I WAS a Lieutenant posted in a unit commanded by Major Gill. Upon receiving communication that the Sector Commander, Brigadier Gill, along with his wife and a grownup daughter, would be transiting through our unit, I was called by Major Gill; an earthy Jat who eyed those who conversed in English with disdain. He spoke in Punjabi only. Even with South Indian troops. His culinary knowledge went no further than makki di roti and sarson da saag. Both of us were bachelors.“Kaka jo mein kai reyaan palle ban lae (Listen carefully, son).” He gave me the itinerary of the Commander in chaste Punjabi. He told me that the Brigadier would arrive in the evening, stay the night in our guestroom and leave for the Sector HQ early the following next day. We were to host the Commander and his family for dinner. Our ‘special’ cook was on leave. Major Gill left the arrangements to my devices. With a look of contempt he said in Punjabi that he had heard the Gills were anglicised in their ways. He kept muttering under his breath before he dug into the file before him.  I saluted and left his office wondering how two Gills could be so much unalike.Army men are supposedly ‘Jacks of all trades’ and can make a meal out of anything. When in search of food in an adverse situation, beyond raiding the enemy or living off the land, the Army never thought it necessary to include cooking in the training manuals. A ‘propah’ dinner had to be laid out. While taking stock of the CSD, I came across a box containing a pressure cooker. The box had been partly eaten by rats and a recipe book was peeping out. Here was the solution. The recipe book was called for and a menu was chalked out. Cooking is not rocket science, I realised. The instructions were carefully followed by langar (jawans kitchen) cooks under my supervision. The meal began to take shape. There was no recipe for a pudding and no formal meal is complete without one. Improvisation was resorted to, at which the Army is adept. In mountains, we were entitled to dry fruit as ration. There were more nuts and raisin than custard in the dish that was put together.The Gills were received with the customary military fanfare. Brigadier and Mrs Gill made a handsome couple. Their daughter was a charming young lady and an absolute darling to look at. The dinner went off well. It was the pudding which stole the show. The young lady asked what it was called. Major Gill’s heart sank. He looked at me. Without batting an eyelid I said, ‘Darling pudding’.A week later, the unit received a telephonic message from the Sector HQ. Attach your Officers Mess ‘special’ cook with the Sector HQ for 14 days for the training of Sector HQ mess cooks. Major Gill called me and said “hor lai pange”.

Pervin Malhotra

Q.After I missed the NDA deadline, I joined an engineering college instead after Class XII. I am currently pursuing BTech (Civil). However, I am still very keen to join the Indian Army, if it’s still possible. Please tell me how I can do so.

— ujagar singh bisht

A.Sure, it certainly is possible! And it’s so wonderful to hear you say that joining the army is your first career choice.One of the finest fighting forces in the world, the Indian Army gives you opportunities for continuous professional growth at every step. Where else will you get such an opportunity to constantly upgrade your skills?And, there are specific entry routes for engineering students like you who wish to join the Army:

• University Entry Scheme (Permanent Commission)

Eligibility: Pre-final / final year Engineering studentsAge: 19 – 25 yearsSelection: WSSB Interview, Medical ExamNotification for the UES usually appears in May every year.Upon selection, you’ll undergo training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

• Technical Graduate Entry Scheme (Permanent Commission)

Eligibility: Final year Engineering students / Graduate EngineersAge: 20 – 27 yearsSelection: Group Tests; Psychological Tests; Interview; Medical Exam.Recruitment through TGES is conducted twice a year with the notifications appearing in April and October.Upon selection, you’ll undergo one year of training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

• Short Service Commission (Technical) Men / Women

Eligibility: Graduate Engineers in notified disciplinesAge: 20 – 27 years

Selection: Direct SSB interview

Recruitment for SSC (Technical) is done twice a year with the notifications appearing in January and July.Upon selection, you’ll be sent for 49-weeks of training at the Officer Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.You’ll find a wealth of details on: joinindianarmy.nic.in

Engine driver in Railways

Q.I am a diploma holder in mechanical engineering. Can you please tell me how I can become an engine driver in the railways?

