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Parents, children to get residency on arrival

Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service

The Russian government has initiated the process to grant permanent residency (PR) to five members of the family of Tejpal Singh, who was killed fighting for the Russian army in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on March 12.

Confirming the development, Tejpal’s widow Parminder Kaur said she had been granted PR while other members of her family — her children and Tejpal’s parents — would be granted the permanent residency on arrival in Russia.

She said the Russian government had started giving a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 each to her children — seven-year-old Armandeep Singh and four-year-old Gurnaazdeep Kaur — to meet their education and lodging expenses since March.

Returning after her three-month stay in Moscow this week, Parminder said there was no word from the government on handing over her husband’s mortal remains.

She will fly to Moscow in February to complete the remaining paper work. The entire family plans to visit Russia in May when the harsh winter will subside there. Once Tejpal’s parents land in Russia, they will also start getting pension there.

Recent developments regarding India’s Zorawar Light Tank highlight its successful completion of high-altitude firing trials in the Nyoma region of Ladakh. These trials, which are part of a broader testing program, focus on evaluating the tank’s firepower, mobility, and protection capabilities. The Zorawar light tank is designed to enhance the Indian Army’s operational effectiveness in mountainous terrains, particularly in response to challenges posed by Chinese military assets in the region.

The Zorawar light tank has successfully completed its high-altitude firing trials, demonstrating its capability to operate effectively in challenging environments. This phase of testing is expected to conclude by the end of December 2024, after which the tank will be handed over for user trials next year.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the Zorawar project aims to fill a critical gap identified during the India-China military standoff. The Indian Army plans to induct at least 350 units of this light tank once it is fully operational.

According to a statement posted by the Defence Ministry, the test demonstrated the tank’s precision and reliability, key attributes for operations in challenging terrains. 

“Indian Light Tank has achieved a significant milestone by successfully test-firing at an altitude of over 4200m, demonstrating its accuracy and reliability. This feat showcased the tank’s capability to operate effectively in high-altitude areas, making it an asset for the Indian Army,” the Defence Ministry stated.

The tank was designed around three years back and its overall development phase has progressed very rapidly, officials said.

The Zorawar light tank is designed for high-altitude operations, offering significant advantages over heavier tanks like the T-90 Bhishma. Its lighter weight facilitates easier transport and deployment in remote areas, while its advanced features ensure effective support for infantry operations.

Following the completion of current trials, user assessments are anticipated to begin in early 2025. This will enable the Indian Army to evaluate the tank under real operational conditions, further solidifying its role in enhancing India’s defence capabilities in high-altitude regions.

On December 12, 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) of India approved significant defence projects worth approximately ₹20,000 crore (around $2.4 billion) under the “Make in India” initiative. This includes the procurement of 100 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers and 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets for the Indian Armed Forces.

The order for the K-9 Vajra, a 155 mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer, will be fulfilled by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Hazira facility in Gujarat. This marks a repeat order following the successful induction of an initial batch of 100 units, which were delivered as part of a previous contract valued at ₹4,500 crore in 2017. The K-9 Vajra has been effectively deployed in various terrains, including desert and mountainous regions, particularly during recent tensions along the India-China border in Ladakh.

The K-9 Vajra is recognized for its high mobility and rapid rate of fire, making it a critical asset for modern artillery operations. Its design incorporates over 18,000 indigenous components, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The new order is expected to enhance operational capabilities further, especially with winter-ready variants being developed for deployment in harsh climates.

Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets

In addition to the howitzers, the CCS also cleared a contract for 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets, which will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility. This project is valued at approximately ₹13,500 crore and aims to replenish the fleet as older aircraft are phased out. The indigenous content for these jets has been significantly increased due to local manufacturing of many components.

These approvals represent a substantial boost to India’s defence capabilities and are part of broader efforts to enhance military readiness amid regional security challenges. The K-9 Vajra’s proven performance in diverse environments and the addition of advanced fighter jets will contribute to strengthening India’s armed forces and improving operational efficiency across various theatres of conflict.

