Monthly Archives: August 2018

ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON DEMISE OF A PENSIONER

(a)  Death if due to accident or unnatural causes should always be reported to the Police Station in whose jurisdiction the area falls. It avoids lot of troubles later on. In such cases get the autopsy done to establish proper cause of death.

(b)      Do obtain two ink signed copies of Medical certificate specifying cause of death from the Hospital or the authorized Medical Practitioner. One of these is required by the authorities at the cremation/ burial ground. The other is required by the authorities (Registrar of Deaths & Births) who issues Death Certificates. Obtain cremation/burial certificate from the cremation/burial ground.

(c)       A close relative should apply for issue of Death certificate within 15 days of the death of the pensioner/ deceased. Obtain at least 20 ink signed & equal number of Photostat copies duly attested by a class one officer.

(d)     Write to the Pension paying Bank Intimating them of demise of the pensioner, asking them to discontinue the pension of the pensioner and payment of the family pension of the spouse l N O K (give name). Enclose ink signed death certificate & copy of the original P P O having joint photograph of the pensioner & spouse/ NOK. Also state PPO and pension S /B A/C numbers.. Sample Application form as at Annexure.

(e)     If the Pension A/c is a joint account or the spouse is a nominee in it Then it is simpler to operate the same A/C for family pension, otherwise a fresh S/ B A/C is to be opened in the same bank. It requires proof of Identity and proof of Residence. Photo copy of voter I Card! PAN card will suffice- with three copies of attested photographs.

(f)    Write separately to Pension sanctioning Authority, PCDA ( P) to start family pension, on demise of the pensioner and enclose ink signed copy of death certificate:-Sample Application is at Annexure

(g)    In the case of Retired Army Pensioner Write to the A Gs branch (MP-5, CW 4) to update their records. & to Pay Platinum Grant if Applicable As per Annexure.

(h)    If the age was less than 70 years write to Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF) to Make payment of life insurance amount. Application Performa at Annexure.

(i)    Return Retired Officers I Card to Area HQ (lnt Br.) for further Disposal. (j) If there are other Insurance Policies write to them to pay Insurance amount.

(k)    Write to all banks wherein the pensioner has his accounts to transfer closing balances to the spouse / N O K giving bankers address, a/c number.

(I)    Write to Regional Transport Officer to transfer the Automobile to the NOK.

(m)    Write to Arms Licensing Authority to transfer the weapon (if any) to the NOK meanwhile deposit the weapon(s) in concerned Police Station Arms Dealer for safe custody. The NOK should apply forArms License at the earliest.

(n)    Write to Electricity Providing Agency to transfer the meter in the name of spouse/NOK and start further billing against that name.

(o)    Write to the Telephone providing Agency to Change the name of the subscriber, transfer the connection to the name of the Spouse/NOK for further billing (p) Apply to AWHO to transfer the dwelling unit to the spouse/NOK. Performa for Application should be obtained from the AWHO / Welfare Society . The Society has to render No Objection Certificate (NOC).stating that there is No encroachment of common land, No major modification to the Approved design and all Dues to the Society has been cleared. If not already done you may have to do it before they issue NOC.

(q)    Write to all the clubs & societies to transfer the membership to the spouse/NOK (r) Write to all Debtors to clear all dues and make payment to the Spouse/NOK.

(s)    Clear the outstanding dues if any of the Creditors and credit cards and loans taken if any. Return the credit cards to the Bank concerned.

(t)    Some of the banks may have issued Insurance certificate for the amount of FD/Bank Balance then claim it.

(u)    Write to Income Tax authorities to intimate death of the Pensioner to close his Income Tax file and open Income Tax file in the name of the Spouse/NOK Quoting PAN number of both.

(v) Write to the Municipal Authorities to Close Property case file of the deceased person and open it in the name of the spouse/NOK.

(w)    Approach the district Courts for Probate of the WILL, if it is in possession, otherwise obtain a Succession Certificate. From the District Judge.
Annexure — DRAFT LETTER FOR FAMILY PENSION 
 
From

Name.

Address Tele No.                                                                                                                                      To,
The Manager

Name of Bank Address
Sir,
Subject: – GRANT OF FAMILY PENSION ON DEMISE OF PENSIONER.

