Monthly Archives: August 2018

The drone and packet containing 557 grams of heroin were seized from Kahangarh village

Chandigarh, June 15

The BSF has seized a drone and a packet of heroin from a field near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Amritsar, a spokesperson of the paramilitary force said on Saturday.

The official said that after receiving information, personnel of the Border Security Force and the Punjab Police carried out a search operation on Friday night.

During the operation, the China-made drone and the packet containing 557 grams of heroin were seized from Kahangarh village, the spokesperson said.

Kawaljit Singh, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Amritsar, alleged that he was attacked by a group of around 100 people following an argument over some parking issue. Video grab

Chandigarh, June 15

A Punjab-origin non-resident Indian (NRI) on Saturday alleged that he was assaulted by a group of men after an argument over parking when he was visiting Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh.

Kawaljit Singh, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Amritsar, claimed that he was targeted as he was Punjabi, but Himachal Pradesh police denied it and said the incident is not linked to any “interstate or inter-community dispute”.

The incident has sparked a row with Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanding action from the Himachal Pradesh government in the case.

Majithia and Aujla even suggested that the attack was linked to the recent incident involving actor and BJP MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh Kangana Ranaut, who was allegedly slapped by a CISF woman constable at Chandigarh airport.

Singh and his Spanish wife, who had been living in Spain for 25 years, had returned to Punjab recently. He said he went along with his wife and a relative to the tourist destination of Dalhousie two days ago.

Singh alleged that he was attacked by a group of around 100 people following an argument over some parking issue.

He also alleged police apathy in the matter. But a senior IPS officer from Himachal Pradesh rejected Singh’s claims.

“Singh had come to Khajjiar in Chamba district and was doing palm reading for some women. Someone felt offended by this act and there was a scuffle. Later, both parties reached a compromise in front of the police,” IG (Northern  Range) Santosh Patial told PTI on Saturday.

“He had given in writing that he wants no legal action and left,” the police officer said.

“There is nothing like an interstate or inter-community dispute and tourists are welcome in Himachal,” Patial said.

“Thousands of tourists are coming to the state every day during the summer season and it is just an isolated incident that occurred as some people felt offended by Singh’s actions,” he said.

Congress MP from Amritsar Aujla, who reached the hospital to inquire about the well-being of Singh, claimed, “They (attackers) took the name of Kangana and told them (Singh) what you did with her we did with you, which is unfortunate and wrong.”

Aujla said he will ask Himachal Pradesh chief minister to take action against the culprits. “An FIR should be lodged and miscreants should be arrested,” said Aujla in Amritsar.

SAD leader Majithia condemned the incident and alleged that it was due to the impact of Kangana Ranaut’s statement that people in HP are now “targeting tourists from Punjab”.

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Dhaliwal said he will write to the Himachal Pradesh CM seeking action in the case.

Kangana Ranaut had recently accused CISF woman constable Kulwinder Kaur of slapping her at the Chandigarh airport when she was heading to Delhi after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi.

The constable was suspended and an FIR was lodged in the matter.

In the statement titled “Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab” posted on X, the BJP MP had narrated the incident involving the constable.

“She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests.

“I am safe but my concern is that terrorism and extremism are increasing in Punjab… How do we handle that?” Kangana Ranaut had said.

India’s response must be firm and forceful

A series of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir has prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell officials to deploy the ‘full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities’. Terrorists have struck in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts within a week, killing nine civilians and a CRPF jawan. The Reasi incident, in which gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on Sunday, coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of the new government at the Centre. The worrisome security situation poses a big challenge to the Modi dispensation, which is planning to hold Assembly elections in the state-turned-UT later this year. The Centre has also promised to restore J&K’s statehood and consider the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The encouraging turnout in Kashmir in the recent Lok Sabha elections has sent out a clear message that the people of the trouble-torn Valley have faith in the democratic process. However, terrorists and their handlers are unleashing violence in a bid to undermine the turnaround. Accusing Pakistan of trying to disturb peace in the UT through its mercenaries, J&K DGP RR Swain has asserted that the country’s security forces would give a befitting reply to the enemy. He has also warned local agents of the hostile neighbour not to support militancy. It’s this local assistance that is spurring infiltrators from across the border to execute terror strikes with apparent ease.

Amid these attacks comes the reappointment of Ajit Doval as National Security Adviser. He played a key role in two major counter-terror operations — the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Uri attack of 2016 and the Balakot airstrikes in the wake of the Pulwama suicide bombing in 2019. Doval will be called upon to help the PM deal with the current situation in a firm and forceful manner. All eyes will be on India’s military and diplomatic response.

