ਕਿੰਨੀ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਜਾਂ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ Indian Army ? Fighter Plane ‘ਤੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਕਿਉਂ ਦੇਸ਼ | Republic Day ( How Strong and how weak in Indian Army) Brig Kuldeep S Khalon
The Final Chapter on the Saga of the ‘Lost Companies’. Hope it brings some resolution.
LEST WE FORGET INDIAN ARMY’s GLORIOUS HERITAGE WORLD WAR II: CASSINO & SANGRO (Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM)The Final Chapter on the Saga of the ‘Lost Companies’. Hope it brings some resolution.
L”The 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Divisions will forever be associated with the fighting for Cassino, the capture of Rome, the Arno Valley, the liberation of Florence and the breaking of the Gothic Line.” The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy (1946, Indian Army) by Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate. G.H.Q. New Delhi (Indian Army). INDIAN UNITS THAT FOUGHT IN ITALY 1st/5th Mahratta Light Infantry 1st/6th Rajputana Rifles 4th/6th Rajputana Rifles 3rd/8th Punjab Regiment 1st/12th Frontier Force Regiment 6th/13th Frontier Force Rifles 3rd/15th Punjab Regiment 4th/16th Punjab Regiment 1st/2nd Gurkha Rifles 1st/5th Gurkha Rifles 1st/7th Gurkha Rifles 1st/9th Gurkha Rifles For almost two years during the World War II, the Allies fought an attritional campaign in Italy against a resolute and skilful enemy. Far from being the ‘soft underbelly of Europe’, Italy became one of the war’s most exhausting campaigns. 5,782 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and are commemorated in 40 Commonwealth War Graves spread all over Italy. Out of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded in Italy, six were won by Indian soldiers. Sepoy Kamal Ram of 3rd Battalion, 8th PUNJAB Regiment was one of them. He is one of the youngest recipients of the Victoria Cross during the Second World War; an extraordinary legacy to cherish and honour. In Italy, on 12 May 1944, after crossing the River Gari overnight, Sepoy Kamal Ram’s Company advance was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from four posts on the front and flanks. The Company Commander called for a volunteer to get round the rear of the right post and silence it. Volunteering in a flash and crawling to a flank, Sepoy Kamal Ram attacked the post single handed and shot the first machine-gunner; a second German tried to seize his weapon, but Ram killed him with the bayonet, and then shot a German officer who, appearing from the trench with his pistol, was about to fire. Sepoy Kamal Ram, still alone, at once went on to attack the second machine-gun post which was continuing to hold up the advance, and after shooting one machine-gunner, threw a grenade and the remaining enemy surrendered. He continued to serve after the war and retired in 1972 as an Honorary Lieutenant. In Sep 1943, Italy had surrendered, and the Germans had taken over the country. The troops defending the Gustav Line were battle hardened in North Africa and Tunisia. The Gustav Line: A series of successive Axis defence fortifications, 125 km-150 km long, running across the width of southeastern Italy. It ran across Italy from Tyrrhenian Sea north of the Garigliano River through the Apennine Mountains to the mouth of the Sangro River on the Adriatic Sea coast in the east. It had two subsidiary lines, the Bernhardt Line and the Hitler Line. The Gustav line defended the main route to Rome. Monte Cassino dominated the terrain and the routes to Rome, and around it the bloody protracted battles were waged for five months which compared in their intensity and horror with the battles of the Western Front in the First World War. 24 Sep 1943 8th Indian Division of 5 Corps, 8th Army landed in Taranto, to take its part in the Italian Campaign. For 19 months the division was almost continuously in action, advancing through mountainous country, crossing river after river. The formation later adopted the motto “One more river”…….. interesting. The current motto is ‘Valur and Glory’. The division carried out opposed river crossings across Biferno, Trigno (Oct 1943), Sangro (Nov 1943) and Moro (Dec 1943). Although there was no formal offensive, the period was characterised by patrolling and vicious skirmishes in very difficult terrain and cold weather. When the arrival of the spring the 8th Indian Division was switched in great secrecy and advanced some 390 Kms in June across mountainous country, fighting many actions against rearguards and defended strongpoints. In late June they had reached Assisi and the division was rested awaiting action at Monte Cassino. Monte Cassino was where the fiercest battle of the Italian campaign was fought. Though the height of Monte Cassino is only 1,700 feet, ruggedness of the terrain is at par with middle Himalayas. The broken terrain and fast-flowing rivers to the east and west made the Gustav Line defences very formidable. First Battle of Cassino: 12 Jan – 9 Feb 1944 US 5th Army was responsible for the attack on the main defences of Gustav Line with 10 British Corps on the west, 2 US Corps attacking through Liri Valley and on to Monte Cassino. Further east was the French Expeditionary Corps, to outflank Monte Cassino. 6th US Corps was to carry out an amphibious landing at Anzio further north on 22 Jan, to outflank the main defences. After nearly one month of fighting a grim battle, battered 2nd US Corps was taken out of the line in the area of Monte Cassino and replaced with the New Zealand Corps — 2nd New Zealand Division and 4th Indian Infantry Division. Second Battle of Cassino: 15-18 Feb 1944 The New Zealand Corps was to capture Monte Cassino, using the firm base in the mountains secured by 34th US Infantry Division. A two-pronged attack was planned. 