Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, March 5

Less than a month after 10 soldiers were buried in an avalanche at the Siachen Glacier, documents reveal several shortcomings in the mountaineering equipment issued to troops deployed in the world’s highest and coldest battlefield. Moreover, technical specifications, issued by Army Headquarters, for some equipment date back to 1980s.Each soldier deployed in Siachen is authorised 55 personal items that include clothes, safety gadgets, protection gear and mountaineering equipment. Many of these are imported.The Master General of Ordnance Branch at Army Headquarters, responsible for procurement of equipment, is in the process of undertaking “product improvement” to provide better quality of equipment which is in tune with the latest such gear available in India and abroad.Some of the new equipment being sought includes face mask, avalanche cords, karabiner screws for anchoring, pulleys for hauling systems, lightweight ascender and descenders for negotiating ice walls, and ice pitons.The avalanche cord that assists in quick detection and rescue of victims does not remain fluorescent and turns blackish in course of time. More soldiers have died in Siachen due to climatic conditions than by enemy fire. Over 870 soldiers have lost their lives due to environmental factors since the operation Meghdoot against Pakistan in 1984.

Life on the edge

• Avalanche cord that assists in quick rescue of victims doesn’t remain fluorescent and turns blackish with time
• Face mask that protects from extreme cold is a three-piece attachment that is tough to handle
• Karabiners, ascenders , descenders and pulleys are highly prone to erosion and have design defects, thus reducing safety and load-carrying capacity
• Posts in Siachen are as high as 22,000 ft and temperatures plunge as low as minus 45°C, thus necessitating special gear

New York, March 1

In a first of its kind lawsuit, a decorated Sikh-American soldier has sued the US military, alleging that because of his religious beliefs he is being subjected to “discriminatory” testing that no other soldier in the US Army goes through.Captain Simratpal Singh, 28, was in December last year granted a temporary religious accommodation to serve in the US Army while maintaining his Sikh turban, unshorn hair and beard.The accommodation, a rare exception, was scheduled to remain in effect until March 31 but in an unprecedented step backward, the US Army recently ordered Singh to report today for “extraordinary, non-standard additional testing as a precondition for remaining in the Army”, international law firm McDermott Will & Emery, representing Singh, said. — PTI

IESM has decided to fight UNDER  mentioned cases in the court as a welfare measure for its members, all expenses will be met by the IESM.

1. Non payment of arrears to JCO, NCOs and ORs from 1 Jan 2006
2. Non payment of pension to Hony ranks equal to regular rank.
3. Broad banding of disability pension

All members who wish to join up in the cases are requested to give their vakalatnama at JM to Sub Maj Verma and Hony Lt K Pandey between 1400h to 1600h every day. IESM had checked with the
lawyer and requested him to file a case for all concerned but he has confirmed that these days Govt is accepting and paying only to litigants. In such a situation it is important that all members are requested to give their Vakalatnama at Jantar Mantar.

These are entirely different cases than OROP which will be taken up only after first payment of OROP is given to all ESM. At present IESM does not need any vakalatnama for OROP case.

One vakalatnama is required for each case you wish to be enrolled. Please sign the vakalatnama as client and leave all other columns blank. Also attach your PPO alongwith the vakalanama so that we get your name and number correctly.

It is once again confirmed that *NO FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO ANY ESM FOR
INCLUSION OF HIS NAME IN THE LIST OF LITIGANTS*. Only requirement is that
they must send their vakalatnama to following address

Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement
H NO 543, SECTOR 23
PALAM VIHAR
GURGAON
122017

*VAKALATNAMA*

IN THE COURT OF ______________________________  ______________________

Suit/Appeal No. ________________________ ______________________
__________________ JURISDICTION  Of  201 ..