1. Reference- Our Joint Pension SB A/C No. held in your Bank.

2. I regret to inform you that my husband, IC No, Rank ………….. Name has expired on at due to Certificate of his death is enclosed for ready reference. He was drawing his pension through your bank. Kindly, stop his payment of his pension with effect from and Start payment of family pension at the rate prescribed vide Annexure three to 6th Pay Commission Report i.e. Rs; 15630/= + DA @ 51 % or as applicable to me through the same Pension SB A/C No.   held in your Bank. We have no dependent children.

3. You are requested to forward the attached copy of this letter along with Copy of his Death certificate duly endorsed for its correctness.

Yours faithfully,
Signature(Name)Email ID

Date
Copy to – PCDA (P), Dropadi Ghat, Allahabad 211014: for similar action.

DRFAT LETTER FOR ARMY GROUP INSURANCE EXTENDED POLICY 

From: Name                                                                                             Tele No: Mob

Address

To,
The  Chairman,
Army Group Insurance Fund,
AGIF House, Rao Tularam Marg, NEW DELHI – 110010

Sir,

Sub:- ENCASHMENT OF EXTENDED ARMY GROUP INSURANCE POLICY Ref.

Extended Army Group Insurance Certificate No. issued to IC No.Rank Name of Corps of signals. (Encl in original)

1.    I regret to inform you that my spouse, I C.     No. Rank Name        has expired on……. at………. His/Her Death Certificate issued by …………… is enclosed for ready Reference.

2.    I am enclosing the Extended Army Group Insurance Certificate for encashment duly completed in all respect. His date of birth is………………………… Kindly send the cheque of the sum assured to me on my address as given above. My Bank details are as under:-

SSB A/C No. Name and address of my Bank.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours  Faithfully,
Signature                                                                                                                                                                  (Name)   &
Annexure- DRAFT LETTER FOR ARMY OFFICERS BENOVELENT FUND – RS 50,000/-

From;

Name

Address

To

The AOBF (Accts Sec), AG’s Branch,

IHQ of MOD (ARMY) Room No 279A, South Block

DHQ PO, New DeIhi110011

Sir,

Subject:- Payment of Platinum Grant (AOBF) On Demise of IC No IC Rank Col Name (Late) of Corps of Signals.)

1. Reference PPO No. ……………….. (Photocopy enclosed) 1. I regret to inform you that my husband, IC No.    Rank     Name      has expired on ( date) at (Name of Hosp) , Address(Place) , Due to (Cause of Death)
2. The Certificate of his death Issued by (Civil Authority) is enclosed for ready reference.
3. You are, kindly requested, to send me his Platinum Grant on his demise. His date of birth is ———– Photo Copy of his Retired Officers’ Identity Card is enclosed for ready reference.
4. The cheque may please be issued to me on the Address given on top of this letter.
5. My Bank details are as under:

Name of Bank Address SBA/C No 3. We have ———–/ do not have dependent Children.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours Faithfully,

Signatures

( Name- Mrs xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xx) W/O Late xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx

Copy to:- MOD IHD, Army/HQ AG ( MP 5/ CW 4) For Similar Action

 CHECK LIST — ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON DEMISE OF PENSIONER. 1. In case of death due to accident lodge an FIR with the nearest Police Station, and get theirwritten permission before last rites are performed. 2. Arrange last rites even in cases of natural demise only after getting Medical Certificate of cause of Death from a doctor (Authorized Medical Practice nor). Intimate time of Funeral and CHAUTHA/UTHALA/ Prayer meeting to all concerned preferably through an insertion of obituary in News Papers(s). 3. Apply for and obtain Death Cetificate-20 or more copies from the Office of Registrar of Births and Deaths/ Municipal Authority. These are required to be submitted with all claims. 4. Forward the information with certified photocopy of Death Certificate To the following: (a) PCDA (Pension), AG’s Branch MP 5 (b) and PS4. (b) Army Officer’s Benevolent Fund for Payment of Platinum Grant. (c) AGIF For settlement of life Insurance cover as applicable (d) Station HO To surrender Identity Card of the deceased Officer and Issue of CSD Canteen Card. (e) Bankers forfamily Pension, FD’s Loans (if any), PPF and Locker: (f) Clubs For transfer of membership or refund of security deposit as applicable. (g) Municipal Authority/AWHO/DDA/NDA/GNDA/HUDAILOCAL Development Authority For transfer of House /Apartment to a single name of the surviving spouse as per WILL of the deceased. (h) MTNUBSNUTELECUM COMPANEY For transfer of tale connection and future billing. (i) BSES/NDPULOCAL ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT For transferring of electric connection and future billing in the name of the house owner. (j) ITO For closing of file of the deceased and linking up with the files of the beneficiaries and for wealth Tax assessment. (k) Licensing Authority for motor vehicles, Personal Arms and Tractors etc For Transfer of Ownership. (I) LIC/GIC/Insurance Companies/Banks for insurance policies covering Life, Medical, Vehicles and property etc. (m) Secretary Zila Saink Board For issue of Ex-Servicemen widow’s Identity card. 5. Obtain Probate of WILL (if held) otherwise succession certificate is required from the District Judge under Indian