4th Indian Infantry Division was to attack from the north to capture Monte Cassino and the New Zealand Division was to attack to capture Cassino railway station and the town. Attack on Monte Cassino from the north was launched by 7th Indian Infantry Brigade on night 17-18 Feb. The terrain was treacherous and heavily mined. The attack petered out by morning with marginal gains, it cost the 4th Indian Infantry Division 590 casualties Third Battle of Cassino: 19 Feb – 23 March Wet weather and extreme cold conditions delayed the third battle until 15 March. This time, the New Zealand Corps attacked Cassino from the north with the Indian troops again attacking Monte Cassino, and the New Zealand troops attacking the town. The town was flattened by intensive aerial bombing, followed by an artillery bombardment of over 1,000 guns. Ironically, the monastery on top was not targeted. The bombing devastated the Axis defenders, but it created equal problems for the Allied attackers who had difficulty bringing their tanks forward. Vicious house-to-house fighting took place in the ruins of Cassino with often the same building being occupied by both sides. Around the monastery, exceptional bravery was displayed by the troops of 1/9 Gorkhas, 1/2 Gorkhas, 1/4 Essex and the 4/5 Rajputana Rifles who had fought their way forward and held Hangman’s Hill and number of other features to the east of Monte Cassino. The tenacious German defence was stretched to the limit but held on and no further progress was made. The third attempt to break through at Cassino had also been stalled. Fourth battle of Cassino: 11 May – 5 June The fourth and final battle of Cassino began at 1100 hours on 11 May with a massive artillery barrage along the entire front. Eight divisions simultaneously launched the attack and fought their way forward against stubborn German defence. Over the next six days, one of the heaviest fighting of World War II took place. The Gustav Line was breached all along the front with combined arms attacks. The final attack was launched on 16 May. Savage fighting took place with the battle-hardened German paratroopers determined to hold on to “their Monte Cassino”. However, with Gustav Line having been breached in the Liri Valley and break out from Anzio threatened to cut routes of withdrawal, the defenders slipped away on 17 May. The four battles of Cassino cost 55,000 Allied casualties, with German losses estimated at around 20,000 killed and wounded. The Germans fought doggedly in terrain crossed by rivers and mountains well suited for defence. Italy’s winter cold and summer heat exhausted the attackers. Many positions in the hills could only be reached by pack animals or porters. The regular supply of food and ammunition was often slow or hindered by bad weather. As April 1945 came to an end, the German Army retreated on all fronts and having lost most of its fighting strength, was left with little option but surrender. The instrument of surrender was signed on 29 April, formally bringing hostilities to an end on 2 May 1945. On 8 July 2021, the Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, inaugurated the Indian Army Memorial at Cassino, Italy, to commemorate the Indian soldiers killed in action during the Battle of Cassino, Jan-May 1944. Also inaugurated was Victoria Cross Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial at Montone (Perugia, Italy). The memorial is in the form of a live Sundial. The motto of the memorial is “Omines Sub Eodem Sole” which translates in English as “We all live under the same sun”. Dr Neena Malhotra, Ambassador of India in Italy and the Indian Defence Attaché represented India during the ceremony. A large number of Italian citizens, distinguished guests and members of Italian Armed Forces also graced the occasion. Hon’ble Raksha Mantri has also paid tribute at this memorial dedicated to Indian Warriors. Is this not a tacit acceptance very recently that we are proud of our soldiers who fought with great valour in the World Wars? Interviews with Italians from that era indicate that Indian troops are held in very high regard in Italy. They were compassionate and protective as compared to the others. A question remains ……. Why do we have to travel to Italy to pay homage to the martyrs of Cassino and Sangro. Why not here, why shatter an existing symbol ……. why be shy of our rich heritage?
The injured officer had sustained 80 per cent disability and lost an eye in the war, but had not been granted enhanced benefits by ‘broad-banding’ of disability percentage in accordance with a policy introduced by the central government with effect from 1996
The injured officer had sustained 80 per cent disability and lost an eye in the war, but had not been granted enhanced benefits by ‘broad-banding’ of disability percentage in accordance with a policy introduced by the central government with effect from 1996
For unnecessarily challenging an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) order in favour of a disabled war hero, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the central government to pay an additional 15 per cent interest on the arrears of war injury pension to Capt Reet MP Singh, who was decorated with the Vir Chakra in the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
The injured officer had sustained 80 per cent disability and lost an eye in the war, but had not been granted enhanced benefits by ‘broad-banding’ of disability percentage in accordance with a policy introduced by the central government with effect from 1996.