In Re:

Name___________________ ____ ______________ ___________   Petitioner/Complainant

VERSUS
______  ______  ________   ______________ _______ Defendant/Respondent/Accused

KNOW ALL to whom these present shall come that I/We ______________   _________ ___________     the above named ______________________   _____________   _________   ________  ________ do hereby appoint

(herein after called the advocate/s) to be my/our Advocate in the above noted case authorized him:-
(a)    To act, appear and plead in the above-noted case in this Court or in any other Court in which the same may be tried or heard and also in the appellate Court including High Court subject of fees separately for each Court by me/us.
(b)   To sign, file verify and present pleadings, appeals cross objections or petitions for execution review, revision, withdrawal, compromise or other petitions or affidavits or other documents as may be deemed necessary or proper for the prosecution of the said case in all its
stages.
(c)      To file and take back documents to admit and/or deny the documents of opposite party.
(d)   To withdraw or compromise the said case or submit to arbitration any differences or disputes that may arise touching or in any manner relating to the said case.
(e)   To take execution proceedings.
(f)    The deposit, draw and receive money, cheques, cash and grant receipts thereof and to do all other acts and things which may be necessary to be done for the progress and in the course of the prosecution of the said case.
(g)    To appoint and instruct any other Legal Practioner, authorizing him to exercise the power and authority hereby conferred upon the Advocate whenever he may think it to do so and to sign the Power of Attorney on our behalf.
(h)    And I/We the undersigned do hereby agree to ratify and confirm all acts done by the Advocate or his substitute in the matter as my/our own acts, as if done by me/us to all intents and purposes.
(i)      And I/We undertake that I/We or my/our duly authorized agent would appear in the Court on all hearings and will inform the Advocates for appearance when the case is called.
(j)     And I/We undersigned do hereby agree not to hold the advocate or his substitute responsible for the result of the said case. The adjournment costs whenever ordered by the Court shall be of the Advocate which he shall receive and retain himself.
(k)    And I/We the undersigned do hereby agree that in the event of the whole or part of the fee agreed by me/us to be paid to the Advocate remaining unpaid he shall be entitled to withdraw from the prosecution of the said case until the same is paid up. The fee settled is only for the
above case and above Court. I /We hereby agree that once the fee is paid.
(l)       I/We will not be entitled for the refund of the same in any case whatsoever. If the case lasts for more than three years, the advocate shall be entitled for additional fee equivalent to half of the agreed fee for every addition three years or part thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We do hereunto set my/our hand to these presents the contents of which have been understood by me/us on this _________2016.

Accepted subject to the terms of fees.                                         (SIGNATURES  )
Client

Advocates

Security personnel block the entry of protesters to the GT Road at Larsoli village in Sonepat

6,500 paramilitary staff, besides Army columns, deployed to assist the state govt to restore peace

Tribune News Service,Sonepat, February 22

Three persons were killed and nine others injured as the Army opened fire to control stone-pelting protesters who had blocked the National Highway-1 at Larsoli village between Murthal and Gannaur today.Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Rattan neither confirmed nor denied the number of deaths.The injured have been admitted to BPS Women Medical College Hospital at Khanpur Kalan. The mob is learnt to have attacked personnel of Army and paramilitary forces, leading to a clash in which there were some “casualties”, said an official. The protesters torched around 70 vehicles, including the vehicle of Gannaur SDM, 12 trucks and three private buses.The NH-1 was opened for traffic around 6.15 pm, giving relief to thousands of commuters who were stranded at various places. Sources said the security personnel had to again use force to remove the protesters who had blocked the GT Road near Hasanpur, Kumaspur and Beeswan Meel villages. One youth was reportedly injured in the incident. There was tension in the entire area, but efforts were being made to bring the situation under control, he said. The latest incident came within hours after two columns of the Army comprising around 150 personnel, besides CRPF and Haryana Police contingents took control of the Munak canal at around 4 AM today from protesters had cut off the water supply to Delhi, from Akbarpur-Barota in Sonepat. Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Hisar have been the worst-hit districts of the ongoing Jat stir.The protesters continued to block some roads including the arterial Delhi-Ambala highway, demanding a written assurance that the community will be given reservation in the state.Meanwhile, one more casualty was reported at Safidon in Jind district late on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Naveen Kumar, a resident of Safidon town. He had received major injuries in the clashes with security forces in the evening. 