— mahinder paliwal

A.Engine drivers are now called Loco Pilots. So, you can apply for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) and work alongside the Loco Pilot to ensure the safe and punctual running of trains in the Indian Railways.Besides assisting the Loco Pilot in driving the train, you’ll also watch out for signals, carry out minor repairs and perform regular safety checks.The job requires you to remain alert and focussed for long stretches of time. Presence of mind is essential to this job.As far as the eligibility is concerned, you’ll be glad to know that you have what it takes. The minimum academic qualification is matriculation (passed class 10) plus an ITI Diploma (recognised by AICTE) in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering.The selection process comprises a written exam followed by an interview, aptitude test and a medical test.The 90-minute test consists of 120 multiple-choice questions ranging in topics from General English/Hindi, Basic Arithmetic, and General Knowledge as well as some subject-specific questions based on the specified minimum qualifications.Your next promotion will be to the level Sr Assistant Loco Pilot and thereafter, Loco Pilot. Loco Pilots can further go on to become Loco Foremen (Loco Supervisors), Power Controllers or Crew Controllers.It may perhaps surprise you to know that our Indian Railways happens to be the country’s biggest recruiter (over 14 lakh people are employed presently). And with our swiftly proliferating railway network, IR is expected to emerge as the world’s largest within the coming decade.Recruitment for the post of ALP as well as several other posts in the Indian Railways is done each year by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). These 21 RRBs spread across the country have clearly defined Railway Zones, Divisions, Production Units, etc. for which they select candidates.Do make sure you keep out an eye for the recruitment notices that are issued in the leading newspapers including the Employment News as well as this paper.

Practising law in India with a foreign degree

Dehradun, April 4

Shemsher Singh Bisht, president of the PBOR (personnel below officer rank) Purva Sainik Welfare Association, has said the association will take every possible step to address grievances of ex-servicemen in the state. Creating awareness on beneficiary schemes introduced for the retired defence personnel is a regular feature of the association.Bisht said Rajkumari Thapa was appointed president of the newly constituted women cell of the association. He said Shobha Tamang and Kamla Gurung were appointed vice-president of the women cell. The cell was constituted to address grievances of the women members of the association and also women family members of the retired defence personnel. — TNS

The landmark step is bound to bring down the grievances of civil and military employees, pensioners and disabled soldiers since the MoD was known to litigate till the Supreme Court in cases decided against it.

In a move which will provide major relief to military personnel involved in litigation with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has issued strict guidelines to reduce frivolous appeals filed in Supreme Court against serving and retired personnel.

The new policy, passed last week, states that no appeals would be filed in sensitive matters or those involving public policy unless approved by the defence minister himself. Taking a strong view regarding routine filing of appeals in the Supreme Court, Parrikar, passed orders to curb this tendency by overhauling the procedure of litigating in service related matters.The landmark step is bound to bring down the grievances of civil and military employees, pensioners and disabled soldiers since the MoD was known to litigate till the Supreme Court in cases decided against it. On implementation, the Ministry is expected to shed the ‘compulsive litigant’ tag. In the fresh MoD policy, the concern of the defence minister over rising litigation in routine matters and those involving meager financial implications has been noted. The fresh procedure would now involve the processing of proposals by the defence services headquarters whether to file an appeal or not through a set channel. The approval will be sought from the concerned joint secretary who would either send the file back without approval or for the views of legal advisor (Defence) if he feels that the case is fit for appeal. If the legal advisor too feels that the case is not fit for appeal and the joint secretary agrees, then also the file would be sent for implementing the lower courts orders. In case the joint secretary still is in favour of filing an appeal, the approval of additional secretary would have to be taken before moving the Supreme Court. The step also comes soon after the submission of the Report of the Committee of Experts constituted by Parrikar which expressed displeasure on the MoD for ‘indulging in litigation of luxury’ and which recorded that appeals were being filed as a default reaction and by indulging in ‘ego-fuelled’ litigation. The committee, comprising Lt Gen (retd) Mukesh Sabharwal, Lt Gen (retd) Richard Khare, lawyer Maj Navdeep Singh, Kargil veteran Maj DP Singh and former Judge Advocate General Maj Gen (retd) T Parshad, had reminded the MoD that the government was not an ordinary litigant trying to win against its own citizens by hook or crook and it was its duty to settle honest claims and policies already adjudicated by High Courts and Supreme Court. The Committee had further recommended that in case of both civil and military employees, decisions of tribunals in their favour should normally be accepted and a challenge should only lie in exceptional cases at best till the high court and only in the rarest of rare cases to the Supreme Court. –

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has promised the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take action against anyone linked to the Pathankot IAF base attack if evidence is provided. After the assurance, the Indian agency has given “credible” inputs to the JIT on the involvement of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar.The NIA sleuths also told the JIT they would like to visit Pakistan to carry forward the investigation. “The dates will be worked out later,” said NIA Director General Sharad Kumar at the end of five days of discussions with JIT, which returned to Pakistan today.He said the agency had presented the JIT with “concrete evidence” against the JeM bosses who conspired in the attack and the handlers of the terrorists.Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the result of the JIT visit was “positive” and it had “not contradicted our findings”. He, however, said no date had been fixed for an Indian team’s visit. On March 28, when the talks began, NIA had shown the JIT intercepts of conversations between the slain terrorists and Azhar, his brother Rauf Asgar and their handler.