The high court bench, comprising Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Meenakshi Mehta, expressed shock that a war hero was being dragged into litigation, despite the issue being settled by the apex court. The bench was also dismayed that the 2018 judgment passed by AFT was being challenged. Furthermore, the court directed that additional interest be recovered from the officers responsible for delaying the payment to the war hero.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had earlier granted enhanced benefits only to invalidation cases post-1996, denying them to pre-1996 cases. Additionally, those who were released with disability pension or war injury pension upon completion of their term, voluntary retirement, or superannuation were also refused these benefits.
The Supreme Court had however struck down the cut-off date and quashed the distinction based on the manner of exit from service and had directed the payment of benefits with arrears from 1996 with 8 per cent interest to all affected disabled retirees.
On the non-implementation of the orders, various high courts and the tribunal had directed the authorities to release the benefits, but the financial wing of MoD directed the Army to challenge such orders. This resulted in strictures and strong observations by the high courts as well as the Supreme Court, which expressed their displeasure on disability pension verdicts being challenged by the Army.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had expressed anguish towards the Army challenging disability benefits of a disabled veteran. In December 2024, costs of Rs 50,000 were imposed on the Army and MoD in another case for challenging the pension of a military widow.
In March 2024, a soldier who had contracted HIV but had been refused disability pension by the Army, and then AFT, was granted pension along with a compensation of Rs 50 lakh by the Supreme Court.
India accuses Canada of creating ‘environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities’
he already soured India-Canada ties have taken another hit with both accusing each other of interfering in their ‘internal matters’.
New Delhi has added that Canada was aiding ‘illegal migration and organised criminal activities’.
Late on Tuesday night, Canada blamed India of ‘interference’ in its internal matters, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), hit back accusing Canada of ‘consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs’.
The MEA in statement posted at midnight in response to Canadian allegations, rejected the report about alleged activities on purported interference.
It went on to add: “It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities”.
Rejecting the report, the MEA said: “We reject the report’s insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced”.
The matter of criminal and wanted person living in Canada was officially flagged to Canada.
In October last year, the MEA had said its requests to the Canadians for arresting Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang members were not heeded. “They haven’t taken any action on our core concerns. There is a political motive also behind this,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said then.
India is also unhappy with Canada on handling the extradition requests for Hardip Singh Nijjer, whose killing in Canada in June 2023 started the diplomatic row. Nijjer was wanted by Indian agencies and was facing an Interpol ‘red corner notice’. His name was flagged to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2018, seeking extradition.
In July 2020, India declared Nijjer as an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. At Punjab Police’s request, Interpol issued a red notice against him in 2016 while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a ₹10 lakh bounty on his head in July 2022.
Nijjer, who had fled India in February 1997 using the name ‘Ravi Sharma’ on a passport issued from Uttarakhand (then part of UP), had been arrested by Punjab Police in 1995 on suspicion.
Canada never extradited him, rather gave him Canadian citizenship.
Meanwhile, Canada’s ‘public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions’, made public on Tuesday accused India of Nijjer’s killing. It said “assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, coupled with credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and derailed efforts (of having better relations between the two countries). India has repeatedly denied these allegations.
On the Indian diaspora, the Canadian report alleged, “India’s activities primarily target the approximately eight lakh members of the Sikh diaspora in Canada and aim to promote a pro-India and anti-Khalistan narrative”.
On India’s angst against Canada, the report says “India perceives Canada as not taking India’s national security concerns about Khalistani separatism (the goal of an independent Sikh homeland in northern India called “Khalistan”) sufficiently seriously.”
The UN World Migration Report 2024 says “there are some 28 lakh persons of Indian origin in Canada”.
The report cites the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) statement in October 2024, on violent criminal activity in Canada, including homicides and extortion and says, “(it has) connections to agents of the Government of India”.
It alleged “India may have attempted to clandestinely provide financial support to preferred candidates during the 2021 election without the candidates’ knowledge”.
“India is the second most active country (after China) engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada,” the report claimed.n
This interference has targeted all levels of government. Like China, India conducts foreign interference through diplomatic officials in Canada and through proxies, it alleged adding that India also uses disinformation as a key form of foreign interference against Canada.
In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India. India responded not only by declaring a Canadian official persona non grata, but by lifting the diplomatic immunity of a further 41 Canadian diplomats in India, effectively expelling them.
