Bharath Bhushan from Bengaluru, who was visiting Pahalgam with his wife and three-year-old son, was shot dead by terrorists

Two families from Karnataka were left grief-stricken after the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday, which claimed 26 lives.

Bharath Bhushan from Bengaluru, who was visiting Pahalgam with his wife and three-year-old son, was shot dead by terrorists. His wife, Sujatha, and their child survived the attack.

According to Vimla, Sujatha’s mother and a resident of Mattikere in Bengaluru, Bharath was killed in front of his wife and son.

“My daughter called me a short while ago. She said she is safe at an Army camp and will go to the hospital to claim her husband’s body once her brother reaches Pahalgam. She told me the shooting happened right in front of her,” Vimla said.

She added that once Sujatha realised her husband was dead, she picked up his identity cards and fled the scene with her son.

In Shivamogga, Roopa, sister of Manjunath Rao—another victim of the attack—said this was the family’s first trip outside the state for a holiday.

According to her, a friend of Manjunath called around 4.30 pm to inform her that he had been hospitalised. “But we came to know of his death through the news,” she said.

Roopa, who was vacationing at her ancestral home in Thirthahalli, said her brother had travelled to Pahalgam with his wife and son.

“This was their first trip to Kashmir. They had holidays, so they went. They had called their mother to say they were safe and would return on April 24. It’s been a week since we last spoke,” she said.

The Karnataka Government is assisting tourists from the state in returning home. On Wednesday, it released helpline numbers: 080-43344334, 080-43344335, 080-43344336, 080-43344342 for stranded tourists.

Relatives and acquaintances of those currently in Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to share their details through the helplines.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dispatched Labour Minister Santosh Lad to Pahalgam on April 22 to coordinate the return of affected Kannadigas.

“Our minister is already there to help bring back the bodies. The government is doing everything to ensure they return safely. I spoke to Santosh Lad—he said the situation is extremely tense,” said Madhu

Manjunath’s brother-in-law Ashwin recalled that the deceased was known for his generosity.

“He was very sociable. If anyone needed help, Manjunath would always step forward. Even when my friend had a health issue, Manjunath didn’t hesitate—he contacted the doctor directly and helped. He was always there for all of us. He only ever wished well for others. We still can’t believe this happened to him,” he added.

Victims’ kin seek death for perpetrators of attack

A fun trip that turned to tragedy in the flash of an eye – or at the lightning speed of a bullet. On Wednesday, distraught family members of the 26 men gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam struggled to come to terms with their devastating loss.

Many also demanded capital punishment for the perpetrators of the attack.

The bodies of the 25 victims were brought on Wednesday in coffins to Srinagar, where Home Minister Amit Shah laid wreaths, before they were being brought back home. There was hardly a dry eye as Indian Navy officer Vinay Narwal’s wife Himanshi bid adieu to him.

Indian Air Force Corporal Tage Hailyang, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, was also visiting Pahalgam with his wife, but lost his life in the attack. Shubham Dwivedi, a 31-year-old businessman from Kanpur, got married just two months ago on February 12. On Tuesday, the Dwivedi household was immersed in grief after Shubham was gunned down right in front of his wife.

He had gone to Kashmir on a vacation on April 16 with his wife and nine other family members. Indore’s Sushil Nathaniel (58) had gone to J&K with his wife, daughter and son to celebrate Easter.

His cousin Sanjay Kumrawat said, “We have spoken to his wife and son over the phone. They told us that the terrorists asked Sushil’s name and forced him to kneel down, then asked him to recite the Kalma (phrase articulating Islamic faith). When Sushil said that he could not recite Kalma, the terrorists shot him.” When Nathaniel’s daughter Akanksha (35) ran towards him after seeing bullets fired at him, the terrorists shot her in the leg, Kumrawat said.

Friends of three residents of Dombivli city in Thane — Hemant Joshi, Sanjay Lele and Atul Mone —were in a state of shock and said they were at a loss of words to describe their pain over their deaths.

Neeraj Udhwani was working as a chartered accountant in Dubai and was on a visit to his hometown Jaipur for a wedding function. He went to Pahalgam with his wife Ayushi. Bharath Bhushan from Bengaluru, who was visiting Pahalgam with his wife Sujatha and three-year-old son, was among those shot by terrorists.

Sujatha’s mother Vimla said the shooting happened right in front of her daughter.

