane has not crash landed, as it had only developed a technical snag.There was only minor damage to the fighter jet, he said.The incident comes just three days after another Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Kutch in which senior IAF pilot Air Commodore Sanjai Chauhan was killed.Air Commodore Chauhan, a recipient of the Vayu Sena Medal and the Air Officer Commanding of Jamnagar Air Force Station, died when the deep penetration plane crashed in a field in Bareja village on June 5. PTI

Chandigarh, June 7

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said his government would provide compensation to the Punjabi settlers whose shops were gutted during the recent violence in Shillong.The CM, who met the four-member committee headed by Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, on their return from the strife-torn areas of Shillong, said the Punjab Government would also assist the settlers in completing an under-construction community-run school.He said his government would also provide legal guidance to the affected families, if required. Capt Amarinder also said he would speak to his counterpart in Meghalaya and the Home Minister, requesting them to take steps to instil confidence in Punjabi settlers.Randhawa told the CM that the gurdwara and the school run by the Punjabi community had not been damaged, but two shops and two vehicles belonging to the community members had been burnt. — TN

Srinagar, June 5

Militants attacked an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday evening, sparking of a gunfight, police said.Militants attacked the camp of 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Hajin area of Bandipora.”Army retaliated the militants’ fire and heavy firing exchanges are now going on in the area,” said a police officer.Four to six militants came from two sides of army camp and Hajin police station and fired eight rounds of Underbarrel Grenade Launcher, news agency ANI said.More details are awaited.

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 28

The people of the Pangi region in Chamba district are facing the problem of poor mobility between Keylong in the tribal district of Lahaul Spiti and Killar in Chamba district because of poor road condition. The road is narrow and bumpy due to which Himachal Road Transport Corporation is finding it tough to run its new model buses (star buses) on the route. The star buses are bigger in size as compared to the old buses.Regional Manager of the HRTC at Keylong Mangal Chand Manepa said a trial of 37-seater star bus was conducted on this route. During the trial the roof of the bus got stuck with rock cliffs at several places.Talking to The Tribune, Manepa said, “During the trial of a star bus on this route it was found that the road was not suitable for its plying. At several places the rooftop of the bus got stuck with cliffs on the roadside, which may pose a threat to the commuters for safe traveling. However, when we removed the carrier of the bus the trial was smooth.”“The old model buses are not in good condition but we have adequate number of new model star buses. To facilitate the people of Pangi region with better transportation facility we have urged the Border Roads Organization to widen this road”, he said.A large number of tourists and people from Lahaul and Pangi region use this 140-km-long road for travelling in summer season either to visit Lahaul or Chamba or vice versa.But bad condition of this road makes the journey tedious and risky.The Regional Manager stated that the HRTC wanted to run the 47-seater star bus service on this route to cope up with the rush of passengers provided the BRO develops the road for smooth travel. BRO Commander Colonel AK Awasthi was not available for the comment.Bus trial on the routeRegional Manager of the HRTC at Keylong Mangal Chand Manepa said a trial of 37-seater star bus was conducted on this route. During the trial the roof of the bus got stuck with rock cliffs at several places.

A member of the IAF, on Guard of Honour duty, faints during the ceremonial reception of Seychelles President Danny Antoine Rollen Faure at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Monday, June 25, 2018. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with an IAF soldier who fainted while presenting the guard of honour to visiting Seychelles President Danny Antoine Rollen Faure during his ceremonial reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday, June 25, 2018.  PTI

New Delhi, June 25

The summer heat took its toll on an IAF personnel who collapsed during the guard of honour ceremony organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for visiting Seychelles President Danny Faure.Faure, who is on his first bilateral visit to India, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi on Monday morning.After the ceremony ended and the dignitary had left, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked up to the airman and enquired about his health.Modi asked him to be careful about his health.After spending a few minutes with him, Modi left for his official residence, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said.The airman had fainted when the guard of honour was being presented to the visiting dignitary. He was attended by his colleagues and others present there. – PTI

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 20

Governor NN Vohra reviewed a wide range of security management issues relating to the state with senior civil, police, Army and Central intelligence agency officers in a meeting held at Raj Bhawan here on Wednesday.The meeting also reviewed important security issues related to the annual Amarnath yatra which is scheduled to commence on June 28, and identified certain issues to be dealt with on an urgent basis.Referring to a recent incident, the Governor stressed the need for prompt action being taken to ensure the safety and security of people at large by making full use of all available technologies.While reiterating the importance of maintaining constant surveillance of the ground situation, the Governor directed that immediate action must be taken on reports received from any quarters regarding any problem arising from security management. He directed the Chief Secretary to closely monitor and ensure prompt redressal of all difficulties and grievances relating to the felt needs of people and, besides, see that there was no delay in the implementation of welfare measures and developmental works on the ground.The Governor stressed the need of a cohesive action being taken to enforce constant vigil on the International Border and Line of Control, effectively maintaining internal security and ensuring the safety of protected persons, sensitive establishments and installations. In this context, he asked representatives of all the security forces and agencies to identify all existing gaps and ensure coordinated action on the ground for providing prompt and strong counter terror responses on all fronts.The meeting was attended by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Command chief; BB Vyas, Chief Secretary; SP Vaid, Director General of Police; Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to the Governor; RK Goyal, Home Secretary; Muneer Ahmad Khan, ADGP, Home Guards and Security; and senior officers of the Central intelligence agencies.Resolve grievances of people: Vohra  The Governor directed the Chief Secretary to closely monitor and ensure prompt redressal of all difficulties and grievances relating to the felt needs of people and, besides, see that there was no delay in the implementation of welfare measures and developmental works on the ground. The Governor stressed the need of a cohesive action being taken to enforce constant vigil on the International Border and Line of Control, effectively maintaining internal security and ensuring the safety of protected persons, sensitive establishments and installations.

Yatra security reviewed

The meeting also reviewed important security issues related to the annual Amarnath yatra which is scheduled to commence on June 28, and identified certain issues to be dealt with on an urgent basis. The Governor stressed the need  to ensure the safety and security of people.