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 29

The first US-made Apache AH-64E attack helicopter is set to arrive in India by mid-July and will be inducted into the Indian Air Force a few weeks later at the frontline Pathankot Air Force Station.

The helicopter is slated to arrive on July 18 and will come from the Boeing facility in the US in heavy-lift cargo plane C-17. Sources said the induction is planned at Pathankot as it already holds a unit of Soviet/Russian attack helicopters.

This is the first attack helicopter from the US. The IAF currently uses Soviet/Russian origin Mi-25/Mi-35 helicopters. These are tasked with tank formations. Earlier, Boeing had handed over the first Apache to an IAF official at a production facility in Mesa, Arizona, on May 11. 

The IAF had signed a contract with the US Government and Boeing in September 2015 for 22 Apaches.

Select air and ground crew have undergone training at the training facilities in US. The helicopter has been customised to suit IAF’s future requirements and will have significant capability in mountainous terrain. It can fly up to an altitude of 21,000 feet.

The helicopter has the capability to carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from ground.

The ability of these helicopters to transmit and receive the battlefield picture to and from the weapon systems through data networking makes it a lethal acquisition.

These helicopters will provide a significant edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces.

The Apache is fitted with new sensors, avionics and has improved night operation capabilities. Furthermore, it can control a couple of UAVs.

The airframe is designed to withstand hits from guns of up to 12.7 mm calibre. Rotor blades can withstand hits from 23 mm guns. The pilots get systems for the detection and attack of targets. The AH-64E comes with a 30 mm M230 cannon with 1,200 rounds of ammunition.

India has a lot of ground to cover in the fast-changing scenario

Air Vice Marshal
Manmohan Bahadur (retd)
Addl Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi

IT’S 0335 hours on February 26, 2019, when most are asleep. A one-line tweet announces: “At 0330 hours, IAF fighters have struck terrorist facilities at Balakot, Pakistan. Details follow.”  In the event, this announcement did not happen till an official briefing at 4 pm, while Pakistan’s ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) tweeted at 0512 hours, “Indian Air Force violated Line of Control. Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled. Indian aircrafts gone back. Details to follow (sic).” Thereafter, India was playing catch-up in info warfare, with Pakistan laying out the story of only trees having been hit and India trying to prove that terrorist barracks had indeed been struck. Back in 1999, when the IAF shot down an intruding Pak Navy Atlantique maritime recce aircraft, it was BBC that led the TV reporting. We still have much to learn. Meanwhile, info warfare, the science and art of tailoring human perceptions, has moved a notch up further; perception management of machines through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine intelligence (MI) is the next big thing in information warfare.

AI is revolutionising life; Alexa is now a family member. Systems with AI influence human thought through bot-generated ‘likes’ and ‘shares’, creating enlarged interest in a particular communication. However, the fast developments in machine learning have some analysts referring to AI as, “…so last year.” Scientists at MIT claimed in February 2017 that they knew how to add human intuition to machine algorithms; in fact, MI has overtaken AI, is more cognitive and now mimics humans too. This portends a complete re-appraisal of information warfare operations since intelligent machines would be an integral part of human decision- making and acting independently in some areas. Hence, earlier, while perception management of humans was the focus of research, a similar challenge with respect to ‘intelligent machines’ would have to be met! Would the same aspects, as for humans, come into play? Would there be ‘leaders’ among machines or ‘groups of machines’ that would require to be influenced? And ‘masses’ of humans that were targets in yesteryear be replaced by a network of machines whose ‘thinking’ would need to be influenced, or shielded from being influenced?

