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In a tragic turn of events, two soldiers, Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas, lost their lives in an IED explosion triggered by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. Both men…

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In a tragic turn of events, two soldiers, Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas, lost their lives in an IED explosion triggered by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. Both men were set to marry in April.

RIP brave heart

Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi who died in an IED blast on LoC in Akhnoor along with Naik Mukesh. He was the only Son.

He was to get married on 05th April 2025.

“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better?
Then facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods.”

Jai Hind

A pall of sorrow descended on Mukesh’s home in Kamila village, Samba district, where his family had been eagerly preparing for his wedding. His father, Chagatar Singh, overwhelmed with grief, recalled, “Mukesh wanted to join the Army since his childhood and was very fond of cricket. He had served in Ladakh, Punjab, and Kashmir before moving to Akhnoor. He returned to his duty on January 28 after completing the housework for his wedding. He was supposed to marry in April, around the 20th or 21st.”

Chagatar Singh shared, “He was a cricket lover, and during his last visit, he even worked hard to prepare a cricket pitch for the youth of the village.” Villagers remembered Mukesh as an enthusiastic cricketer and an extroverted soul who always extended a helping hand. The news of Mukesh’s death sent shockwaves through Kamila, a close-knit village where the tragedy was deeply felt. Mukesh’s mortal remains reached his village, and the final rites were performed by the family later today.

The loss was compounded by the tragic coincidence of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi’s death. The 29-year-old, from Jharkhand’s Ranchi, had been awaiting his own wedding. He had just returned to duty after finalising preparations for his marriage. His family, who were expecting a celebration, are now grappling with an unimaginable loss.

Karamjit’s father, Ajninder Singh Bakshi, recalled his son’s dedication and sacrifice. Karamjit, the only son, had left his home in Hazaribagh after his engagement to a medical officer in the Army. As news of his death spread, residents of Hazaribagh gathered at his home to pay their respects. The grief was palpable as the community collectively mourned the loss of a young man.

Captain Karamjit’s mortal remains were scheduled to arrive in Ranchi by late Wednesday evening, with the final rites planned for Thursday. In the wake of these tragedies, the families of both Captain Bakshi and Naik Manhas are left to mourn the loss of their sons, whose lives were stolen before they could begin the new chapter in their lives.

(With PTI inputs)

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has expressed concerns regarding delays in the delivery of TEJAS fighter aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Singh stated that he lacks confidence in the state-run plane maker’s ability to meet the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirements.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said he has “no confidence” in HAL and finds that HAL is “just not in mission mode”.

Singh highlighted delays in the deliveries of TEJAS MK-1A fighter jets. He mentioned that he was promised 11 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft would be ready by February, but none were. Contracted deliveries of the TEJAS MK-1A were expected to commence in February 2024.

Singh conveyed the IAF’s requirements and worries to HAL officials, emphasising the need for HAL to boost the IAF’s confidence.

HAL unveiled the TEJAS MK-1A at the Air Show, in an attempt to allay concerns about its readiness for induction into the IAF after delays.

The TEJAS is a light combat aircraft (LCA) designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by HAL for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It is a multi-role platform designed to undertake Air Defence, Maritime Reconnaissance, and Strike roles. The IAF has ordered 83 TEJAS MK-1A, which will feature updated avionics, an Active Electronically Steered Radar (AESA), an updated Electronic Warfare suite, and Beyond Visual Range missile capability.

The TEJAS program was initiated in 1984 to expand India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities and to replace the aging MiG 21 planes. The aircraft was officially named ‘TEJAS’ in 2003. The first TEJAS squadron became operational in 2016, with No. 45 Squadron IAF -‘Flying Daggers’ being the first to have their MiG-21 Bisons replaced with the TEJAS.

As of 2016, the indigenous content in the TEJAS MK-1 is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by the number of line replaceable units, and the indigenous content of the TEJAS MK-1A is expected to surpass 70% in the next four years.

HAL aims to deliver the 83 TEJAS MK-1A aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the first tranche within the next three and a half years. However, the initial delivery was originally scheduled for March 31, 2024, but was delayed due to pending certifications and delayed engine deliveries from GE Aerospace.

HAL has set up three manufacturing lines, two in Bangalore and one in Nasik, to deliver 24 aircraft per year. They are also in the final stages of signing a contract for 97 additional TEJAS MK-1A aircraft with the IAF, with delivery expected to be complete by 2031.