Security forces on Wednesday detected and destroyed a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) on the Handwara-Baramulla highway in Kashmir, officials said. This is second IED which has been detected in north Kashmir this week. A joint patrolling party of police…

Our Correspondent

Security forces on Wednesday detected and destroyed a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) on the Handwara-Baramulla highway in Kashmir, officials said.

This is second IED which has been detected in north Kashmir this week.

A joint patrolling party of police and Army found a suspicious bag by the roadside on the highway at Langate in Handwara area of Kupwara district, the officials said.

They said a bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot and the suspicious bag taken to an isolated place. The squad destroyed the suspected IED in a controlled explosion, the officials said, adding there was no damage done.

The Army wrote on X, “Indian Army remains resolute in its commitment to keep Kashmir terror-free.”

Earlier this week, a major terror incident was averted after an IED was recovered on the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway.

Official data states that over 400,000 Indian students reside across Canada

Three Indian students have been murdered in Canada last week and the Indian high commission in Ottawa has taken up the matter of safety of Indians with the Canadian authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

The safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada remains of utmost importance to us, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“In the last week or so we have had unfortunate tragedies. Three Indian students have been murdered. We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada,” Jaiswal said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our High Commission and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter,” he said. Jaiswal said the Indian missions in that country are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation of the incidents.

“Issues faced by them, especially Indian students, are raised by our high commission and Consulates with the relevant Canadian authorities on a regular basis,” he said.

“We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidence of hate crimes and criminal violence,” Jaiswal added.

According to official data, over 400,000 Indian students are studying in Canada. Asked about reports of instances of the Indian high commission not granting visas in Canada, Jaiswal described them as a “disinformation” campaign.

“We have seen the said media report. It is yet another example of Canadian media’s disinformation to malign India,” he said.

“Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity,” he said.

“The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India’s sovereign affairs,” Jaiswal added

The Ministry of Defence announced that a Rs 13,500 crore contract has been awarded to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procuring 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft along with associated equipment

Vijay Mohan

The Ministry of Defence announced that a Rs 13,500 crore contract has been awarded to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procuring 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These aircraft are meant to replace aircraft lost in crashes and accidents over the years.

The sanctioned strength of the Su-30 fleet is 272, and at present 260 aircraft are said to be in service with 13 operational squadrons, besides other technical establishments like Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).

The heavy, two-engine twin-seat multirole aircraft now form the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet. The original Su-30 entered Russian air force service in 1994 and development of the India-specific MKI variant started in 2000, with a pact in 1996 to manufacture 140 aircraft.

The first Russian-made Su-30 MKI variant out of the 50 to be delivered directly was inducted into the IAF in 2002, and the first of the remaining aircraft assembled by HAL in India entered service in November 2004. In December 2000, a deal was signed for full technology transfer to India and the numbers required went up to 272 aircraft.

After seven years of incident free flying, the first major accident involving this aircraft happened on April 30, 2009 when a Su-30 from No. 30 Squadron crashed in Rajasthan. Both pilots ejected, but one succumbed to injuries. Some reports later said that the crew had inadvertently switched off the aircraft’s flight control system that led to the crash.

Another aircraft was lost the same year when the aircraft’s engine caught fire during a training sortie over the Pokhran range in November. Both the pilots from 31 Squadron bailed out safely.

Other crashes happened in December 2011, April 2012, February 2013, October 2014, May 2015 and March 2017 during routine sorties and training missions. Some were attributed to technical defects and others to human error.

The crash that took place in 2013 was a result of defective ordnance release during a night sortie over Pokhran range. The live bombs that the aircraft was carrying failed to release and exploded while still attached to the underwing pylons, inflicting serious damage and injuring the pilots, though they managed to bail out and survived.