Centre orders use of force to lift blockades

New Delhi, February 22

The Centre today directed security forces to forcefully clear blockades put by Jats, whose violent agitation has paralysed normal life in Haryana.The Central security personnel deployed to assist the Haryana administration were instructed to bring back normalcy as early as possible as there is a feeling of a breakdown in the law-and-order situation, a senior government official said.“The security forces were asked to use force to clear all places where the protesters were squatting affecting communication network and water supply,” the official said.As the National Highway-1, the lifeline of Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, was blocked for the third consecutive day, the Centre has given top most priority to clear the vital road link.The railway link between Delhi and Ambala and beyond was also snapped due to the protests and subsequent violence by Jats, who have been demanding reservation in jobs.As road and train communication links were disrupted, there have been reports of sky rocketing airfare between Delhi and Chandigarh.The National Highway-10 connecting Hisar, Jind and Rohtak with Delhi has also been blocked completely and instruction has been issued to clear the road too.Security forces were also asked to act against anyone who indulges in violence, damaging public and private property.At least 6,500 paramilitary forces besides Army columns were deployed to assist the Harayan Government to restore peace after several days of violence.The Centre was particularly anxious that despite an announcement of accepting their demands, Jats were yet to shun violence and blockades were continuing.Last night, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced that a committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has been formed to look into the demand for reservation in Central government jobs for Jats.Earlier, BJP general secretary Anil Jain had announced that the BJP government in Haryana will bring a legislation in the coming session of the Haryana Assembly to give the OBC status to Jats. PTI

NH-1 on priority

• The Centre has given top most priority to clear the National Highway-1
• The vital road link was blocked for the third consecutive day on Monday
• The highway is considered as the lifeline of Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, J&K, Himachal and Chandigarh

FIR sought against Hooda’s political adviser

BHIWANI, FEBRUARY 22

Demanding the registration of a criminal case against Prof Virender Singh for hatching a conspiracy, Murari Lal Gupta, president of the Bhiwani Sudhar and Vikas Samiti, has sent a complaint to the DGP, seeking action against the former.Gupta, who has also filed a PIL in the High Court against the failure of the state government in curbing the open loot and group clashes, said: “Prof. Virender Singh, political adviser to former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has been heard provoking Capt Mann Singh Dalal (retired), spokesperson of the Dalal khap Chaurasi, to create a law and order problem in the Sirsa area”.He said Virender was heard saying that though the protest was doing well in his area (Rohtak), not much protest was reported in Sirsa district. — TNS

Jawans carry the body of Captain Pawan Kumar who lost his life in a gunbattle with militants, at the 15 Corps headquarters on Sunday. PTI

Azhar Qadri,Tribune News Service,Sempora (Kashmir), February 21

Two officers and a soldier of the Army’s Special Forces Parachute Regiment were killed in an encounter with militants who had taken refuge inside a five-storeyed concrete building after ambushing a paramilitary convoy on the outskirts of the city yesterday.The officers, Captain Pawan Kumar of Jind (Haryana) and Captain Tushar Mahajan of Udhampur (J&K) and Lance Naik Om Prakash of Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) were killed during separate assaults to neutralise the militants who had taken vantage positions inside the building that houses the headquarters of Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI). The casualties on Sunday have taken the toll in the ongoing gunfight here to six, which includes two paramilitary personnel and a civilian who had died yesterday.Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar told The Tribune that at least two to three militants were believed to be inside the building. “It is a huge building and it will take time to clear every room and every floor,” the DGP said.The encounter raged throughout the day even as the Army made several attempts to storm the building. The militants took control of the building after ambushing the convoy of CRPF vehicles on the highway connecting Srinagar and Jammu.  The attack is one of the major offensives launched by militants in recent years. The affiliation of the militants still remains unclear.