Idea ‘welcomed’

• They (Pak) welcomed the idea (of NIA visit) and dates will be worked out later— Sharad Kumar, NIA Director General

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today during its monthly General House meeting completely exempted defence personnel (serving and retired) from paying house tax on the pattern of Punjab. The agenda, which was proposed by nominated councillor Maj DS Sandhu (retd), was unanimously passed by all the councillors.Now, for the final approval, the matter will be forwarded to the UT Administration.Last year, the UT Administration had partially exempted the defence personnel (serving and retired) from paying house tax. Those owning land up to 300 sq yards were exempted from paying the tax. Besides, the relief was not available for the portion, which was rented out.Sandhu had demanded that in Punjab, there were no such conditions like exemption up to 300 sq yards and no relief on rented property so in Chandigarh too such conditions should be removed, he said. In 2014, the MC in its House meeting had approved an agenda for the exemption of house and property tax for 12,000 families of defence personnel settled in the city.But thereafter, the MC’s tax branch in its letter to the Secretary, Local Government Department, UT Administration, stated there was no provision to exempt defence personnel (serving or retired and their families) from payment of house and property tax on residential lands and buildings.

Hussain Haqqani, Pak ex-envoy to US

Washington, March 29

Pakistan’s involvement with jihadi groups at the highest level for “liberating” Jammu and Kashmir has backfired, former diplomat Husain Haqqani said on Tuesday after a deadly terror in Lahore that killed more than 70 people.

The Pakistani establishment remained reluctant to declare an all-out war against terrorist groups despite having failed in their plans, Haqqani, the country’s former envoy to the US, told PBS in an interview.

“Pakistan’s involvement with jihadi groups initially was primarily as a strategic investment, which was supposed to bring them benefits through influence in Afghanistan and the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir from India. That has backfired,” said Haqqani.

“Now, even though it has backfired, Pakistan has been very selective in going after these jihadi groups. That is the reason why the jihadis pick specific targets like Shias, Ahmadis or Christians, to improve their recruitment, playing on various kinds of polarisation, and taking advantage of that to advance in society further,” he said.

“The real problem lies in that attitude of the government of trying to protect the parties in Punjab, while going after the terrorists in other parts of the country, but not in the Punjab. That’s what has come back to bite them,” he said.

Haqqani said that the Pakistani military and civilian leadership were easily distracted by delusions of fighting India and its influence in Afghanistan and allowing certain jihadi groups to pursue those objectives, not realising that they can end up having offshoots, just like the Pakistani Taliban emerged out of the Afghan Taliban.

“The Pakistani component of the Afghan Taliban ended up becoming a separate group. And now Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has broken away from the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan has to make a decision to go after all terrorist groups, as well as the mindset that breeds these terrorists. And Pakistan has not been able to make that decision,” he observed.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for Sunday’s grisly suicide attack in Lahore.

Haqqani said the Pakistani establishment refused to taking action against India-centric terrorist groups.

“The state has not taken the measures that are necessary to isolate them all. So, there are groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed that attack India. They are spared. Once they are spared, it’s very possible that some of their members will actually join splinter groups which will attack Pakistan,” he argued. — PTI