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, June 14

The number of terrorists carrying US-made M-4 carbines is increasing in the Jammu division — a cause of concern for the intelligence agencies. It is believed that the Pakistan-backed terrorists have been able to lay their hands on weapons left behind in Afghanistan after NATO troops withdrew from the country in 2021. M-4 and steel bullets have been recovered from the recent attack sites.

How weapons reached India from Afghanistan

Intelligence agencies suspect that after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, a large cache of arms and ammunition was left behind by the troops in the country, which made its way to the open weapon markets of Pakistan, from where the terrorists procured the M4 and M16 carbines.

One of the two terrorists killed in Kathua was carrying an M-4 carbine, along with steel bullets, and other Pakistan-made weapons. Medicines, including pain killers, chocolate and other packaged food items, recovered from him bore a stamp of “made in Pakistan”. The carbine also had a vision enhancing riflescope fixed on it. However, what has raised the concerns of security agencies is the fact that the grenades recovered from the slain terrorists are similar to the ones used by them during ambushes on military vehicles in Poonch. Three ambushes have taken place on military vehicles in Poonch in the last year. Terrorist organization PAFF had uploaded videos of these attacks.

Intelligence agencies suspect that after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, a large cache of arms and ammunition were left behind, which made their way to the open weapons markets in Pakistan, from where the terrorists procured the M4 and M16 carbines. Bullet shells from an M-4 were also recovered from the site of attack on a civilian bus in Reasi on Sunday. These terrorists, who operate in a group of at least two, carry an M-4 as well as an AK-47. The ultras have been using steel bullets that easily pierce through the metal body of vehicles.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the group of two ultras killed in Kathua might have entered two to three days before the encounter started on the evening of June 11. The ultras had probably run out of water, which they had brought along from Pakistan, and went to the village expecting help from the locals. However, after seeing suspicious men roaming in the village, the locals informed the police and raised an alarm, which saved the lives of many residents.

The two terrorists might have gone to the upper reaches of Jammu division through a traditional route in Kathua. Security was tightened in the region in the wake of the June 9 Reasi attack, which might have stopped these terrorists from proceeding further and they were stuck in the area amid the heatwave.

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, June 14

The exact number of Chinese troops who died in a deadly clash with the Indian Army at Galwan in eastern Ladakh on the intervening night of June 15 and 16 in 2020 remains a mystery even four years after the incident.

Western researchers put it at 38-40

• The clash between the Indian and Chinese troops occurred at Galwan on the intervening night of June 15 and 16 in 2020
• India announced the deaths of its 20 soldiers on June 20 that year and honoured some of them with gallantry medals
• Though China, in February 2021, accepted the death of their four soldiers, western researchers put the number at 38-40

India announced the deaths of its 20 soldiers on June 20 that year and honoured some of them with gallantry medals. Having remained in denial of any loss on their side, the Chinese authorities, in February 2021, accepted that their four soldiers were killed in the clash. Independent western researchers, however, put the number of Chinese casualties at 38-40. In early 2022, an Australian newspaper claimed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China lost 38 men in the Galwan clash.

Within the strategic circles, a section is of the opinion that it will be appropriate to release details about the Galwan clash by way of an authoritative research paper by one of the Indian think-tanks to set the record straight once and for all.

Over the past few days, Chinese social media handles have been giving a totally false narrative on the Galwan clash.

Silence on the matter would amount to a throwback to the 1960s mindset when foreign writers drove the narrative on the reasons and outcome of the 1962 war with China. The setback to the PLA when it lost 400 men in a clash at Nathu La in Sikkim in 1967 is also off public memory.

In its report, the Australian newspaper, had made two points. First: “PLA soldiers panicked into retreat” after seeing the initial injuries inflicted by Indian troops to Colonel Qi Fabao, who was “hit on the head by an Indian solider”.

Second: As the “panicked PLA retreated”, junior sergeant Wang Zhuoran led a group across the Galwan. “At least 38 PLA troops along with Wang were washed away and drowned that night… of which only Wang was declared among the four officially dead soldiers,” it said. If the PLA panicked and retreated, it’s a significant victory and it needs to be told to the world and also Quad partners Japan, Australia and the US.

After the 1962 war with China, Australia-based author Neville Maxwell, in his book “India’s China War” (published in 1970), blamed India for the “forward policy” of November1961. He identified it as a trigger point for “justifying” China’s attack along the disputed frontier.

The Henderson Brooks-PS Bhagat Commission appointed by the government after the 1962 war gave its report, but it remains a classified top-secret.