These issues would be a reality in the coming decades. But a counter-point can be made that, maybe, machine intelligence could be made impervious to influence through the use of protective software programming. But this raises a counter counter-point that if machines have to improve their ‘learning’ and come closer to human learning capabilities (which is the aim of scientists), they need to be allowed to learn freely and continuously in their environment, just as humans do — which would then make them targets of ‘learning management’. This learning management would happen through humans for sure, but could also be solely driven by other machines, including adversarial ones, a la perception management campaigns targeting the human mind. Therefore, theoretically, machine intelligence could reach levels of an order higher than what a human (its owner) envisaged! Frightening thought, but true all the same, and a phenomenon that could soon be upon mankind.

So, if software in machines could be subject to ‘learning management’ through ‘machine learning’and machine experiences, is it possible to alter the way a human learns and responds by bringing in changes in the brain (software), which is effectively his/ her biological computer?

An April 2017 article in Time magazine talks of ongoing US Navy research in managing and manipulating precognition to analyse ‘sixth sense’ or ‘premonition’. In a series of documented occurrences, where the ‘sixth sense’ of some soldiers in combat saved lives many times over, the article quotes a researcher at the Warfighter Performance Department for Human and Bioengineered Systems, “If we can characterise this intuitive decision-making process and model it, then the hope is to accelerate the acquisition of these skills…..[Are] there ways to improve premonition through training?” This extrasensory perception has been named ‘sensemaking’, where soldiers are taught to ‘sense’ the future. This is an offshoot of a programme to help patients of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by using biofeedback with virtual reality technology to channel thoughts so as to produce changes in the way one’s brain processes information. Could this be developed further to devise means to channel adversarial thought process to one’s advantage? But since technology targeted at an adversary could well be used on one’s own populace, could this lead to a situation of robotisation of human thought through programmes driven by the State against its own people? Another scary thought, but not an improbable outcome!

To counter an inimical information warfare campaign, medical research comes in handy again. In an article on renowned website warontherocks .com, a computer analyst of the US Department of Defence quotes a book Snow Crash, in which malicious viral information is spread to infect computers and human brains through computer networks, exchange of body fluids, exposure of eyes to a code and the like. This is science fiction at present but conveys an important point; the aim in information warfare in future would be to infect the software in computers and ‘software’ in human brains with viral information which then propagates to infect other computers/human brains.

Info warfare is changing very fast and entering fields never thought of before. India has a lot of ground to cover; we better accept the critical role of perception management in warfare, else the 0335 hours Balakot tweet would be missing again, the next time round.

(Views are personal)

Pilgrims on way to Hemkunt Sahib pass through a narrow route on snow-clad mountains in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Mani Shankar Aiyar

Mani Shankar Aiyar

IT was Walter Bagehot, mid-19th century Editor of The Economist of London, who made the celebrated distinction between the “dignified” aspect of statecraft and the “efficient” part. He was drawing the distinction in the context of the role of the monarchy in England’s Parliamentary democracy. Adapted to our Republican Constitution, we might describe the ritual of swearing in MPs at the start of the new term of Parliament as the “dignified” part — which, in Bagehot’s words, “symbolises” constitutional democracy “through pomp and ceremony”.  And the subsequent functioning of Parliament as the “efficient” part that deals, in Bagehot’s definition, with “running the country by passing laws and providing public services”.

Through 16 Lok Sabhas over 62 years, the swearing-in ceremony of MPs has been a solemn affair, quiet, dignified, orderly and designed to emphasise the seriousness of the occasion as each Member “solemnly swears” or “swears in the name of God” to bear “true faith and allegiance” to the Constitution. That is the very foundation of our Republic and our Democracy. To reduce such a ceremony to a competitive slogan shouting, as happened on June 18, is tantamount to not just denigrating Parliamentary decorum but to mocking the Constitution, our democracy and our republic.

It is also incompatible with the President claiming in his traditional address two days later to the joint session of the two Houses, marking “70 years of the adoption of the Indian Constitution”, that the “Constitution is paramount”. How can we trust the veracity of that affirmation when it was the backbenches of the Treasury who were at the forefront of the persistent affront to the dignity of the House as they followed the first-time terror-accused MP, Pragya Singh Thakur, in wrecking the customs, usages and prescribed practices that have nurtured our democracy despite the hapless Pro Tem Speaker’s admonition to “not add a word” to the “sanctioned text”?