ET News

Pak troops violate the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing on a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC, prompting a strong retaliation by the Indian Army

Pakistani troops on Wednesday suffered “heavy casualties” after the Indian Army retaliated befittingly to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, security officials said.

The ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector came a day after two Indian Army personnel including a Captain were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion triggered by suspected terrorists near the LoC in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, the officials said.

They said Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing on a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC, prompting a strong retaliation by the Indian Army.

“Heavy casualties” were suffered by the enemy forces in the retaliatory action, the officials said, without giving any exact figure.

However, the Indian Army neither confirmed nor denied the information.

The officials said a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was injured when he accidentally stepped over a landmine in the same sector this evening.

The JCO, who is a resident of Mendhar, was part of a patrolling party keeping a close vigil on the LoC to prevent infiltration of terrorists, they said, adding the injured officer was evacuated to the military hospital.

There was a deliberate effort by both sides to control the escalation through public messaging

Lt Gen DS Hooda retd.

SIX years ago, on February 14, 2019, a CRPF convoy was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the tragic loss of 40 personnel. Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack. It released a video of the assailant, Adil Ahmad Dar, who had joined the outfit one year earlier.

Indian strategic planners viewed the suicide bombing as an unacceptable provocation that demanded a strong response. In the early hours of February 26, 2019, a formation of Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 aircraft crossed into Pakistani airspace and struck a JeM camp at Balakot, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This was a striking departure from previous engagement patterns, where operations remained confined mainly to areas along the Line of Control (LoC).

The next day, Pakistani fighter jets launched a retaliatory strike in the Jammu sector. In the ensuing aerial engagements, India claimed to have downed an F-16 fighter, while an Indian MiG-21 was shot down, and its pilot, Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistani forces.

The capture of a serving IAF officer raised the stakes, and there was a brief period of heightened tensions, with reports that India was readying for a missile launch into Pakistan. The situation eased when Pakistan announced that it was releasing Abhinandan as a ‘peace gesture’. Ajay Bisaria, who served as Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad during that time, writes in his book that the release of the pilot was due to India’s “coercive diplomacy, backed by a credible resolve to escalate the crisis”.

Both India and Pakistan claimed victory in the Balakot affair. India had shown that it would not demonstrate passiveness in response to major terror strikes on Indian soil by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail had run its course, and India would use the military instrument to impose costs on Rawalpindi.

Pakistan’s retaliatory strike, named Operation Swift Retort, was also celebrated as a victory. On the first anniversary of the operation, the Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations tweeted: “February 27 commemorates the resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces against any aggression. The way we responded on this day is a proof that any misadventure by enemies of Pakistan will always be defeated.”

As both sides made victorious declarations, there was no incentive to escalate, and the crisis rapidly subsided. However, even in this brief episode of hostilities, there are some important lessons for future crises.

How adversaries view the results of their actions will determine how they behave in the future. The Indian political leadership is determined that it must use its conventional military superiority to deter Pakistan from using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. This now includes the use of airpower, which was considered highly escalatory earlier.

In 2020, then IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhaduria, declared, “Balakot was a clear demonstration that there exists a space within the sub-conventional conflict boundary wherein the Air Force can be used for targeting and yet have escalation control.” Using precision, stand-off weapons, the employment of airpower carries lesser risks than physically sending soldiers across the strongly held LoC, as was done in 2016.

Pakistan, on the other hand, states that it has a ‘Quid Pro Quo Plus’ strategy, implying that it would retaliate against India’s limited military action with a response that is slightly more potent or escalatory while remaining below the threshold that could spark an all-out conflict. If this strategy is to be credible, Pakistan must be prepared to employ its military forces to mount quick, targeted operations.

While India discounts Pakistan’s nuclear bluff, the latter puts it on a higher pedestal. Speaking at an IISS-CISS Workshop in London on February 6, 2020, Lt Gen Khalid Kidwai (retd) stated that the Balakot crisis “amply demonstrated” that “Pakistan’s nuclear weapons continue to serve the purpose for which they were developed… It is precisely the presence of these nuclear weapons that deters, and in this specific case, deterred India from expanding operations beyond a single unsuccessful airstrike.”

These perceptions on both sides of how Balakot played out mean that there is likely to be lesser restraint on using military force in the event of a crisis between the two countries. With diplomatic channels being almost absent, there is a risk of misunderstandings or misinterpretations that can lead to unintended escalation. International mediation can help in a crisis, but India rejects any third-party role in responding to national security threats.