For years, Maxwell’s opinion discredited the very-justified Indian military action along the LAC. “The History of the Conflict with China, 1962”, released for “restricted” circulation by the MoD in March 1993, justified the “forward policy”, saying it was to restrict the Chinese to its claim-line of 1956 and stop claims made in 1960 over the new territory.

Decision before PM’s June 21 visit | Assets of terror sympathisers in Jammu to be seized

Tribune News Service

Animesh Singh

New Delhi, June 14

The Centre has ordered deployment of over 500 companies (approximately 50,000 personnel) of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in Kashmir in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UT on June 21 on International Yoga Day and also keeping in mind the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. The PM plans to perform yoga near the Dal Lake in Srinagar on the occasion.

According to sources, during a high-level meeting of Home Ministry officials on Thursday night, soon after the PM reviewed security in the UT, it was decided that CAPFs be deployed along the route to be taken by the PM as well as on the arduous Amarnath Yatra route.

Shah chairs meeting on situation in ut

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the security situation in J&K, sources said on Friday. He will hold another meeting on June 16 in the presence of J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and officials of the Army, MHA and UT.

Modi’s visit comes just days after the Reasi terror attack, where terrorists had targeted a bus carrying pilgrims, leading to the death of nine persons.

Significantly, after the recent terror attacks in Kathua, Doda and Reasi, all of which fall under the Jammu division, it has been decided to take action against sympathisers of terrorists and extremists under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the district.

In the meeting, directions were issued to prepare a list of such persons in the Jammu division. On the basis of the inputs received, properties of such individuals would be seized and no government jobs would be given to their family members, as was currently being done in the Kashmir valley, the sources said. Last month, Home Minister Amit Shah had said no family member of any terrorist or close relative of stone-pelters would get government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

The focus of the meeting was mainly on beefing up security around strategic installations in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the recent terror attacks, Modi’s upcoming visit and the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.

The Home Ministry’s meeting was held close on the heels of a security review conducted by Modi on Thursday, where he emphasised on the importance of deploying India’s full range of counter-terror capabilities.

In Thursday’s meeting, he had directed officials to make use of all available resources and strategies to combat terrorism effectively. During the meeting, the PM was briefed on the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the region.

He was told about the strategies and operations being implemented to tackle terrorist activities and ensure the safety of the region.

During the meeting, the PM stressed on the need for a robust and coordinated response to potential threats.

THE FALLACY & DANGERS IN LOOKING FOR INTERSE MERIT AMONGSTARMY COMMANDERS OR THEIR EQUIVALENTS IN THE NAVY & AIRFORCE FOR FILLING UP POSTS OF CHIEFS OF THE ARMED FORCESINSTEAD OF GOING BY THE TIME TESTED PRINCIPLE OF SENIORITY.

https://www.sanjhamorcha.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/col-rajan.pdf

When our CDS and COAS gets seats 3 row behind SRK even jr Ambani. CIRCLED IN GREEN.See the protocols we are in.
Enlarge and watch with green circle 🟢 sitting in uniform: AS PRIDE OF THE NATION SHOULD HAD BEEN IN FIRST ROW :

The family came to know of the death only a couple of days ago

Tribune News Service

Neeraj Bagga

Amritsar, June 12

A pall of gloom descended on the house of Tejpal Singh when his family learnt that he had been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war on March 12.

The family came to know of this only a couple of days ago.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said two Indians were killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. Though it did not disclose the names of the Indians but it is believed that Tejpal was one of them.

Tejpal’s house is located in Palam Vihar on Majitha Road on the outskirts of Amritsar. When The Tribune team visited the family, they were inconsolable.

His parents, Preetpal Singh and Sarabjit Kaur, run a grocery shop in the locality. Of the two brothers Tejpal was the elder. His younger brother had earlier died following medical complications.

Tejpal leaves behind wife Parminder Kaur, whom he married in 2017, a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter.

Parminder said, “Tejpal wanted to join the army since childhood. After several attempts he could not make it to the Army or paramilitary forces. So he decided to go abroad. He went to Russia on a tourist visa and landed there on January 12. He got recruited to the Russian army on January 16. After getting training he was deployed at the border with Ukraine. There he was killed on March 12.”

She said his last phone call was received on March 3 in which he had said that he would not be in a position to speak to them for the next few days as he was going to war.

When they did not hear from him for quite some time, they managed to get the number of the army head office, only to be told that the war had claimed Tejpal.

