BSF men inspect the body of a smuggler shot dead by them. PTI

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, February 7

Four drug smugglers were shot dead during an encounter with BSF troopers of the 191 Battalion near the Mehndipur border outpost here today.RK Thapa, DIG, BSF, said five Pakistani intruders had come up to the barbed wire fence near border pillar 165/18 at 4.30 am. “Two of them came forward and three stayed back. Their three Indian assistants also arrived to receive the consignment. The BSF jawans challenged the smugglers, who opened fire. The troopers retaliated and gunned down two Pakistani nationals and two Indian smugglers,” the DIG said.He said during a search operation, 10 packets of heroin (10 kg), two 9 mm Chinese pistols, a country-made pistol along with 54 cartridges, Pakistani currency and SIM cards were seized. Some Pakistani cigarette packets were also found. Bodies of the Indian drug peddlers had been handed over to the police to ascertain their identity. Two days ago, the BSF had seized 2 kg of heroin and arrested two Indian smugglers, Rashpal Singh and Jodhbir Singh, from Kamal Singh Wala border outpost. 

4 drug smugglers gunned down by BSF near border at Tarn Taran

“BSF troops of 191 battalion sensed their movement and cornered them. Finding themselves trapped, they opened fire on the troops. The BSF men retaliated, killing the smugglers,” he said.

Paliwal said ten packets of contraband , two Pakistan-made pistols, one local-made pistol ,54 live rounds of ammunition, one plastic pipe, Pakistani currency notes worth ` 270, a knife, a packet of cigarettes made in Pakistan and a SIM card of the neighbouring country were recovered from the spot.

BSF officials said the bodies of the smugglers had been handed over to the police for further investigation. The deceased were not identified till the time of filing this story. RK Thapa, deputy inspector general ( DIG) Punjab frontier, said: “T he enhanced vigil of BSF troops has once again thwarted the attempt by smugglers and anti-national elements to smuggle contra band items into India. In the future also, we will not allow them to succeed in their attempts.”

Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed (R) being brought at the Delhi Police Special cell on Friday. Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, February 5

A 28-year-old man with suspected Islamic State links was nabbed from Kashmere Gate ISBT here, making it the fifth arrest by the Delhi Police in connection with a module of the terror outfit it had claimed to have busted last month.“The accused, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, was arrested on the basis of a tip-off from a central intelligence agency. During interrogation, it has emerged that he was about to leave for Syria,” Special Commissioner of Police Arvind Deep said.Intelligence agencies had found that he was also close to one of the 14 men arrested by the NIA last month in its crackdown against the IS, he said.Sayyed was given Rs 1.5 lakh by a person in Lucknow and he was to deliver it to an associate here, the officer said, alleging that the police have found Rs 85,000 from his possession.According to the police,  Sayyed, who is believed to be self-radicalised, was acting as a financier and had allegedly given Rs 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested by the Delhi Police from Haridwar last month. 

Will teach Pathankot plotter lesson: Parrikar

New Delhi, February 5

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said India would “surely” teach a lesson to the mastermind of the Pathankot air base attack and admitted that the terrorists were probably inside the air base even before intelligence about an impending strike was received.Noting that India “is losing much of its patience”, Parrikar said the country would give tit-for-tat. “Eent ka jawaab patthar se denge (We will reply to bricks with stones),” he said. Parrikar said the “pushers” of the attack were in Pakistan, refusing to disclose further details.“You have to plan. Here I have named individual and organisation, and have not named any country, because if it’s against a country, then it means war. We want to teach a lesson to the individual. Where and when, that will be our choice,” Parrikar said on a TV channel. On counter-attack against terror camps in Pakistan, Parrikar was quoted as saying the time will be chosen by India. — P

Presidential ship INS Sumitra proceeds for fleet review. —PIB

Visakhapatnam, February 6

President Pranab Mukherjee today embarked on Presidential Yacht ‘INS Sumitra’ and reviewed the imposing international parade of fleet at IFR-2016 here where 50 countries across the globe have come together to participate in this show of prowess and preparedness by the Indian Navy.

Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, among others at the International Fleet Review (IFR).

This is the 11th fleet review after independence and the second international one being conducted in India. The President was onboard ‘INS Sumitra’ which sailed through a display of 70 ships at anchorage off Visakhapatnam.