The problem is also exacerbated due to the public rhetoric surrounding events like the Balakot strikes. With a strongman image at stake, social media-driven mass sentiment could put pressure on political leaders to take swift, decisive military action. As Henry Kissinger points out in his book, World Order, “The temptation to cater to the demands of the digitally reflected multitude may override the judgment required to chart a complex course in harmony with long-term purpose. The distinction between information, knowledge and wisdom is weakened.”

Does this throw up scenarios of an India-Pakistan crisis quickly ascending the escalation ladder, bringing nuclear weapons into play? While some Western observers feel that this is a possibility, the reality is different. The scope for the use of military force by India in response to terrorist attacks has indeed widened, but there is also a very deliberate effort by both sides to control the escalation through public messaging.

Following the Balakot airstrikes, the Indian Foreign Secretary issued a statement calling it a “non-military pre-emptive action” with the target selection being “conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties.” The Pakistan Foreign Office statement after their retaliation said the strikes were on “non-military targets, avoiding human loss and collateral damage…We have no intention of escalation but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm.”

That neither side wants to escalate beyond a point is perhaps one silver lining in the lessons from the Balakot crisis.

India is looking to sell the BrahMos to four more countries which have shown interest in it. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Vietnam had shown an interest in getting the supersonic missile, sources said. The missile has already…

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

India is looking to sell the BrahMos to four more countries which have shown interest in it. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Vietnam had shown an interest in getting the supersonic missile, sources said.

The missile has already been sold to the Philippines and negotiations have started with Indonesia. A high-level military delegation from Indonesia is expected to come to India in a few weeks to start a formal dialogue on the use of missile in their country.

Talks with Indonesia on

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Vietnam have reportedly shown an interest in getting the BrahMos

The supersonic missilehas already been sold to the Philippines and talks have started with Indonesia

A high-level military delegation from Indonesia is expected to visit India in a few weeks to start talks

Largely, the countries are seeking a land version of the BrahMos. India last year started the delivery of the BrahMos to the Philippines, which sought a shore-based variant that can be an anti-ship cruise missile, with a range of 290 km. The Philippines is one of the six countries locked in a maritime territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. India has the land, sea and air version of the BrahMos missiles.

Meanwhile, BrahMos Director GeneralJR Joshi, while talking to The Tribune at the Aero India, spoke about the improvement in the missile, saying the trials of the ‘Brahmos NG’ have started.

The trials would be complete by 2026. The NG version is to be mated with the Sukhoi 30MKI fighter jet. The Sukhoi can carry a version of the BrahMos under its belly. It will be installed under the wings of the jet.

On being asked if India could extend the BrahMos beyond its 300 km range, Joshi said: “It all depends on the government. We will be able to do it. We have the capability to enhance the range.”

The BrahMos is a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya in 1998. The missile has a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach (around 3,450 kmh).

10 key outcomes in tech, innovation, environment | PM heads to US on 2nd leg of tour

Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service

rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wound up his “productive” France tour, with the two sides agreeing to co-develop nuclear reactors and deepen civil nuclear energy cooperation.

A decision was taken to declare 2026 as the “India-France Year of Innovation” and a logo for the same was unveiled at the 14th India-France CEOs Forum, which PM Modi addressed on Tuesday. The two sides today signed a Declaration on AI, besides agreeing to speed up collaboration to develop the world’s largest museum, Yuge Yugeen Bharat, in the heart of New Delhi.

In a special gesture of friendship, President Emmanuel Macron came to see off Modi, who departed to the US on Wednesday on the second leg of his two-nation tour. The two leaders exchanged a hug after day-long bilateral engagements during which they discussed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and key global and regional issues.

The letter of intent India and France signed on co-designing, co-developing and co-producing small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced modular reactors (AMR) was a major takeaway from the three-day visit that saw 10 outcomes across sectors of technology and innovation, civil nuclear energy, triangular cooperation, environment, culture and people-to-people relations.

Bilateral discussions happened aboard the French Presidential aircraft in which the leaders travelled to Marseille, over dinner later and were followed by delegation-level talks through Wednesday, which also saw PM Modi and President Macron jointly inaugurating the Indian consulate in the city. “India and France relations touched new heights literally as PM Modi and President Macron held discussions aboard the Presidential aircraft. These discussions continued upon landing in Marseille where the leaders were joined by delegations and discussions over dinner,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later said.