India must enhance intelligence and surveillance capabilities to counter Chinese threat

Lt Gen Pradeep Bali (retd)

Military Commentator

THERE are a number of pressing issues warranting the attention of the new government. Among these, the requirements and concerns of the armed forces merit top priority as these directly affect national security. Enhanced financial outlay for capability development, implementing structural reorganisation at the macro level and a review of the recruitment systems need to be addressed in a committed and decisive manner.

Our major adversary on the northern borders is continuing with its duplicitous stance. China’s new Ambassador to India Xu Feihong (appointed after a gap of 18 months), after presenting his credentials on May 31, called for joint efforts to “enhance political mutual trust, manage differences properly, and advance mutual beneficial cooperation so as to bring China-India relations forward along the right track”. However, the situation on the borders, especially in eastern Ladakh, remains tense, with no significant forward movement even after 21 rounds of high-level military talks held so far. Along with the enhanced deployment of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops and significant construction of military infrastructure, recent satellite imagery has indicated the largest deployment of Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets — its most advanced — at a dual-use military and civilian airport in Shigatse, the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region which is less than 150 km from the Line of Actual Control, opposite Sikkim.

For India, the acquisition of major platforms like the third aircraft carrier, new-generation submarines and fighter jets is essential for building capabilities which enable credible deterrence against China. However, what is even more important is the present situation on the LAC, and this translates into current intent. While China will keep voicing platitudes about the need for friendly bilateral relations, the ground elements of the PLA will continue to look for positions of strength and advantage along the LAC. For the Indian Army, the focus will thus remain on enhancing intelligence and surveillance capabilities with an increasing number of military satellites and accelerating the process of acquiring state-of-the-art weapons and equipment. These include battlefield transparency systems, unmanned combat aerial vehicles and latest night vision capabilities, even imported ones as Atmanirbharta will take its time.

All this costs money and an enhancement of the ‘status quoist’ defence budget. On February 1, the Finance Minister presented the Interim Budget for 2024-25, which had an allocation of Rs 6,21,541 crore for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a 4.72 per cent increase over the defence budget for 2023-24. However, compared to the revised allocation for last year, it was a marginal fall in real terms. As a percentage of government expenditure, this was just 13 per cent, continuing a multi-year trend of falling defence outlay, representing 1.89 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Interestingly, the bulk of the allotment for capital acquisitions, Rs 1.72 lakh crore — 27.67 per cent of the total defence budget — will be taken away by committed liabilities.

The finance ministry is getting ready to present the full Budget for 2024-25 next month. One key change would be in the accounting of the more-than-expected RBI dividend of Rs 2.11 trillion for the Central Government. As a result, some of the extra receipts would be used for pre-payment of debt and to further reduce the fiscal deficit. While the full Budget for the current financial year may not be much different from the interim one, a substantial increase in the total defence allocation would be prudent for enhancing national security.

An integrated and unified theatre command structure has been on the anvil for almost five years now. Despite the political executive being positively inclined and desirous of this, an inordinate delay has taken place. Prolonged confabulations due to inter-services turf wars and specious arguments for status quo have been the major stumbling blocks. There has been a concerted effort by the Department of Military Affairs, under the CDS, to give this restructuring a final shape, incorporating optimum utilisation of all elements, including cyberspace and space. While the CDS can and surely will be a facilitator for this change, it has to be strongly driven by the political leadership so that the armed forces evolve into a fully synergised joint organisation. It would make sense, therefore, for this subject to be on the government’s 100-day agenda.

The third issue of concern is the new recruitment system for the armed forces, the Agnipath scheme, which was unveiled in June 2022 and the process set in motion in January 2023. Recruits have been enrolled under the name of Agniveers, with only 25 per cent to be retained after four years and the remainder being released from service with benefits and generic promises of re-employment in other departments, including Central police organisations. This scheme was imposed on the armed forces in haste under some imagined benefits of a younger profile for the services. Almost two years down the line, the feedback from the unit-level organisations, the cutting edge of the Army, is anything but encouraging. It’s not a happy situation now, with Army recruitment a low-priority option for the mostly rural youth who have traditionally been the main source of our soldiery.

Some political parties had opposed the Agnipath scheme during the recent election campaign. Now, with a coalition in power, one of its constituents, the Janata Dal (United), has called for a review of this system of recruitment. It will indeed be ironic if a policy which did not find favour with the organisation on which it was imposed and which was stridently opposed by retired officers of the Army were to see a rollback not due to sane advice but the exigencies of coalition politics. Be that as it may, the recruitment system of the forces needs an urgent review, well before the first lot of Agniveers heads for retrenchment.

Expectations from new governments are always high, though the present dispensation is largely a continuation of the same leadership. It is to be hoped and expected that the urgent concerns of the armed forces will be prioritised.