Speaking after reviewing the fleet, Mukherjee said 50 friendly Navies have sailed across oceans and sent Naval ships and/or delegations to participate in the first IFR on the east coast of India at Visakhapatnam.

“Navies world over have conducted fleet reviews to symbolise their loyalty, allegiance to the nation and strengthening bonds between the sailors and the state. IFR 2016 does that much and much more,” the President said.

“IFR 2016, while focusing on the prowess of Indian Navy, has brought together Navies from across the globe here on Indian shores, signifying our common desire to use the seas to promote peace, cooperation and friendship as also develop partnership for a secure maritime future”, he said.

The review had a combination of ships from Indian Navy as well as frontline Navies from across the globe. The ships from Indian Coast Guard and Mercantile Marine also participated.

In this most formal of naval ceremonies, each ship dressed in full regalia saluted the President as he passed.

The President also reviewed the Indian Naval air arm in a display of spectacular fly-past by several fixed wing and rotary aircraft comprising 15 formations.

In the final stage of the review, a mobile column of warships and submarines streamed past the Presidential Yacht.

This display showcased the latest acquisitions of the Indian Navy.

Further, several enthralling waterfront activities, a display of Marine Commandos and helicopter demonstrations were conducted to mesmerise the viewers. —PTI

Dogs of the Special Protection Group undergo training at the ITBP’s National Centre for Training Dogs in Bhanu. tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) is training sniffer dogs employed by the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) that is responsible for providing security cover to the Prime Minister.The first such batch of SPG dogs is undergoing training at ITBP’s National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD), co-located with its Basic Training Centre at Bhanu near Chandigarh. The centre was recently expanded and upgraded with new training infrastructure and accommodation.The training regimen is of 24 weeks out of which they have already completed seven weeks. The dogs include Labradors, German Shepherds and Malinois. The number of SPG dogs being trained by the ITBP is being kept a closely guarded secret.Last year, the SPG had approached the ITBP for urgent allotment of seats at the NCTD to train their dogs in anti-sabotage checks in view of pinpointed threats. The SPG will now train all its dogs at the ITBP centre.New training methodologies have been formulated by the ITBP to train its dogs. ITBP K-9 units were the only Indian sniffer dog squads to be selected for dove-tailing with the US dog squads during the visit of President Barrack Obama to India last year. They have also validated their performance in highly sensitive operations such as Op French Toast, conducted during this Republic Day celebrations to protect the visiting French Premier Francois Hollande in addition to Op Lal Quila, Op Doga, Op Ob-Mo, Op Africa and many others that involved sanitising VVIP areas and protecting foreign dignitaries.Besides its own dogs, the ITBP trains dogs of other paramilitary forces, state police forces and some other countries. It has the capacity to accommodate and train 60 dogs and their handlers at a time. The ITBP has also trained dogs to sanitise encounter sites by sniffing out IEDs and booby traps before troops move in.

24-week drill

• The training regimen is of 24 weeks, out of which dogs have already completed seven weeks
• The dogs include Labradors, German Shepherds and Malinois. The number of SPG dogs being trained by the ITBP is being kept a secret

Maj Gen Sanjeev Narain, GOC, 26 Division, at a meeting with Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday.

Tribune News Service,Jammu, January 27

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 26 Division (Tiger Division) Maj Gen Sanjeev Narain and MLA from Bandipora Usman Majeed called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today. Major General Narain briefed the Governor about the obtaining security situation in his area of responsibility.At a separate meeting, Usman Majeed raised issues related to delays in the implementation of development projects in his district.The Governor appreciated Majeed’s concerns and asked him to continue his efforts for promoting the welfare of the people of his area.

India wants friendly ties with Pak: Guv

Hopes PM’s endeavours will bear fruit and secure peaceful environment for J-K

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Governor NN Vohra inspects the parade during the Republic Day celebrations at MA Stadium in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