On the SMR and AMR agreement, the India-France joint statement said, “The two sides stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for strengthening energy security and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy. Both leaders acknowledged the India-France civil nuclear ties and efforts in cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, notably in relation with the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project.

“They welcomed the first meeting of the Special Task Force on Civil Nuclear Energy and welcomed the signing of a letter of intent on SMR and AMR and the implementing agreement between India’s GCNEP, DAE and France’s INSTN, CEA for cooperation in training and education of nuclear professionals.”

India’s recent declaration to amend the Atomic Energy Act for enabling private entry in the civil nuclear sector will play a key role in advancing the India-France cooperation.

The agreement came a day after Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Association, told 300 world leaders at the Paris AI Summit that there was no AI without energy, specifically electricity. “If we get into co-developing SMRs and AMRs, we can leverage the industrial ecosystem in India that exists for nuclear power plants,” said Misri. The joint statement added that the two leaders underlined their common commitment to a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.

A Delhi court on Wednesday held former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar guilty of murder in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in connection with the murder of two persons in Saraswati Vihar area of the national capital.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had on February 7 deferred the pronouncement of the verdict till today – posted the matter for hearing arguments on quantum of punishment to be awarded to the convict on February 18.

Kumar (79) is already serving life imprisonment in another anti-Sikh riots related case.

After hearing additional submissions made by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, Special judge Baweja had on January 31 reserved the verdict.

Earlier, the prosecution had sought time to further argue on certain points raised by the defence counsel on January 8. Kumar is currently serving life imprisonment in Tihar Jail in another anti-Sikh riots case.

The case relates to the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. Punjabi Bagh police station registered the case and the probe was subsequently taken over by a special investigation team.

On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against Kumar, finding a “prima facie” case against him.

According to the prosecution, a huge mob, armed with deadly weapons, resorted to large-scale looting, arson and destruction of properties of Sikhs to avenge the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The mob attacked the house of the complainant, Jaswant’s wife, killing her husband and son apart from looting articles and setting their house ablaze, alleged the prosecution.

Putting Kumar on trial, the court order found sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant, but had also led the mob”.

Around 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.

Kumar has been in jail since December 31, 2018 when he surrendered after being convicted and awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in another case relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi in which five Sikhs were killed on November 1-2, 1984, and a Gurudwara was burnt down in Raj Nagar part II. The Supreme Court has refused to grant him bail.

Two Army personnel, including a Captain, were killed while another was seriously injured when an improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to have been planted by Pakistan-based terrorists, exploded along the Line of Control in Laleali area of Akhnoor sector in…

Arjun Sharma

Two Army personnel, including a Captain, were killed while another was seriously injured when an improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to have been planted by Pakistan-based terrorists, exploded along the Line of Control in Laleali area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu.

Planted by ultras

• The IED is believed to have been planted by terrorists
• The Army team was on a patrol when the blast occurred
• Injured were shifted to hospital where 2 of them succumbed

According to information, an Army team was on an area domination patrol close to the LoC when the blast occurred. The injured were rushed to a hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries. The entire area was cordoned off after the explosion, said officials.

The deceased have been identified as Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh. In a post on X, Army’s Nagrota-based White Knight Corps said, “Suspected IED blast reported at Laleali in Akhnoor sector during a fence patrol, resulting in two fatalities. Our troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway. White Knight Corps salutes and pays tribute to the supreme sacrifice of two gallant personnel.” The powerful explosion was learnt to have been heard by soldiers stationed in far-off areas, following which a quick reaction team (QRT) was dispatched to the blast site for area domination. The explosion occurred a day after the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps, Lt General Navin Sachdeva, visited forward areas in Rajouri in wake of the “hostile activities” going on close to the LoC.

On Saturday, Indian troops patrolling along the LoC in Rajouri had come under fire from a forest area on the Pakistani side. The Army, BSF and the CRPF are already on a high alert, specifically in the Jammu region. In a two-day encounter on October 28-29 last year, three Pakistani terrorists were shot dead by Army personnel in Akhnoor sector.

In his native Bri Kamila village in the border district of Samba, villagers remember Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas as an enthusiastic cricketer, an extrovert and someone who was always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy

General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva lays a wreath at the mortal remains of the two soldiers who were killed in an IED blast near LoC, in Jammu, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (PTI Photo)

He had returned to his Army unit on January 28 after his engagement and having given final touches to his new house. Just 14 days later, Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas was killed in an IED blast, leaving his family shattered.