In Shivamogga, Roopa, sister of Manjunath Rao — another victim of the attack — said this was the family’s first trip outside the state for a holiday. According to her, a friend of Manjunath called around 4.30 pm to inform her that he had been hospitalised. “But we came to know of his death through the news,” she said. Kochi’s Edapally native Ramachandran’s love for travel, a passion shared by his wife, ended in tragedy when he was gunned down in front of his daughter who had come down from Dubai to meet her parents.

Ramachandran (65) travelled to Kashmir with his wife, daughter and grandchildren for holidaying. Neighbours remembered JC Chandra Mouli, a retired bank employee from Visakhapatnam, as a friendly and sociable person.

Bereaved family members of two Kolkata men and one person from Purulia of West Bengal are also waiting for the return of their mortal remains.

SRINAGAR: A serene spring afternoon in Kashmir’s famed Baisaran valley turned into a bloodbath on Tuesday when heavily armed militants opened fire on tourists, killing 26 people and injuring more than 20 in one of the deadliest civilian attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

The picturesque meadow, often dubbed “mini Switzerland” and nestled about six kilometres above the popular resort town of Pahalgam, witnessed horror and heartbreak around 3 PM as gunmen descended from pine-covered ridges and opened indiscriminate fire on unarmed tourists picnicking and taking pony rides.

While the official death toll is still being finalised, senior government sources confirmed to The Hindu and other national media outlets that 26 people, including two foreign nationals and one local Kashmiri, have lost their lives.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, visibly shaken, called the incident “an abomination” and said it was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” In a post on X, Abdullah said, “The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough.”

@1 Naib Subedar posted at Siachen dies, Army chief Gen Dwivedi pays homage

@2 -Wg Cdr Shiladitya Bose (31153-H) F(P) of AFS Thanjavur attacked by unknown motorcyclist.in Bengaluru Area.

@3,,IAF officer claims assault in Bengaluru road @art39788050480

@4–ONTARIO VETERANS ASSOCIATION HONOURING ALL VETERANS ABOVE 90 YEARS

@5, 8th Pay Commission Update: by Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)

@9.MiG-29, Jaguar Jets To Participate In Multinational Air Combat Exercise In UAE

@10-IAF chopper makes emergency landing in Gujarat’s Jamnagar; no casualty

@11. Relief over property tax soon, claims BJP chief

@12. Majhi carrying Rs 1 crore bounty among 8 Naxals killed in J’khand encounter

@13. Majhi carrying Rs 1 crore bounty among 8 Naxals killed in J’khand encounter

General Dwivedi had handpicked Baldev Singh and assigned him specialist duties in the Battalion’s signal platoon

Ajay Banerjee Anil Kakkar

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s comrade-in-arms Baldev Singh, a soldier of his battalion, who died in line of duty while he was posted at Siachen Glacier was today given an emotional farewell.

Naib Subedar Baldev Singh passed away yesterday. The Army Chief was at the Shraddhanjali Sthal, Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt, to lay a wreath on his body today, making it not merely a ceremonial gesture, but a heartfelt farewell.

The body of the soldier has been sent to his native place Sirsa, Haryana, for the last rites. The family of the deceased soldier includes mother Rachna Kaur, brother Hardev Singh, wife Gurvinder Kaur and two children — Upraj Singh (13) and Manreet Kaur (8).

Baldev Singh was enrolled into the of 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (18 JAK RIF) in 2002 during Operation Rakshak in Kashmir Valley. He first came in contact with General Dwivedi in October 2003, when the latter was a Colonel and commanding his battalion. General Dwivedi handpicked Singh and assigned him specialist duties in the Battalion’s signal platoon.

In the Indian Army, command of battalion is done by an officer when he/she is at the level of Colonel – or about 36-38 years of age. General Dwivedi is now almost 61 year of age.

Being in the signals platoon, responsible for all communication of the battalion, Baldev Singh often accompanied his Commanding Officer (General Dwivedi) to numerous operations.

Last year he was promoted as Naib Subedar, and like all senior officers, General Dwivedi kept in touch with his battalion.

The Indian Army said it stands in steadfast solidarity with the bereaved family during this hour of grief.

Message as received from HQs Trh Cmd 👇🏼👇🏼

Jaihind Sir

Reporting Unusual Incident Involving Officers in Bengaluru Area.