A monolith was unveiled on Tuesday near the border location of Pargwal in Jammu to commemorate the historic victory of the Indian Chenab Brigade during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. “Under the aegis of the Tiger Division, the Chenab Brigade established…
A monolith was unveiled on Tuesday near the border location of Pargwal in Jammu to commemorate the historic victory of the Indian Chenab Brigade during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
“Under the aegis of the Tiger Division, the Chenab Brigade established and inaugurated this monolith as a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice displayed by our soldiers in the Battle of Phuklian (Chenab Enclave) in J&K. The purpose of installing the monolith is to educate the locals and youth about the Army’s heroic victory and the valour of its troops,” said an Army spokesperson.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including local military veterans, commandants and officers from the BSF, J&K Police, and civil administration. During the ceremony, the Commander of the Chenab Brigade engaged with civilians and veterans, urging them to strengthen military-civil cooperation to face future challenges and threats.
“The monolith, named Pargwal Parakram Pillar, honours the bravery of the Chenab Brigade soldiers and will serve as a permanent reminder of their selfless sacrifice,” the spokesperson added.
DGP says the accused were operatives of US-based terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and US-based drug smuggler Sarwan Bhola
The Punjab Police on Tuesday said they had arrested two men for their alleged involvement in the hand grenade lobbying incident outside the Gumtala police post in Amritsar.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the accused were operatives of US-based terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and US-based drug smuggler Sarwan Bhola.
Yadav said those arrested had been identified as Bagga Singh of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Sirsa, Haryana, and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar of Amarkot in Amritsar.
Police also recovered a hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from their possession.
On January 9, a loud boom was heard outside the Gumtala police post. Police at that time had denied any explosion and claimed that the sound was that of a car radiator exploding.
Following the incident, terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International had used a social media platform to claim responsibility for the terror act.
Yadav said investigations revealed that accused Bagga Singh is a relative of Sarwan Bhola, who is the brother of notorious smuggler Ranjit Singh alias Cheeta, currently lodged in Bathinda jail in the 532-kg heroin recovery case.
Sarwan is also wanted in the heroin recovery case and carries Rs 2 lakh reward announced by the National Investigation Agency.
The DGP said further investigations are in progress in a scientific manner to establish forward and backward linkages in this case and unveil the entire terror module.n
Assistant Inspector General, Amritsar, Sukhminder Singh Mann, said following the attack at Gumtala police post, police launched an intelligence operation and arrested Bagga Singh from Sirsa and Pushkaran Singh from Amritsar.
Their arrest led to the recovery of explosives and weapons, police said.
This post is very useful for everyone : please go through and try to understand and follow
Capt. Dimple Singh Bhati of Jodhpur is the granddaughter of Major Shaitan Singh, PVC. World’s first salute from a 12 foot ladder on a moving motorcycle…
A worthy heir to One of India’s Bravest Son…Major Shaitan Singh was the Hero of the Battle of Razangla
He and his band of 100 plus men all sacrificed their Life, but halted the Chinese .
That famous line” Dus Dus ko ek ne mara” was a dedication to their bravery..
Family members of Agniveer Lovepreet Singh (24) from Aklia village in Mansa district, who died in the Kalaroos area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on January 22, have sought financial support from the government. Lovpreet’s cousin Jaswant Singh said,…
Family members of Agniveer Lovepreet Singh (24) from Aklia village in Mansa district, who died in the Kalaroos area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on January 22, have sought financial support from the government.
Lovpreet’s cousin Jaswant Singh said, “Lovepreet sacrificed his life while fighting the enemy in Kupwara. His family is poor and has only 2.5 acre landholding. One member of the family should get a job, besides admissible financial benefits and the naming of a school or stadium after Lovepreet.”
Village sarpanch Jasveer Singh said Lovepreet “died in a gunfight with the enemy. Due to that reason, he was accorded Army honour at his cremation. The reason of his death has not yet been officially communicated so far. But we believe it was an encounter with the militants”.
Lovepreet is survived by his father Beant Singh, mother Gurmeet Kaur and elder brother Sewak Singh. Lovepreet was serving with the 99 Medium Regiment. He joined the Army under the Agnipath scheme around two years ago.
Sources suggest he died after his service rifle went off accidentally. According to the Mansa district Sainik Welfare Office, Lovepreet was on road opening duty with another soldier when he went aside on his own. Soon, the other soldier heard a gunshot.
Mansa Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh said the administration was yet to get an official communication on how Lovepreet died.
Villagers described Lovepreet as a bright and dedicated young man who brought honour to the village by serving in the Army. “His sacrifice for the country will always be remembered,” they said.
Villagers have urged the Centre to reform the Agnipath scheme so that Agniveers get the same benefits as other military personnel.
Lovepreet was the younger of two brothers. He was scheduled to attend his elder brother’s wedding in the coming days. His untimely demise has come as a shock for the family. Political leaders took to social media to express their condolences. They hailed Lovepreet as a martyr.