The 29-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba, who was supposed to get married in April, was killed along with Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi from Jharkhand’s Ranchi in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast carried out by terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector on Tuesday.

In his native Bri Kamila village in the border district of Samba, villagers remembered Manhas as an enthusiastic cricketer, an extrovert and someone who was always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy.

“He served the Army for more than nine years. He was posted in Siachen glacier (in Ladakh), Kashmir and Punjab, before moving to Akhnoor recently. He returned to his unit on January 28 after a two-week leave from duty for his ring ceremony,” his father Chagatar Singh, a retired policeman, told reporters.

Manhas, whose younger brother is also in the Army, was supposed to get married on April 20, the grieving father said, as his relatives and neighbours made a beeline for their house to convey their condolences.

Chagatar Singh said his son joined the Army at a very young age to fulfil his desire to serve the country.

“His two sisters, one older to him and another younger, are married. He was a cricket lover and made extraordinary efforts during his recent stay in the village to prepare a cricket pitch for the youth,” Mahesh, a childhood friend of the slain soldier, said.

Chuni Lal, another resident of the village, said Manhas was full of energy and always motivated youngsters to get involved in sporting activities.

“We have lost a true gem in a cowardly terror attack. The enemy has no courage to face our brave soldiers and is undertaking such actions. We believe our forces will take appropriate action to ensure justice for the martyrs,” he said.

Officials said the body of Manhas would be taken to his village and his funeral held with full military hours later in the day.

One person dies as SUV veered off road into muddy waters of canal near Machhiwara

Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service

Harjinder Singh (49), an ex-Armyman and Kargil War veteran, and his two teenaged sons saved five persons from drowning whose SUV plunged into the Sirhind canal between Pvaat village and Behlolpur village near Machhiwara in Ludhiana on Monday night around 11:30 pm.

One person, Kuldeep Singh, did not survive in the accident after his body was taken out from the freezing cold water.

The veteran of 15 Punjab (Patiala), now re-employed in the security of Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia, had come home on vacation. On Monday he, along with his two sons Gurleenpreet Singh (18) and Harkirat Singh (17), were returning after attending a wedding in Bathinda when they saw a vehicle plunging into the Sirhind canal with six victims trapped inside it.

“I was sleeping in the rear seat of my car when one of my sons, who was driving the car, stopped to see the vehicle falling into the canal. After realising that six youths around 25 years of age were struggling to get out of the vehicle, me and my two sons were lucky to bail them out by the grace of God,” the former sepoy said.

Harjinder, along with his sons, rescued the victims by breaking open windowpanes. His sons took the help of a fallen tree to stop the vehicle from sliding further into the muddy water. The trio brought the victims to safety and informed the police. Village residents gathered at the scene and took care of the shivering victims.

“Though we all were wet and shivering with cold, we were feeling thirsty as climbing uphill with victims was torturous. The residents arranged some water for us after which we breathed easy,” they said.

Three PCRs and an ambulance reached the spot after around one hour. One person was declared brought dead at hospital. “One of the five victims was unconscious and water had to be pumped out of the body with the help of chest presses. One victim was bleeding profusely as thick blood oozed out of his head. We secured his head with two Siropas lying in our car.” He has been referred to the DMCH, Ludhiana, on Tuesday.

The local residents lauded the ex-Armyman’s courage and recounted that Harjinder had saved a 25-year-old girl who jumped into the canal way back on August 25, 2008. Then too, he had held the drowning girl by her hair for around 500m in the muddy water and rescued her to the other bank of the canal.

What was Harjinder doing there? “I had gone to a liquor vend near the canal to have some quality time,” he chuckled.

Harjinder, who was injured in the artillery fire from across the border had fell in a ditch in the Mala sector of Kargil during the war and had to be medically boarded out soon, was awarded by the state government for showing exemplary bravery in saving the life of a drowning girl.

Residents said the 6-ft jawan has helped many village children and youths learn swimming. “The canal is a part of our life, we cannot afford to stay away from it. Hence, learning swimming is a step in knowing our surroundings and responding to such situations,” he said.

On being asked what made him jump along with his two sons into the canal in the dead of the night to save the trapped victims, Harjinder said: “How can you see people drowning in front of your eyes. God has given me the ability to help someone. I want my teenaged sons to be fearful of God and brave enough to come to the rescue of persons in need.”

The police said the victims were gas pipeline workers and they were on the way from Bathinda to Rupnagar when the mishap occurred.