Neither “Jai Shri Ram” nor “Vande Mataram” is part of the hallowed format of the oath. Yet BJP MP after BJP MP tagged on such slogans to kick-start the shouting match that turned the swearing-in ceremony into a kind of bear fight between the saffron-swathed forces of Hindutva and the upholders of the fundamental constitutional principle of secularism. It is true that in the current Lok Sabha, secularism, as hitherto understood, is championed by only a small and fractured minority of the House. But, whatever the ideological composition of the Lok Sabha, after any given election, it is the values of the Constitution that must continue to prevail. The Supreme Court has held that not even Parliament can change the basic structure of the Constitution – and secularism is very much part of its basic structure.

And it is precisely because our nationhood comprises many religions of India and accords to each equal respect that there really is no call, especially on what has thus far been a non-partisan and amicable occasion after a necessarily divisive electoral contest, to detract from the dignity of the proceedings by resorting to slogans that may have a sacred place in a House of Worship but which have contemporaneously acquired a sectarian political hue. Thus “Bharat Mata ki Jai” has been pitted by the BJP against Netaji Subhas Bose’s rousing INA call, “Jai Hind”, when, in the Freedom Movement, they complemented each other. “Har, Har Mahadev” was a battle cry that has no place in a House of Parliament that aspires to represent and reflect a composite nation. Nor, indeed, does “Allahu Akbar” — except that Asaduddin Owaisi who, in the past has taken several oaths of fealty to the Constitution without resort to any reference to his religion, was responding to the vicious barracking of him as a Muslim by the taunts of the Treasury benches. Note, however, that he was careful to add “Jai Bheem”, “Jai Meem” and “Jai Hind”.

Nor was any dignity added to Parliamentary proceedings or to the integrity of our composite nationhood by the other religion-loaded slogans that reverberated in the House: “Om Namha Shivaya”; “Guru Gorakhnath ki Jai”; “Radhey-Radhey”; “Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, wahe Guruji ki Fateh”; “Jai Durga”; and “Ra Ram sa”. These have their place in gurdwaras, temples, mosques and private homes but are not for competitive attention-drawing in the constitutional order envisaged by Dr Ambedkar and the other founding fathers of our cherished republic.

Nor was solemnity or dignity enhanced by even secular slogan mongering: “Inquilab Zindabad”; “Joy Bangla”; or even K Subbarayan of the CPI’s contribution: “Long live secularism, Long live India”. Perhaps it was this spectacle of what sloganeering was doing to the fabric of our nationhood that led Sunny Deol to his tryst with notoriety when he promised to “withhold” (instead of “uphold”) the “sovereignty and integrity of the country”!

Vappala Balachandran
Ex-special secretary, cabinet secretariat

Some sections of our security establishment were sceptical of a June 15 alert by Pakistan on the possibility of IED-vehicle attack(s) planned by an Al-Qaeda affiliate in J&K. An unnamed Indian security official was quoted saying that this could be interpreted as Pakistan’s attempts to absolve itself from blame if it happens. Although this had reportedly led to a high local alert, an IED attack did take place on June 17 on a security vehicle in Pulwama, injuring nine soldiers.

The notion that all militant groups on Pakistan soil are patronised by their government is erroneous. We should also remember that even hardened adversaries like Israel and PLO had cooperated in the past to face common enemies. In 1995, Yasser Arafat’s PLO secretly passed on to Mossad travel plans of Fathi Shkaki, leader of the pro-Iranian Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  This led to his killing in Valletta (Malta) in October 1995. Shkaki had met Hussein Shaikholeslam, Iranian deputy intelligence chief, in Libya to discuss plans of assassinating Arafat as punishment for signing the 1993 Oslo accords with Israel.

Another incident was between the US and Russia even when their ties had nosedived. In 2017, President Putin thanked US President Trump for a CIA alert which helped them foil a major IS attack on the holy Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. 

The reason for Pakistan’s worry is that the Al-Qaeda and IS are expanding their networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan due to the shifting loyalties within the Afghan Taliban consequent to their peace talks with Zalmay Khalilzad’s team. Their seventh round of talks is due at Doha this week. No progress could be made in May due to Taliban’s insistence that the US should announce a troop drawdown time table before a Taliban ceasefire. Marine Gen Frank McKenzie of US Central Command said last week that IS presence in eastern Afghanistan was worrying. The Taliban rejected this as justification of continued US military presence in Afghanistan. The US countered it saying that 300 airstrikes had to be done on IS strongholds since January 2017.