Let Jind martyr have his due: Army to Jats

• The Army has appealed to the people of Haryana to extend support in giving a ‘befitting farewell’ to 23-year-old Capt Pawan Kumar, who died fighting militants in Pulwama district of J&K on Sunday. Kumar, an officer of the elite Para unit who hailed from Jind, was among two Army personnel who died in the fierce encounter with militants holed up inside a government building in Pampore town.

Six dead in 2 days

• Capt Pawan Kumar of Jind (Haryana), Capt Tushar Mahajan of Udhampur (J&K) and Lance Naik Om Prakash of Shimla died on Sunday. Two paramilitary personnel and a civilian died on Saturday.

..AND IN J&K, JAT OFFICER FROM JIND DIES FIGHTING TERROR

Born on Army Day (January 15), 1993, Kumar was the only child of Rajbir Singh, the headmaster of a senior secondary school in Jind. “I had one child. I gave him to the army. To the nation. No father can be prouder,” he said.

His JNU connection dates back to his years in the National Defence Academy (NDA), the country’s prestigious military school in Pune that is accredited to the university based in New Delhi.

The degree for the school’s foundation course is conferred by the university, which has become the epicentre of a nationwide campus stir after a JNU student leader was arrested for sedition last week.

“Some courses in the NDA are accredited to the JNU. This means every NDA graduate gets a degree from the JNU,” Srinagar-based military spokesman Colonel NN Joshi said.

The astute, short-haired, clean- shaven young officer in an army mugshot hides a fun-loving personality, with a passion for bikes and cricket.

The Captain was a top Twitter and Facebook trend on Sunday.

A photo on social media shows him sporting a long beard and a backpack slung on his shoulders. Another shows him posing with a motorbike. One of his profile pictures posted in 2015 was of his dog Tyson, a Rottweiler.

“He was a thin guy, with a Kashmiri-style beard. He was fearless and always up for action. He was keen cricketer,” a soldier said.

‘Capt Pawan Kumar’ trending on Twitter today

short by Pragya Swastik / 05:03 pm on 21 Feb 2016,Sunday

A day after Army officer Captain Pawan Kumar Singh attained martyrdom in Jammu and Kashmir during an encounter with militants, ‘Capt Pawan Kumar’ was a top Twitter trend in India on Sunday. “I had one child, I gave him to the Army and to the nation, no father can be prouder”, read a tweet quoting martyred Captain’s father Rajbir Singh.

Capt Tushar Mahajan martyred in J&K

Captain Tushar Mahajan from Udhampur was from the elite Para unit.

short by Ankur Vyas / 08:20 pm on 21 Feb 2016,Sunday

Captain Tushar Mahajan was today martyred during the ongoing encounter at Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore, making him the second officer to lose his life after Captain Pawan Kumar. With this, the total armed personnel casualties have risen to six. Militants had attacked a CRPF convoy near the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India in J&K’s Pampore on Saturday.

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/prime-time/prime-time-that-we-can-hear-what-we-say/404451

Udhampur, February 12

On the occasion of the Investiture Ceremony, gallantry and distinguished service awards were presented by Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, to 38 officers and other ranks here today.Lt Gen Hooda presented 19 Sena Medals (gallantry), including three Sena Medals (posthumous), 10 Sena Medals (distinguished service) and nine Vishisht Seva Medals.He also presented GOC-in-C Unit Appreciation to 29 units for their outstanding performance in 2015. A total of 15 civilians were also felicitated for their outstanding assistance rendered to the Army.Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Hooda commended all ranks of the Northern Command for their dedication and devotion to duty in the highest traditions of the Army. He congratulated those who were decorated for bravery and distinguished service. — TNS