On May 23, 2017, the IAF lost two pilots from No. 2 Squadron when their aircraft went down in dense forests of the northeast during a training sortie. The aircraft had taken off from Tezpur airbase as part of a two-aircraft formation, lost radar and radio contact with the air traffic control at 11.10 am. The last reported position of the aircraft was 60 km northwest of Tezpur and there were no reports of the pilots having ejected.

Four crashes happened in June 2018, August 2019, January 2023, June 2024. Among them, two involved aircraft at HAL’s Nashik plant in Maharashtra and in both the cases as well as the one in 2024, the pilots bailed out safely.

On January 28, 2023, a Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 from TACDE in Gwalior were involved in a mid-air collision. While the Mirage pilot was unable to eject and died in the accident, the two Su-30 pilots ejected and sustained only minor injuries.

The Su-30 is a large, long-range aircraft that can carry over 8,000 kg of bombs, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and anti-ship missiles. It has also been modified to air launch the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.

The IAF has experienced some technical issues with the fleet in the past like engine problems and unintended triggering of the ejection seats. The fleet has gone in for several upgradation and capability enhancement programmes with the integration of new avionics, subsystems and weapons sourced from Indian, Russian, Israeli and French agencies.

Another major upgrade programme, referred to as Super Sukhoi, is on the anvil with Defence Acquisition Council, issuing an Acceptance of Necessity for the Rs 60,000 crore project that would be undertaken by HAL in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), industry and academia.

This could involve new engines, avionics, electronic warfare suite, radar and navigation systems along with life extension. The aircraft are expected to remain in service till 2060.

Babbar Khalsa International takes responsibility

Ravi Dhaliwal

Panic gripped the Batala area after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found in the compound of Ghanian-Ke-Bangar police station here on Friday, a police officer said.

Senior police officers immediately reached the spot and initiated investigation into the matter.

The police station is nearly 14 km away from Batala city.

Incidentally, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to visit Qadian on Sunday. The Batala police have made extensive security arrangements for his visit. Senior officers of the Batala police district were busy with his visit when news of the incident surfaced.

DIG (Border) Satinder Singh said the police were verifying the object. “For some reason it cannot be a hand-grenade,” he said.

“We have called in experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory and will give details once we have some clarity,” another police officer said.

An official disclosed that two Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) sympathisers-Gopi Nawashaharia and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Pashia-had taken responsibility of the incident.

According to sources, Gopi is involved in the murder of former BKI militant, Rattandeep Singh, and had fled to the US on a fake passport in May. He is believed to be hiding in California. Happy Pashia, a US-based gangster-turned-terrorist, is actively recruiting vulnerable youth from weaker sections in Amritsar’s Ramdass and Gurdaspur’s Dera Baba Nanak regions near the international border for criminal and terror operations. Pashia, wanted in over 15 cases of murder, attempted murder and extortion, has been linked to multiple criminal modules in Punjab.

Capt J.K. Sengupta (from right), Rita Sengupta, Gen V.N. Sharma, Brig. Ravi Malhotra. — Anil Bhat

Some have probably heard about or have met this extraordinarily brilliant Officer Captain Jojo Sengupta, late trustee of Midas foundation who died on 31 August 2013 of cancer at Pune.

Captain Jayanta Kumar Sengupta, popularly known as Jojo, was the second son of Amar Prashad and Namita Sengupta and was born on 17 October, 1942, at Lahore, where Mr Sengupta, working with Shalimar Paints, was posted.