Tribune News Service,Jammu, January 27

The Republic Day celebrations passed off peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security in the wake of terror alerts in the region. Governor NN Vohra, who took the salute at the main function in MA stadium here, recalled the initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open dialogue with Pakistan and his efforts to reach out to people of Jammu and Kashmir and ensure the development of the state. In his address, Vohra said: “India remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours and our Prime Minister has launched fresh initiatives for securing peaceful relations with Pakistan.”He hoped that the Prime Minister’s endeavours would bear fruit and the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be able to live and work in a peaceful environment. The Governor stressed that growth and the pace of development would improve significantly when the governmental machinery would start performing with speed, efficiency and accountability.“To restore people’s faith and trust in the functioning of the administrative apparatus, it is of vital importance to eradicate corruption and visibly improve the functioning of the public delivery systems”, he said.Recognising the role of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces and the Army for their devotion and sacrifices, Vohra urged them to continue maintaining a tight vigil on the frontiers. He also complimented the people who live in the border areas for their courage and cooperation.The Governor observed that for the past over two and a half decades, the growth and development of Jammu and Kashmir had been adversely affected by the continuing proxy war launched by the western neighbour.He said that in the past year, besides the repeated incidents of cross-border firing and attempts at infiltration, there were five terror attacks: two in the Tangdhar sector, two in Samba and Kathua, and one at Udhampur. Meanwhile, troops of the Indian Army exchanged sweets with their Pakistani counterparts at the Chakan da Bagh crossing point and the Tatta Pani crossing point in Poonch district on the eve of Republic Day. While the cross-LoC trade remained suspended yesterday, administration from both sides along with traders also exchanged sweets to strengthen the confidence-building measure.The BSF and the Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets and pleasantries on the Zero Line octroi outpost in the Suchetgarh area of the RS Pura sector in Jammu district and at other meeting points on the international border.

In the plains of Malerkotla, you aren’t amazed as much by the town’s green, leafy vegetables being sold at home and abroad by laborious arain. What strikes you most is the town’s character that unveils itself behind the dust and grime, offering a glimpse through centuries of its existence and prompting amateurs to dig deeper into its Islamic heritage. The once princely state is a Muslim majority town in Sangrur district, a rare distinction it is said to have earned from Guru Gobind Singh-ji, the 10th Sikh Guru. Ask city resident Raajesh Kakkar what he has got. He says he has arranged the coins since 1762 — when Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali allowed Nawab of Malerkotla to mint coins — in accordance with their 200-year-old minting chronology. That’s a first, if proven by archaeologists and other experts. Kakkar, 53, teaches economics at Government Senior Secondary School in Bagrian village of Sangrur and is the founder convenor of Malerkotla chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH). He has been collecting coins of the Malerkotla state for over 15 years. “The state was ruled by 22 kings. In the mid-18th century, the state was sort of a protectorate of Ahmad Shah Abdali, who allowed the 12th Nawab Bhikham Khan (1759-63) to mint. The first coin came in 1762,”says Kakkar. “Coins minted during Bhikham Khan and some of his successors’ reign were rarely available and didn’t find mention in any literature of the time. Nobody has arranged them chronologically. After I traced the coins minted during rule of Bhikham Khan and his successor Bahadur Khan (1763-1766), some numismatists claimed that the legends inscribed on them is ‘corrupted’, thus rejected them as fake. But my research and consultations with Persian experts confirmed otherwise.” Ahmed Ali Khan was the last ruler of Malerkotla (1908-1947). Until then Malerkotla coins bore the inscription in honour of Amhmed Shah Abdali.Kakkar’s claims are buttressed by at least two documents. One is Modern Punjabi Coins, written by British historian RC Temple way back in 1889. An authority on the subject, Temple wrote that he couldn’t trace coins minted during the rule of Bhikham Khan, his successors Bahadur Khan, Nawab Attaullah Khan (1791-1810) and Nawab Wazir Ali Khan, who ruled the state from 1810-1821. The second is Standard Catalogue of World Coins, the standard guide for numismatists and coin collectors. Jeevandeep Singh, a Ludhiana-based expert on Sikh history, says even the catalogue listed information about coins minted only during seven nawabs of Malerkotla. “Kakkar seems to have joined the dots because reference about Malerkotla coins is very sketchy. Secondly, since Malerkotla was a Muslim-majority state, scholars after Partition were not too enthusiastic about its history,”said Singh. Another expert on Sikh coins Gurprit Singh, author of Coins of the Sikhs: Sri Amritsar Jiyo, also largely agrees with Singh. Gurprit along with fellow numismatists founded National Numismatic Society, Ludhiana, the first such body in North India. “A peculiar feature of the coins minted in the Sutlej states is that all were minted in the name of Ahmad Shah Abdali. This continued even around 100 years after his death. The British didn’t object. Therefore, it becomes almost impossible to attribute the coins to a certain ruler. If anybody has done this with Malerkotla coins, then he is certainly the first one to do so.”Nawabs of Malerkotla22 Nawabs ruled Malerkotla, but the coins are associated with only 11 Nawabs. Their names are Nawab Bhikhan Khan (1759-1763), Bahadur Khan (1763-1766), Umar Khan (1766-1781), Asad Ullah Khan (1781-1791), Atta Ullah Khan (1791-1810), Wazir Ali Khan (1810-1821), Amir Ali Khan (1821-1846), Nawab Mehboob Ali Khan alias Sube Khan (1846-1857), Sikander Ali Khan (1857-1871), Ibrahim Ali Khan (1872-1908) and Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan (1908-1947)Guru’s blessingsBeing the only city (except Qadian in Gurdaspur) dominated by Muslims in post-Partition Punjab, Malerkotla is said to have been blessed by Guru Gobind Singh-ji because the then Nawab had stoutly opposed the execution of the Guru’s sons. Malerkotla was the only major Muslim principality that escaped the 1947 bloodshed.What’s on coins?