Pathankot, March 29

A five-member Pakistani probe team, including an ISI official, today visited the strategic IAF base here that was for most part visually barricaded as scores of Congress and AAP workers held protests outside carrying black flags and shouting slogans against their probe into the January 2 terror attack.Top NIA officials briefed the team about the terror attack in which seven security personnel were killed. At least four terrorists believed to be from Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed by security forces.Read: Pathankot attack: JIT given proof of ‘Pak hand’
The team that arrived in Amritsar in the morning from Delhi in a special plane was taken to Pathankot by road to avoid giving it an aerial view of the strategic base. The 118-km journey was covered by the team which was ferried in six bulletproof vehicles.It is for the first time that that a Pakistani team has visited India to ‘probe’ a terror case and has been given access to a strategic installation amidst strong criticism from opposition parties.Air base covered with white curtainsMost of the base was completely covered with white curtains to prevent a view of the valuable defence assets.The Congress and AAP have accused the government of giving unfettered access to a probe team from Pakistan that also dilutes India’s stand that terrorism is sponsored from across the border.The Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) entered the base through a specially-created entrance at the perimeter wall, which was breached by the terrorists on the fateful night.In the Air Force base, the NIA officers showed them the ‘scene of crime’ which was witness to an 80-hour gunbattle from the intervening night of January 1 and 2 in which at least four terrorists were also gunned down.The team was also taken to other places relevant to the case, including the Unjh river, from where the Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) terrorists had crossed over into the town.Away from media glare, NIA team led by Inspector General of Police Sanjiv Singh briefed them about the investigations carried out so far in the case.India has accused that Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had carried out the attack at the IAF base in which seven security personnel were killed.The JIT members entered the airbase from the rear after their convoy stopped at ‘Upper Doab’ canal and after travelling in a mini-bus through the dirt tracks next to the water body.The team, officials said, was taken to only the “scene of crime” where the encounter occurred between the security men and terrorists and the entire process was videographed and photographed by two IAF personnel.The Pakistani JIT is led by Punjab’s Additional Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Muhammad Tahir Rai and also includes ISI’s Lt Col Tanvir Ahmed.Defence Ministry had earlier declined permission for landing of the special aircraft carrying the JIT members at Pathankot airbase.Amid reports that terrorists may target the team in Pathankot, Punjab Police had deployed its SWAT commandos along with the team. Adequate police presence ensured that none of the political parties could stage any protest to block the way of the team.Waving black flags and placards, scores of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers stood outside the air base protesting against the visit and shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.They accused the BJP government of hurting the sentiments of the people of the country by allowing the Pakistan team to probe terror attack on Indian soil.The team was taken from the air base to Koliyan village area where Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, his friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal were abducted by the terrorist in their blue beacon SUV.Salwinder had claimed that he and his friend along with a cook were coming back after paying obeisance at Panj Peer Dargah falling in the Narot Jaimal Singh area.They were also taken to Gulpur village where the SP and his cook were dumped by terrorists. Then the team was taken to Tajpur village where finally the SUV in which Rajesh in injured condition was found.The team also visited ‘Kathlor ka pul’ where driver Ikagar was killed besides ‘Narot Jaimal Singh’ where Salwinder’s vehicle was abandoned. The team also went to the Unjh river bridge in Bamial near border from where the terrorists are supposed to have crossed over the border.The team could not go to the forward post in Bamial as the BSF had reservations over that keeping in view the strategic importance and presence of underground bunkers in that area.The JIT-NIA team spent about four hours in Pathankot after which they left for Amritsar. SWAT commandos of Punjab police provided them security during the visit.The district administration, however, tightened security around the Pathankot Air Force station as the Congress and AAP had planned protests.The administration had already deployed heavy police force in the city and along the Amritsar-Pathankot National Highway to provide them traffic free route to the JIT.‘Visit by Pak JIT shameful, disgusting’AAP’s Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra who arrived here with his supporters protested against the visit. He said allowing Pakistani JIT to visit the air base was “shameful and disgusting”.”For the first time in 35 years, we are saying that ISI was not supporting terrorism… the same people who have killed our people have come here… this is so shameful and disgusting,” Mishra said.”This is an insult of our mother India. We will not let Modi government to do this,” he said.”Modi has shown his real face. We do not want killers to be allowed to probe the matter. We will not tolerate this and that is why AAP is holding protest here,” said AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who is party incharge for Punjab affairs.”It is an insult to Indians and martyrs,” he said. — PTI

Army personnel stand alert near the Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot on January 2, 2016 during an attack on the base by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad militants. — AFP

New Delhi, March 27

A five-member team of Pakistani investigators arrived here on Sunday to probe the January 2 terror attack at the Pathankot air base in Punjab.

Led by Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department Additional Inspector-General Muhammad Tahir Rai, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) arrived in the National Capital on a special plane from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.

Intelligence Bureau’s Deputy Director-General Lahore Muhammed Azim Arshad, Military Intelligence’s Lieutenant- Colonel Irfan Mirza, Lieutenant-Colonel Tanvir Ahmad of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Inspector Shahid Tanveer, a Punjab police officer based in Gujranwala, are the other members of the JIT.

India had blamed JeM militants for the assault on the IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, which triggered two days of gunbattle that left seven Indian security personnel dead.

India plans to provide the Pakistani probe team access to all witnesses in the Pathankot terror attack case but not security personnel from the National Security Guard or BSF.

Official sources in New Delhi said on Saturday that India will also press for visit of its probe team to that country for carrying out investigations there.

The sources said the team will not be provided complete access to the Pathankot Air Force base but to limited areas, where Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were engaged in an 80-hour gunbattle with security forces.

The air base will be visually barricaded by the NIA to prevent any view of its critical areas.

The team will be briefed thoroughly tomorrow at the NIA headquarters here which will include a 90-minute presentation on the investigations carried in the case so far, the sources said.

The witnesses include Punjab Police Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal and 17 injured people.

The attack led to the postponement of a scheduled meeting between Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India in January in Islamabad.

On February 18, Pakistan had lodged an FIR in connection with the Pathankot terror attack without naming JeM chief Masood Azhar who India has accused of having masterminded the strike. — PTI