1. On 21 April 25, at about 0620 Hr, Sqn Ldr Madhumita Dutta (32599-K) Edn of ADE, while driving her car (Reg No. HR 51BA 8568), accompanied by her husband Wg Cdr Shiladitya Bose (31153-H) F(P) of AFS Thanjavur were attacked by one unknown motorcyclist.
2. Sqn Ldr Madhumita was enroute to Tin Factory Bus Stand to drop her husband for his onward journey to airport.
3. While driving on Old Madras Road, opposite Gopalan Grand Mall, she observed a motorcyclist riding rashly (KA 53 EA 528) and had stared at him for his reckless driving.
4. The motorcyclist, after passing the car, abruptly returned and dangerously blocked her vehicle by stopping directly in front of it.
5. He then approached driver-side window, confronted Sqn Ldr about her remarks, and began verbally abusing her. He proceeded to assault Wg Cdr Bose through the car window, striking him on his forehead and eyes with his bike keys, and kicked the car door multiple times.
6. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation and move forward, both officers exited the vehicle and tried to remove the motorcycle obstructing their path.
7. The motorcyclist then picked up one stone and reportedly hit Wg Cdr Bose.
8. Wg Cdr Bose sustained injuries on head and began bleeding.
9. The couple immediately proceeded to Byappanahalli Police Station. The civil police advised them to seek medical attention.
10. Both officers visited Chinmaya Mission Hospital, where a MLC was raised vide CMHB.1723150 dated 21 April 2025 in respect of Wg Cdr Bose.
11. Wg Cdr Bose continued with his journey and boarded his flight to Calcutta.
12. Complaint being lodged by Sqn Ldr Madhumita with civil police.

For info pls..

A man was arrested in connection with an incident in which a 40-year-old IAF officer was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a group of Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning. The police…

A man was arrested in connection with an incident in which a 40-year-old IAF officer was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a group of Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning. The police have termed it a case of road rage.

The accused, Vikas Kumar, works as a team head at a software company’s call centre, they added. According to the police, both parties attacked each other.

Purported videos showed the IAF officer, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose, roughing up the accused and creating a scene in public. The officer was seen arguing with Kumar and hitting him, even as his wife tried to stop him.

The incident occurred while the officer was on his way to the airport with his wife, who is also an IAF officer.

Based on a complaint by the officer’s wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, a case was registered.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D said: “This is a case of road rage. An altercation took place, and both sides attacked each other. The accused has been taken into custody.” CCTV footage and videos recorded by bystanders suggested that the conflict could have been avoided, he added.

SAT APR 19. 2025 MISSISSAGUA ,ON, CANADA.

ONTARIO VETERANS ASSOCIATION HONOURING ALL VETERANS ABOVE 90 YEARS OF AGE WITH A GIFT–SEIKO KENTIC WRIST WATCH DURING THE MEET. I WAS ALSO AMONG THREE LUCKY ONES TO RECIVE THE GIFT FROM THE ONTARIO VETERANS ASSOC (OVA) CHAIRMAN BRIG NAWAB SINGH HEER , VETERAN.

THANKS OVA.

Attended a lec conducted by Brig Akhil Kr Singh, c/o AHQ Pay Commission Cell yesterday at Southern Star Auditorium

Some highlights

Notification for 8th CPC Committe likely by next week.
Report submission likely between Jun to Sep 2026. May be implemented by Govt by Jan 2027 with impl from Jan 2026.

Fitment factor based in present inflation and CPI matrix likely to be 1.91 (min pay 34k approx). For more fitment factor inflation should rise upto Dec 2025.
Similar fitment factor of 1.91 for MSP and Allces.

Channel of Projection of Agenda Points by Services to 8th CPC

APCC/NPCC/AFPCC ▶ Tri Services Committe▶Principal Staff Cimmittee▶COSC▶DMA▶8th Pay Commission Committee

Some Key Issues likely to be taken Up before the 8th CPC

•⁠ ⁠Auto credit of Luggage claim and CEA based on Part 2 order. No claim reqmt.