After his initial schooling at Huddard High School, Kanpur, he later joined Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehra Dun. Brilliant and talented as he was, it was no surprise that he turned out to be a triple gold medalist from RIMC, National Defenc Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA). He was commissioned into the 16th Light Cavalry, one of Indian Army’s oldest regiments, in December 1962. His third gold medal was awarded for topping his batch, the 31st IMA Course, the training period of which was telescoped to six months of the scheduled one year in order to enable Indian Armed Forces to meet the new defence challenges confronted by it owing to China’s unprovoked aggression in October 1962.
Jojo was doing a gunnery instructors course at the Armoured Corps Centre and School, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), when the second India-Pakistan war, waged again by Pakistan in 1965, broke out. All ranks doing courses at this training establishment were re-called to their respective regiments.
Jojo reported to 16th Cavalry and was pitched into the operations. On September 21, his fourth day in the war, he was very effectively conducting an artillery shoot from his tank, sighting targets through the binocular sights in the commander’s hatch of the Centurian tank, when an armour-piercing projectile hit very close. All the glass of the sights got shattered and hit Jojo in his eyes and face.
After a prolonged period of convalescing at Army Hospital, Delhi Cantt and INHS Asvini, the Naval Hospital at Mumbai, Jojo underwent rehabilitation and mobility training at St. Dunstan’s in England. He also got the opportunity to learn Braille and typing and was able to access other rehabilitation services. He left the Army in 1967 and took up the dealership of Tata Oil Mills in Calcutta. In 1972, he also was also allotted the LPG distributorship of Indian Oil in Siliguri by the Directorate General Resettlement.
Jojo married Rita, a trained teacher and they had twin daughters, Sreerupa and Sreemoyee and son, Bibek. In 2003 Sreerupa got married to Major Gopal Mitra (Retd), SM (Sena Medal for gallantry). Major Mitra, who served in 15 Mahar Regiment lost his vision as a result of an explosion while fighting Pakistan supported terrorists in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir in 2000. Major Mitra completed his Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (TISS) and went on to obtain a scholarship to undertake an MSc in Development Management at the London School of Economics. Having worked earlier as the International Campaign Manager for Youth Voices, Leonard Cheshire Disability, a UK-based charity organisation working for the rights of persons with disabilities all over the world, he is now working in United Nations Children’s Emrgency Fuund as Programme Specialist for disability. He is the first Indian with disabilities to occupy this key Unicef post. Sreerupa did her Masters from London School of Economics and also Masters in Social Work from Tiss, Mumbai. The other twin Sreemoyee, who teaches, is presently doing a course at the London Institute of Education. Bibek is an executive director with Goldman Sachs.
In 1990 Jojo and Rita, with several like minded disabled youth founded the North Bengal Council for the Disabled (NBCD) and in 1998 they raised the Prerana Educational Centre, which began in a small garage in their house. Prerana, which grew into a major Special Educational Centre in North Bengal, is a cross disability educational centre for children with disabilities and seeks to provide holistic learning through a well designed curriculum. In 1998 NBCD also launched a large Community Based Rehabilitation Programme covering disabled persons in 700 villages in the Siliguri Sub Division.
In 2009 National Institute for the Visually Handicapped observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by felicitating five visually challenged persons for their contribution in the various fields. Capt JK Sengupta was one of five visually challenged persons selected for being conferred the NIVH Excellence Award 2009 presented by Mrs. Margaret Alva, governor of Uttarakhand.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jojo and Rita again during the February 2012 Cavalry Veteran’s Reunion at Delhi Cantt in the presence of former Army Chief General V.N. Sharma, of 16th Cavalry and Jojo’s course-mate, Brigadier Ravi Malhotra, secretary, Cavalry Officers’ Assoc-iation, when they happened to be in Delhi for a Prerana-related workshop. Little did we know during that visit that they would again be meeting him after that mostly in hospital. Soon afterwards, he was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs. It was a most unkind blow for a person like Jojo, already suffering blindness, to be further afflicted with cancer. But true to his form, he battled it most bravely and stoically. He could still surprise his visiting friends by asking them everything about them rather than talk about his own illness. He bravely fought his last battle in and out of Command Hospital and his brother’s residence at Pune succumbing after much pain and suffering, on August 31, 2013.
For the fraternity of the Armoured Corps, the Armed forces and a large circle of Jojo’s friends and dear ones, his demise is an irreparable loss of a great mind, an excellent person and a wonderful friend and family member and unforgettable by anyone who met him. May God bless his soul. Long Live Jojo.