Gen McKenzie is supported by other experts like AP journalist Kathy Gannon and Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University. Gannon said last week that the IS was a greater threat than the Taliban because of its sophisticated military capabilities. ‘Today it counts thousands of fighters, many from Central Asia but also from Arab countries, Chechnya, India and Bangladesh as well as ethnic Uighurs from China’. She said the recent wave of bombings in Kabul was ‘practice runs’ for bigger attacks in Europe and the US. The IS organised a suicide attack on May 30, 2019, at the entrance of Marshal Fahim National Defence University, killing six including cadets. Reports indicate that it is exporting talc, cromite and marble using smuggling routes to raise funds through its total control of Nangarhar. 

The Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point has flagged IS threats to this region through a well-researched report in December 2018. The paper disabuses a common impression among some of us that the IS is incapable of storming into South Asia with liveries and cockades, as they did in Faluja or Mosul. That is not how it is operating in this region. Apart from its successful online radicalisation, it is able to get several defections. Although Abu Muhammad al-Adnani had made an announcement on Islamic State Wilayat Khorasan (ISK) in January 2015, it was preceded by defections by nine former local leaders of the Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and six Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who joined them early in 2014. In 2016, they announced Kashmir as part of Wilayat Khorasan.

The secret of ISK’s success is the ‘high end’ or ‘low end’ cooperation from its allies in AF-Pak region. ISK was responsible for 211 attacks, resulting in 1,511 deaths in Afghanistan between January 2014 and July 2018. During the same period, it organised 83 attacks in Pakistan with 706 deaths. In April 2018, 10 journalists were killed in two attacks in Afghanistan. ISK carried out the second-deadliest attack in Pakistan’s history by bombing an election rally in Balochistan, killing 149 in July 2018.

The paper identifies 11 associates for the entire AF-Pak region. ‘High end’ partners are TTP’s Bajaur, Jundullah and Oraknazai factions, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Ansar ul Khilafat Wal Jihad, Lashkar-e-Islam and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (Al-Alami). The ‘low end’ are Ansar al-Mujahideen, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan/Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Balochistan National Army.

The CTC’s analysis reveals that ISK’s total lethality and mortality per attack increased every year in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The biggest danger to the South Asian region is the lateral migration of extremists from older outfits like the Hizbul or Taliban towards the Al-Qaeda and IS. We cannot determine the identity of such groups by merely examining conventional markers. That was also the reason why our political leadership was often wrong on the impact of the IS in India. Our former Home Minister had said on March 16, 2018, that it would have no impact on India.

Fortunately, our NIA has dealt with this menace professionally and unearthed an IS-inspired module named Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam in December 2018. In May this year, it chargesheeted four IS in Jammu & Kashmir (ISJK) activists in Jammu. The NIA has also been following up connections between Sri Lanka’s Easter carnage and its South Indian modules.

At the same time, it is a moot question whether we have done enough to detect IS modules in India right from 2014 in the background of the current allegations that our southern modules had inspired the Easter Sunday bombers. We also need to be more alert in detecting ISJK’s attempts in filling in the vacuum in J&K due to the debilitation of the ISI-created conventional outfits.

Jammu, June 8

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, along with Kalpana Singh Dhatt, regional president, Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA), visited a children’s summer adventure camp held at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, on Saturday.

The camp held under the aegis of the Northern Command ended on Saturday. It was for children of service personnel and civil defence employees with an aim to impart progressive development of children’s personality with a tinge of fun to ensure effective utilisation of their summer vacation.

The camp witnessed a huge participation of children in the age group of 11-14 years. The children had joined the camp from Udhampur, Nagrota, Akhnoor, Rakhmuthi, Palampur and Dalhousie.

The closing ceremony witnessed various activities, including archery, paintball shooting and various other games. The Army commander urged children to strive for excellence and to put in sincere and persistent efforts in realising their potential in scholastic and non-scholastic pursuits. The AWWA regional president interacted with the children and gave away prizes to children . — TNS

Balidaan” is a distinct insignia of the special forces, which form part of the Parachute Regiment. PTI file

London/Mumbai, June 7

Taking a firm stand, the ICC on Friday denied Mahendra Singh Dhoni permission to wear the dagger insignia on his wicket-keeping gloves during the World Cup despite BCCI’s assertion that it was not a military symbol.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) had sought permission for the star batsman from the world governing body, which eventually cited regulations in denying the permission.

“The ICC has responded to the BCCI to confirm the logo displayed by MS Dhoni in the previous match is not permitted to be worn on his wicket-keeping gloves at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019,” an ICC statement said.