•⁠ ⁠Enhancement of Lve accumulation limit betn 400 to 500 days as agreeable by triservices

•⁠ ⁠Air Travel On LTC for JCOs

•⁠ ⁠AC CHT for all offrs

•⁠ ⁠Assured Pension for SS offrs in line with civil counterparts akin to NPS/UPS

•⁠ ⁠MSP for JCO to be more than or equal to MNS

•⁠ ⁠X1 and X2 group to be merged for JCO/ORs. Addl cadres to be upgraded from Y to X

•⁠ ⁠Allces to be in line with Gp A services based on geographical loc

•⁠ ⁠Best beneficial Auto pay fixation without opting for it by the employee

•⁠ ⁠Concessional air travel through Form D

•⁠ ⁠Mental Stress factor to be incl in a separate allce or in R&H allce even if indl posted in peace stn but committed in activities causing stress like flood relief ops, cas evac ops, HADR ops etc.

•⁠ ⁠Cadre review after every five years akin to civilians

•⁠ ⁠Assured prom for select Col to Brig

•⁠ ⁠Same retirement age for offrs across all three services.

Dear Brig Varma,
Thank you for forwarding the update on 8th CPC from Brig Akhil Kumar Singh, the horse’s mouth of Deputy Chairman of Army Pay Commission Cell, who briefed the officers in Souther Comd HQ on 20 Apr 2025..
The Army Pay Cell is generally headed by a Maj Gen of EME.
Deputy is a Brigadier and he has two Colonels in the team and many support staff of JCOs /OR generally from clerical cadre. They operate from Sena Bhavan.
I and Col Ajit Singh Rana met the 7th CPC chairman Maj Gen (Later Lt Gen & DG EME) Kapil Agarwal and his Deputy Brig JK Rao from Engrs in 2016.
Though Tri Services Pay Commission cell makes a lot of demands on the 8th CPC, most of them are whittled down citing financial crunch.

If our Take Home Pension is 15% in Jan 2026 in 8th CPC is more than what is our Take Home Pension in Dec 2025, we should consider ourselves lucky.
Do not forget higher the Fitment Factor, higher is the pension and the Hon’ble Finance Minister will put her hand into our pockets and take away 15 to 20% as Income tax as most of us are in the highest income tax bracket. I suspect the IT rates in Fin Yr 2026-27 (to be announced on 01 Feb 2026) will be much higher than in Fin yr 2025-26. We will cough out more income Tax in Fin Yr 2026-27.

I have always maintained the demand of Central Govt Employee Unions for Fitment Factor of 2.86 from 8th CPC is far fetched. I quoted the remarks of Mr Subhash Chandra Garg, IAS (Retd), former Finance Secretary, who oversaw the 7th CPC. He said Fitment Factor of 2.86 of the Central Govt Employee Unions is like asking for the moon. His estimate is Fitment Factor is likely to be in the rage of 1.94 to 2.10.
Whatever may be the recommendation of the 8th CPC, finally it is the babus of Min of Fin who have the last laugh on 8th CPC.
I took Fitment Factor of 8th CPC in all my estimates as 1.94, 2.00 and 2.11.
I do agree it is better to peg our expectations around Fitment Factor of 1.91 as indicated by Dy Chairman of Army Pay Commission Cell.

The Fitment Factor is mostly dependent upon the DR in Jan 2026 before the implementaton of 8th CPC.
Unfortunately, the DR is dropping to very low figure of 1 or 2% every six months due to reduction in food inflation. DR in the period of Jan to Jun is only 55%. In that case the DR in Jul to Dec 2025 can be 1 or 2% more i.e. 1.56 to 1.57 (from 1.55 of Jan to Jun 2025) and in the period of Jan to Mar 2026 may be 1.58 to 1.59. I do not visualise DR going upto even 60 %.
On the other hand, the DR in Jan 2016 before implementation of 7th CPC was 125%. We are not in Jan 2026 to be likely to be even 50% of that now. That means the protected pay was 2.25 (1 + 1.25) in Jan 2016. The 7th CPC has to recommend Fitment factor close to 2.25 i.e. 2.57. The real increase in pay was only 14.20% from what was drawn in Dec 2015.

The Govt of India, in my view seeing the likely reaction of Govt employees may go for Fitment Factor at 2.00 or even may be 2.10.
What we have to understand the Central Govt Employees drawn allowances like HRA, City Compensatory Allce, Children Edn Allowance and host of other allowances including CGHS free medical care. So the Finance Ministry babus add and recommend to 8th CPC to keep the Fitment Factor around 1.91 as assessed by the Dy Chairman of Army Pay Cell.