• The last Nawabs’ full name ‘Ahmad Ali Khan Nawab Bahadur’ is inscribed. He was the only one who introduced change in inscription by also adding his name on the the coin.
• A circular in Persian describes contents of the stamp: Zadand Sikka-e-Daulat ba Fazl-e-Rabb-e-Kareem, Ba hukm Wali-e-Malerkotla bar seem (with the grace of God and at the behest of the Nawab of Malerkotla, coins were minted on silver).
•  Hukm shud az Qadir-e-bechun ba Ahmad Badshah; sikka zan bar sim-o-zar az ouj-e-mahi ta ba mah. It means: By the order of God, the peerless, to Ahmed Badshah: Strike coin on silver and gold from earth to heaven.

Bengaluru: The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft – “Tejas” – will participate in the three-day Bahrain International Air Show starting Thursday. This is the first time the LCA, which is in the process of becoming a part of the IAF, will fly in a foreign air show. “Two Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft will take part in the Bahrain International Air Show for flying display through a series of aerobatic manoeuvres such as vertical loop, slow fly past and barrel roll”, a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) release said. Tejas is a single engine, light weight, agile, multi-role supersonic fighter. It has the fly-by-wire, state-of-the-art open architecture computer for avionics and weapon and combat capability. With the advanced avionics, the pilot load is also reduced. — TNSK’taka revokes luxury tax on ICU bedsBengaluru: After public outcry, the Karnataka Government on Wednesday revoked eight per cent luxury tax imposed on each bed in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of hospitals. “We have exempted beds in hospital ICUs from the eight per cent luxury tax. The government had issued a directive in this regard to all hospitals in the city. This directive stands cancelled,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The decision comes after the medical fraternity raised a hue and cry arguing that the tax would add to the burden on patients. The Commercial Tax Commissioner had six months ago issued the order bringing ICU beds under the luxury tax net, but it was put into effect a few days ago, triggering protests. — PTIRoadside dhabas at Kaziranga to goNew Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has ordered demolition of roadside shops and eateries along the animal corridors near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park in the wake of increasing wildlife casualties due to vehicular traffic on the National Highway-37 which passes through it. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to take clear instruction on the issue and file an affidavit within 10 days. “We make it clear that all the shops and dhabas run within 100 metres from the end of the road of National Highway or located in the forest/protected area, or bridges constructed or within 500 metres of the National Kaziranga Park, would be liable to be demolished,” the Bench said. — PTIUnmanned Chinese copter completes South Pole flightBeijing: An unmanned Chinese helicopter has completed its maiden flight from the Great Wall Station in the South Pole photographing fauna and flora in the area. “Polar Hawk-2” developed by the Beijing Normal University can operate for about one hour at a time at an altitude of up to 1,500 meters. The lithium-battery powered aircraft is highly efficient, quiet and has low emissions, said Cheng Xiao, head of the research team. During the hour’s flight on Monday, the helicopter took over 350 high-quality photos. Since the station is located in the Fildes Peninsula, which is known for its changeable weather, there is a lack of clear satellite photos of the station, while pictures taken by the helicopter clearly show the station, said Cheng. China currently has four Antarctic research stations — Taishan, Great Wall, Zhongshan and Kunlun. — PTI