“The regulations for ICC events do not permit any individual message or logo to be displayed on any items of clothing or equipment. In addition to this, the logo also breaches the regulations in relation to what is permitted on wicketkeeper gloves.”

During India’s opening World Cup game against South Africa in Southampton, Dhoni’s green keeping gloves had a dagger logo embossed, which looked more like an Army insignia.

The rule book allows for only one sponsor’s logo on the wicket-keeping gloves. In Dhoni’s case, he already sports an SG logo on his gloves.

Dhoni is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army and dagger is part of their emblem.

Committee of Administrator (CoA) chief Vinod Rai had argued that wearing the dagger insignia does not breach any rule.

“As per ICC regulations, players can’t sport any commercial, religious or military logo. There was nothing commercial or religious in this regard as we all know. And it is not the paramilitary regimental dagger that is embossed in his gloves. So, Dhoni is not in breach of ICC regulations,” Rai said.

Rai’s comment came after the ICC “requested the BCCI” to ask Dhoni to remove the sign from the gloves, citing rules which forbid display of messages “which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”

The CoA’s defence was based on the fact that the para-regimental dagger logo has word ‘Balidan’ (sacrifice) inscribed on it, which is not the case with the logo sported by Dhoni.

Dhoni also got support from Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, who had urged the BCCI to resolve the matter.

“… the issue is connected with the sentiments of the country, the interest of the nation has to be kept in mind. I urge the BCCI to? take a fair step in the Mahendra Singh Dhoni? case,” Rijiju wrote on his twitter handle.

Various sportspersons such as Suresh Raina and decorated wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt also backed the former captain. PTI

Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba retired on May 31, 2019, handing over the command of the Indian Navy to his successor, Admiral Karambir Singh Nijjer — who will be in office till November 2021.

Lanba is also the outgoing Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee (COSC) and enjoyed two years and five months as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee (COSC).

This was one of the longest such tenures for a post occupied by the senior-most service chief. The next two incumbents will hold the post only for four months and three months respectively.

pti12_3_2018_000060b_060319023550.jpg
Former Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba enjoyed one of the longest tenures as Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee (COSC). (Photo: PTI)

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who took over as COSC from Admiral Lanba, retires on September 30. He will hand the baton over to Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

Meanwhile, General Rawat retires on December 31, 2019. The buzz in South Block is that this revolving door could stop if the government decides to appoint a permanent COSC this year — in which case, either Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa or General Rawat could become the first permanent occupants of this post with a two-year tenure beyond their retirement.

indian-defence-force_060319023844.jpeg
Former Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba flanked by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. (Photo: PTI)

The next seniormost officer in either the Army or Air Force would then be appointed as service chief. The proposal for the permanent COSC, a four-star, single-point military adviser to the government, was forwarded in 2018 after the armed forces reached a rare consensus.

This post also meant to drive acquisitions and jointmanship among the services was first recommended by the Naresh Chandra Committee in 2012. It is being seen as a halfwayhouse to a five-star appointment like the Chief of Defence Staff recommended by a Group of Ministers in the Kargil Review Committee (2000).

But without a mandate and clearly defined executive powers, the permanent COSC may remain a ceremonial post of little consequence.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Making India More Secure: The challenge that faces Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

Photo for representation only. — iStock.

Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, June 28

The first exclusive school for Sikhs will soon open in Pakistan’s Peshawar after the approval of the Khyber Pakthunkhwa authorities which was a long-standing demand of the Sikh community.

There was a population of more than 20,000 Sikhs in Pakistan as per the US Department of State.

Most of the Sikhs were based in the province of Punjab—a part of the larger Punjab region where the religion had originated in the middle ages — and in Peshawar in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Khyber Pakthunkhwa government’s provincial Auqaf Department has not only allocated an amount of Rs 22 lakh for the construction of the school in Peshawar city but it has also resolved to approve the school building plan with immediate effect.

The first of its kind initiative has been taken on the basis of the long-standing demand of the elected representatives of the Sikh community who have been seeking setting up of a separate educational institute for their community where history and tenets of the Sikhism could be taught apart from regular education to Sikh children.

Besides this, the Khyber Pakthunkhwa provincial authorities have earmarked an amount of more than Rs 85 lakh for holding of different festivals of the minority communities.

The provincial government has earmarked a total sum of Rs 5.5 crore for the welfare of the minorities and for their affairs as part of its 2019-20 budget, sources revealed.