Bathinda, May 4

Col Sarabjit Singh Sangha (retd), District Defence Services Welfare Board, Bathinda, today stated that the office of the District Defence Services Welfare Board, Bathinda, was starting free six weeks coaching for preparation of exams for NDA and CDS recruitment as Army officers.Besides imparting coaching in all the related subjects, the candidates will also be taught personality development. He added that since the number of candidates was limited, the aspirants should get enrolled for the courses as soon as possible. He also appealed the mathematics, English and general knowledge experts to approach the board to impart coaching. He added that the work on linking living proof certificate with the Aadhar card was going on.He appealed to the ex-servicemen and widows/dependents to get their two documents linked so that they do not face problem in receiving their pension. For further information, one can also contact at 0164-2212612. — TNS

GUWAHATI: An Army jawan, sent on a 10-km “route march” even after he had complained of chest pain, collapsed and died, possibly of a cardiac arrest.

After his death, four to five fellow jawans got “emotional and agitated” and picked up an altercation with their unit adjutant, a Major, leading to a fight with him. Army sources confirmed there were some injuries but they were not serious.

The incident was reported from eastern Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. The exact location was not disclosed by Army authorities. The unit involved was 8 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, which comes under 3 Corps, which is based in Nagaland’s Dimapur.

The 3 Corps and Assam’s Tezpur based 4 Corps look after security in Arunachal, which shares its border with China, Bhutan and Myanmar. Army sources said the jawan went ahead with the route march after the unit’s Medical Officer had found him “fit” during an examination.

The examination was carried out after the jawan had complained of chest pain.

“It was an endurance training involving 30 to 40 jawans. When the jawan collapsed, he was immediately brought to the Field Ambulance where he succumbed,” an Army officer told Express on the condition of anonymity.

The social media is abuzz with reports of a “mutiny-like” situation in the area. The reports suggested that the route march was a punishment drill, ordered following a recent clash between a jawan and a Captain, in which some other jawans and officers got involved. The Captain was stated to be critical.

Army sources rubbished the reports as “rumours”. The officer also categorically said that it was not an act of mutiny. “Any act of violence, done by an individual, is an act of indiscipline. When two or more individuals are involved, it’s an act of mutiny. However, this case is not exactly mutiny, rather, it’s a case of the troops running amok,” he claimed.

Sources within the Army said that an investigation has been ordered into the alleged scuffle between the jawans and Army officer.

Chandigarh, May 1

A Naib Subedar has complained that someone withdrew around Rs 5.85 lakh from his account after exchanging his ATM card at an ATM booth in Sector 22.According to the police, complainant Umesh Chander Pandey, a resident of N-Area, Airport Road, Chandigarh, reported that someone exchanged his ATM Card at PNB ATM, booth 1-2, Sector 22-D. The complainant claimed that Rs 5.85 lakh was withdrawn from his account between March 3 to 13. . A case of cheating has been registered. — TNS

Bystanders look on as ISRO’s navigation satellite IRNSS-1G is launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday. AFP

India on Thursday completed its mission for a regional navigational system on a par with US-based GPS with successful launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh and last in constellation of satellites that make up the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite SystemWhen it becomes operational in a month’s time, IRNSS, or ‘desi GPS, would aid terrestrial, aerial, marine navigation, fleet tracking and disaster management. The service can also be integrated with mobile phones in the countryThe new GPS will benefit the defence forces, which cannot count on foreign service providers on a long-term basis. The military can use IRNSS to find targets even in the dark or in unknown areas. The US had denied GPS information to India during the Kargil war in 1999 

A Lieutenant General, one Major General, five Brigadiers, three Colonels and one Major were dismissed by the Army Chief on corruption charges, security officials said.

Pakistan’s two senior Generals were among 11 top officers dismissed by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on charges of corruption, a rare move in the country where the military wields enormous power.

A Lieutenant General, one Major General, five Brigadiers, three Colonels and one Major were dismissed by the Army Chief on corruption charges, security officials said.

Two soldiers were also dismissed on similar charges.

Gen Raheel’s move came days after he demanded “across the board accountability”, saying the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted.

“Therefore, across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan,” he had said.

So far no official announcement was made but all local TV channels also reported the sacking of the officers.

Gen Raheel’s move to dismissed the top officers assume significance in the wake of raging scandal in Pakistan over embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family offshore wealth after the Panama Papers leak mentioned his children’s name for having shell companies.

Sharif’s two sons and one daughter were mentioned in the Panama papers for offshore account and companies.

Opposition leaders have demanded a probe into the scandal, with some demanding Sharif’s resignation.

It is believed that decision by the Army Chief may have impact on the political government and demand of Sharif’s resignation might increase.

Pakistan Army is a powerful institution and has ruled the country for more than half of its history since Pakistan was created in 1947.

