Monthly Archives: August 2018

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Yemen’s Houthi rebels have issued a chilling new threat to Israel amid rising tensions. Group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi vowed “full revenge” for what he termed Israel’s “horrendous provocations,” stating that retaliation is “inevitable.” Al-Houthi explained that any delay in their response was tactical. This threat follows the Houthi movement’s recent attack on August 7, targeting three vessels associated with Israel’s major supporter. The escalating rhetoric underscores the growing friction between the Houthi rebels and Israel, intensifying regional conflicts.’Inevitable’: Houthis Chilling Threat To Israel After ‘Bombing’ U.S. Warships

Kathua: Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that Village Defence Guards (VDGs) have been equipped with modern weapons to counter the increasing number of terror incidents in the Jammu region.

“The government has taken several steps to tackle the rise in terror attacks. One of them is the revival of VDGs (Village Defence Guards) and the modernization of their weapons. The Army has also changed its strategy, which cannot be made public,” Singh said while speaking at an event titled ‘Empowering Youth for Viksit Bharat’ program in Jammu division’s Kathua on Saturday.

His comments follow an increase in terrorist activities, particularly in the Jammu region, over the last few months.

In July, Jitendra Singh announced that VDGs are being revived in militancy-infested areas to empower them to fight terrorists.

“The government has also decided that, if and wherever needed, VDGs will be deployed as part of a multi-pronged strategy to confront the challenge posed by terrorists,” he added.

Singh also mentioned that weapons, including SLR rifles, may be provided to the VDGs to help them tackle the challenge effectively.

Last month, one Pakistani intruder was killed as Indian Army troops foiled an attack by the Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. One Indian Army soldier lost his life, while four others, including a major-rank officer, sustained injuries in the attack.

In recent months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including an attack on an army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur.

In July, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 28 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 encounters or counter-terror operations up to July 21 this year.

This report is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and senior military officials are likely to hold wide-ranging deliberations on Monday on the government’s plan to bring greater synergy among the Armed Forces in the area of financial planning in line with ensuring tri-services jointness. Gen Chauhan is set to elaborate on the plans while chairing an apex conference on financial synergy and cohesion in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, officials said on Sunday.

The deliberations on ensuring synergy among the Armed Forces on financial planning are taking place amid the government’s ambitious plans to roll out theatre commands.

Under the Theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations.

As per the Theaterisation plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory.

At present, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force have separate commands.

The theatre commands are being planned to integrate the capabilities of the three services and to ensure optimal utilisation of their resources.

The conference is aimed to enhance cohesion and synergy in financial issues of the Armed Forces and will see the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Controller General of Defence Accounts and service headquarters among others, an official readout said.

The conference, aligned with the objectives set for the ongoing drive on integration and jointness in the Armed Forces, is being coordinated by the headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).

The IDS is an apex level tri-service organisation for issues relating to the Indian Armed Forces.

Discussions are scheduled on aspects of understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders in defence finance and finding solutions to challenges faced in defence procurements, the readout by the defence ministry said.

It said the financial advisor (defence services) and director general (acquisitions) will also give specific talks on the roles and actions undertaken by their organisations in expeditious procurement.

One of the key mandates of the Chief of Defence Staff is to work towards implementation of the Theaterisation plan.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

This is Major General V.T. Mathew who is the GOC K&K Sub Area who is leading the relief work in Waynad He is a product of Sanik School Kazhakootam and is fully committed to his job, and seen as present with the men doing the recovery of every single dead family member inspite of the continuous rains.

Rank badges attract unnecessary media attention in such murky situations, hence not wearing Badges of Rank.

Wayanad flood relief team reached MEG Centre Banglore. A good initiative. At least we must honour our own even when the nation simply treats us like use & throw!!

Five years after Art 370 abrogation, challenges persist

T’s been five years since the Centre took the landmark decision to abolish Article 370 and bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. According to the government, the reorganisation was aimed at ‘fully integrating’ J&K and Ladakh into the national mainstream and ensuring that the people of these UTs were not deprived of constitutional rights and benefits of Central laws that were being enjoyed by residents of other parts of the country. The ruling BJP has often showcased the abrogation as the panacea for all ills plaguing J&K, but things have not turned out that way. The state-turned-UT finds itself at a crossroads today, awaiting the restoration of statehood as well as the resumption of Assembly elections.
In December last year, the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional validity of the decision to abrogate Article 370, giving the Centre a leg up months before the Lok Sabha polls. At the same time, the court had directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold the Assembly elections in J&K by September 30. With this deadline fast approaching, a high-level ECI team is set to visit the region later this week to review poll preparedness. A major challenge for the authorities is to provide a peaceful environment for the electoral exercise amid a spate of terror attacks that have targeted soldiers as well as civilians in recent months. What has added to the anxiety and uncertainty is the reluctance of the government to specify a time frame for restoring statehood, even as the move to grant more powers to the Lieutenant Governor has riled anti-BJP parties.
The Centre is making efforts to put J&K on the path of all-round development, but cross-border terrorism and the failure to take the regional political leadership along continue to obstruct the course of long-term peace and normalcy. Having all stakeholders on board is a must to herald a new dawn in the troubled region.

Chandigarh, August 5

Two Army doctors, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, are facing trial by general court martial (GCM) for allegedly manhandling and misbehaving with three subordinates during a social function at an Army training centre.

Five charges have been levelled against the officers under Sections 45 and 47 of the Army Act for behaving in a manner unbecoming of an officer, and using criminal force to a person subordinate in rank, sources said. The GCM, convened recently by General Officer Commanding, Purva Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Sub Area, Maj Gen RR Bhat is in progress.

The incident had taken place at the Dogra Regimental Centre when the station’s quick reaction team (QRT), headed by a non-commissioned officer (NCO) was summoned over a disturbance during the function.

The officers have been accused of forcibly pulling the NCO’s service rifle, pushing and slapping him and pulling his uniform belt. Sources said the NCO had been in an inebriated state when on duty and was also later tried by a summary court martial.

The Major has also been charged with snatching the mobile of a junior commissioned officer (JCO), pushing him by the neck and forcibly holding the arm of another JCO and slapping him.

The Lieutenant Colonel has also been charged with attempting to influence the fair medical diagnosis of the NCO and a JCO involved in the matter by telling the duty medical officer that they were consuming alcohol chronically.

Another Major from the Regimental Centre is also facing five charges of inappropriate behaviour that include hitting a civilian disc jockey at the aforementioned function and disobeying lawful command by not meeting his superior officer when directed to do so.

Dhaka, August 6

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved Parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, a day after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following massive protests against her government.

“The President dissolved the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) under an executive order,” a Bangabhaban (presidential palace) spokesman told PTI.

“The decision to dissolve Parliament was taken following the president’s discussions with chiefs of three staff of armed forces, leaders of different political parties, representatives of civil society and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” said a statement issued by the president’s office.

Officials said a full-fledged interim government is expected to be announced later on Tuesday. The president’s move to dissolve the Parliament has cleared the way for fresh elections.