We have to consider another factor.
The people have lost the ability to spend due to all round inflation. Many of the companies are showing negative profits as people do not have money buy new things. That forced the Hon’ble Finance Minister to reduce the Income Tax rates much lesser than what was in Fin Yr 2024-26. Her expectatioin is if she puts in more money into pockets of people they are likely to spend with that extra money saved due to reduced IT.
I have seen officers will save Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per month in Fin yr 2025-26. This will tempt them to spend more and Govt of India will collect good GST on our spends.
Bad economics at times is good Politics.
The demand of merger of DA when it crosses 50% with basic pay is a good suggestion. It was placed before 7th CPC too but was not accepted by the 7th CPC.
Demand of periodicity of CPC be 5 years (in stead of 10 years) like in may State Govts if accepted is good.

The minimum pay of lowest grade employee is Rs 18,000 in 7th CPC on Jan 2016 based on the DR of 125% in Jan 2016 before implementation of 7th CPC. The same in 8th CPC is dependent upon the DR in Dec 2025 and estimated in Jan to Mar 2026 before implementation of 8th CPC.

My estimate is the 8th CPC will take minimum 15 months to 18 months to submit their recommendation. The Youtube videos made by Hony Lts / Hony Capt is 200 days. Not possible for any CPC to give its recommendations in such a short time.
Most of the time the 8th CPC will spend in hearing the representation of hundreds of Central Govt Employee Unions and even State Govt officials.
Then examination of each demand and seeing the viability needs a lot of time as any suggestion means more money.
The Secretary Expenditure in Min of Fin is the Ex- Officio of the 8th CPC who keeps advising the CPC how much to give in and how much to reject. It is all money Honey as the Americans say.

In my estimate the earliest the 8th CPC may submit report is Apr 2025 + 15 months = Jul 2026. The Govt of India takes minimum three to six months. We are not likely in my estimate to see the Circular from Min of Def /PCDA (Pensions) to come before Oct 2026 to Dec 2026.
Generally the arrears of 8th CPC are paid as per judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of IESM Vs UOI is all family pensioners and those above 70 years will get he entire arrears in one go. Those who are younger will get in three instalments with gap between instlments being three months.

I have made some back of envelope calculations on the likely increase in pension in 8th CPC. The same is attached.
As a Brigadier with your basic pension being Rs 1,16,550 pm, my guess is you will get Rs 18,200 to Rs 19,600 over what you are likely to get in Dec 2025. This with very low DR of 1% increase in Jul to Dec 2025 and in Jan to Mar 2026 and with very low fitment factor of 1.91.
But my gut feeling is the Fitment Factor is likely to be 2.00.

warm regards,
Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)
75695 13350

A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates to participate in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a premier multinational air combat exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force.

The IAF is fielding its MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft for this exercise, which is scheduled to take place from April 21 to May 8, 2025. Exercise Desert Flag-10 brings together air forces from Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the UAE, making it a significant platform for international military collaboration.

The primary aim of Desert Flag-10 is to undertake complex and diverse fighter engagements, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among some of the world’s most capable air forces.

This environment allows participating nations to enhance their air combat skills, improve interoperability, and strengthen mutual understanding. The exercise is designed to foster operational coordination and tactical exchange, ultimately contributing to greater military cooperation and joint response capabilities in the face of evolving global security challenges.

India’s participation in Desert Flag-10 underscores its commitment to strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond. The IAF’s involvement not only highlights India’s growing profile in multinational defence initiatives but also serves as a testament to the country’s dedication to contributing to regional and global security frameworks.

The India-UAE defence relationship has seen steady growth, characterized by regular high-level exchanges, functional collaborations, and military education initiatives. Both countries hold an Annual Defence Dialogue and have established mechanisms such as the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Naval Staff Talks to identify and expand areas of cooperation.

The posting of a permanent resident Defence Adviser in the UAE since March 2013 has further strengthened bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in defence training and regular exchange programmes. Recent years have witnessed positive developments in defence, security, and energy cooperation, bolstered by high-level visits and sustained diplomatic engagement.

The IAF’s participation in Exercise Desert Flag-10 not only enhances its operational capabilities but also reinforces India’s strategic partnerships and defence diplomacy in the region. This engagement is a clear indicator of India’s proactive approach to fostering international military collaboration and readiness.