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/two-top-generals-among-11-officers-dismissed-for-corruption-by-pakistan-army-2764206/?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=inshorts_full_article&utm_campaign=inshorts_full_article#sthash.p5hQNiTc.dpuf

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19Keeping in view the ongoing talks with Naga groups after the Centre signed an accord with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) in August last year, the Modi government here today decided to extend the ceasefire agreement with two other insurgent outfits – the NSCN-Khole Kitovi and the NSCN-Reformation for one year.The extension of the ceasefire will come in effect from April 28, the date when the existing agreement expires. The Centre’s chief interlocutor for talks with the Naga groups, RN Ravi continued to engage with the two militant groups, sources in the MHA said, adding that the two groups, both breakaway NSCN factions, had been in talks with the government after signing a ceasefire agreement a few years ago.Former interlocutor of the Centre RS Panday said, “The process is a continuous exercise and unless all the Naga factions are taken on board, no lasting peace could be achieved in the North East. It was during my tenure that all the peace contours were finalised with the NSCN-IM and so was the accord. It is good that the government has extended the ceasefire and engaging with other groups too.”The government had signed a historic peace accord with the NSCN-IM on August 3 last year. This was announced at an event at 7, Race Course Road, here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSCN (IM) General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah.

The key airbase at Panagarh in West Bengal has been renamed as ‘Air Force Station Arjan Singh’ in honour of the Marshal of the Air Force, who turned 97 on Friday.

The renaming of the Air Force Station was announced by Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha at a function in Delhi to mark Singh’s birthday.

Addressing a simple renaming ceremony in Panagarh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command Air Marshal C Hari Kumar said, “It is a proud moment for the Indian Air Force and the state of West Bengal.”

“He is an icon and a role model. We have to work hard to ensure that the name is suitably looked after in terms of capability and performance. It is for the first time that we have taken a conscious decision to rename an airbase after an individual,” Air Marshal Kumar said.

An icon of the Indian military history, Singh, the first Indian Air Force Chief to lead a young IAF into war in 1965, was hardly 44 years of age when entrusted with the responsibility.

Air Force Station Arjan Singh in Panagarh, approximately 150 kms from Kolkata, will house the C-130J military transport aircraft, capable of carrying out special operations. These planes will be flying with the Mountain Strike Corps along areas bordering China.

Singh was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyalpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan), and completed his education at Montgomery (now Sahiwal, Pakistan).

At the age of 19, he was selected to the Empire Pilot training course at RAF Cranwell.

His first assignment on being commissioned was to fly Westland Wapiti biplanes in the North-WesternFrontierProvince as a member of the No.1 RIAF Squadron.

After a brief stint with the newly formed No. 2 RIAF Squadron where the Marshal flew against the tribal forces, he later moved back to No.1 Sqn as a Flying Officer to fly the Hawker Hurricane.

He was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader in 1944.

Singh led the Squadron against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign, flying close air support missions during the crucial Imphal Campaign and later assisting the advance of the Allied Forces to Rangoon.

For his role in successfully leading the squadron in combat, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

On August 15, 1947, he achieved the unique honour of leading a fly-past of over a hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi.

After his promotion to the rank of Wing Commander, he attended the RoyalStaffCollege at the UK. Immediately after Indian independence, he commanded Ambala in the rank of Group Captain.

In 1949, he was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and took over as Air Officer Commanding of an operational command, which later came to be known as Western Air Command.

Singh had the distinction of having the longest tenure as AOC of an operational base, initially from 1949-1952 and then again from 1957-1961.

After his promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed as the AOC-in-C of an operational command.

Towards the end of the 1962 war, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and he became the Vice Chief of the Air Staff in 1963. He was the overall commander of the joint air training exercise “Shiksha” held between IAF, RAF (Royal Air Force) and RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force).

On August 1, 1964, in the rank of Air Marshal, the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh took over reins of IAF, at a time when it was still rebuilding itself and was gearing up to meet new challenges.

Singh was the first Air Chief to keep his flying currency till his CAS rank.

Having flown over 60 different types of aircraft from pre-World War II era biplanes to the more contemporary, Gnats and Vampires, he has also flown in transport aircraft like the Super Constellation.

In 1965, when Pakistan launched its Operation Grand Slam, with an armoured thrust targeted at the vital town of Akhnoor, Singh led Indian Air Force through the war with courage, determination and professional skill.

He inspired IAF to victory, despite the constraints imposed on the full-scale use of Air Force combat power.

Then Defence Minister Y B Chavan wrote about him, “Air Marshal Arjan Singh is a jewel of a person, quiet efficient and firm; unexcitable but a very able leader”.

He was awarded Padma Vibhushan for his astute leadership of the Air Force during the war.

Subsequently in recognition of the Air Force’s contribution during the war, the rank of the CAS was upgraded and Arjan Singh became the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

He remained a flyer to the end of his tenure in IAF, visiting forward bases and units and flying with the squadrons.

He retired in August 1969, thereupon accepting Ambassadorship to Switzerland. He was Lieutenant Governor of New Delhi from December 1989 to December 1990.

Having been a source of inspiration to all personnel of Armed Forces through the years, government conferred the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force upon Arjan Singh in January 2002 making him the first and the only ‘Five Star’ rank officer with Indian Air Force.