Bhartesh Singh Thakur

At dusk on December 3, 1971, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out pre-emptive airstrikes, and squadrons under the Central Air Command received instructions to retaliate. The war had started. At 2150 hours, the Canberra bombers of 5 Squadron went straight into the enemy skies for the retaliatory airstrike and struck Shorkot airfield.

The squadron left its mark in Congo, then in 1965 and 1971. During the Kargil war, we were in a deep strike role. We were the first to start GPS-based level bombing and then other units followed. We have a good legacy.

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria (Retd). He commanded the Tuskers during the Kargil war

I am as old as the Air Force as I was also born in 1932. No. 5 Squadron is touching the sky with glory and respecting the sacrifice made by its officers.

Air Commodore KK Badhwar (Retd). He served 5 Squadron from 1965 to 1968 and carried out six missions in the 1965 war

It is a great squadron. I had a wonderful tenure. The squadron completed 10,000 hours of accident-free flying during those four years.

Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (Retd). He served as Flight Commander from 1995 to 1999

5 Squadron is the best in the Air Force. I have told my boys that you are the best and they are yet to prove me wrong. Jaguars are ideal for low flying and weapon delivery is accurate. With upgradation, I would say it is kissing fourth-generation. We shouldn’t replace them in a hurry.

Air Marshal LK Malhotra (Retd). He had three tenures at 5 Squadron, including as CO

It was from Shorkot that the PAF aircraft had bombed Agra. “The enemy was caught unawares … the crew were delighted to find the runway lights on. The Tuskers wreaked havoc on this airfield,” says the official account of the squadron.

5 Squadron remained busy in the west, striking the enemy airfields and lines of communication in Chhamb, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Chander and Risalewala, and other concentrations towards the south too. In one of its night-bombing missions, fuel and ammo dumps well inside the Chhamb sector were hit. As a result, the pressure on Indian troops was reduced drastically.

The squadron dropped about 36,000 LBS (Pound) bomb load on December 11 on enemy artillery and armour near Burejal and also struck the Mianwali runway. Sadly, it lost two aircraft and five Flight Lieutenants.

The Tuskers also took part in the air battles in the eastern sector and were among the few units with battle honours on both fronts in the 1971 war.

Wing Commander (later Group Captain) Man Mohan Bir Singh Talwar, who was commanding the squadron, was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC). He led five day-and-night bombing missions against heavily-defended enemy targets within the first 10 days of operations. “The bold leadership, tenacity of purpose, flying skill, and conspicuous gallantry displayed by Wing Commander Talwar were largely responsible for many a success of his squadron,” reads his MVC citation. Squadron Leaders RC Kohli and DC Bhandari, and Flight Lieutenant HP Singh were awarded the Vir Chakra (VrC).

Treasured legacy

5 Squadron was born from the remains of World War II aircraft. It was then the Royal Indian Air Force. To establish a heavy bombing feature, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was asked to re-construct B-24 Liberators from the decaying remains of nearly 100 US Air Force bombers at Kanpur.

These aircraft, American-owned but British-operated, were wrecked and abandoned in India at the end of World War II. Despite the scepticism of the US and British advisers, the first six refurbished B-24s were ready by November 1948, and 5 Squadron was formed under Wing Commander JRS Dantra. It was the only four-engined aircraft being operated at the time.

Within months, the squadron was moved to Pune, which was to remain its base for the next eight years.

In 1957, the Tuskers, under Wing Commander (later Air Commodore) WR Dani, became the first to be re-equipped with the English Electric Canberra. It moved to Agra the same year.

The United Nations mission in Congo was the first for an IAF bomber squadron in UN operations. On October 5, 1961, the Tuskers carried out a long-range counter-air operation at a 1,300-km range at Katangan rebel airbase in Kolwezi. A Fouga Magister, two Dornier-28s, a Dakota, DC-4, and Dove got destroyed in the attack. Supported by European mercenary pilots, the attack had a demoralising effect on the rebels. Wing Commander (later Air Commodore) AIK Suares, VrC, led the operations under heavy firing, resulting in injuries to his navigator, Flight Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal) MM Takle.

For remarkable service in Congo, Wing Commander Suares was awarded a Bar to VrC. Flight Lieutenant Takle received the VrC, and Flight Lieutenant P Gautam the Vayu Sena Medal.

More glory was waiting for the squadron in the 1965 war. On the night of September 6 and 7, the Tuskers, commanded by Wing Commander (later Air Marshal) Prem Pal Singh, led the battle straight into the enemy’s heart and raided Sargodha. Wing Commander Prem Pal Singh personally flew six missions. A few days later, on the night of September 13 and 14, the squadron led by Senior Flight Commander Squadron Leader JC Verma surprised Pakistan as Peshawar air base, having B-57s and F-104s, was attacked. It was located close to the Afghan border and the enemy didn’t realise that the Indians would come that far. The Tuskers flew about 300 sorties during the war, mostly at night. Wing Commander Prem Pal Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

The squadron lost an aircraft. Flight Lieutenant KK Kapur lost his life while Flight Lieutenant MM Lowe was taken as prisoner of war. He was repatriated in early 1966. Squadron Leaders SN Bansal and C Mehta, and Flight Lieutenants HS Mangat and PR Dastidar were awarded the Vir Chakra. Three Vishisht Seva Medals and 14 Mention-in-Dispatches were also awarded.

THE SWITCH

After operating Canberra for close to 25 years, the Tuskers were re-equipped with Jaguars in 1981. It shifted to Ambala under Wing Commander JS Sisodia, who rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

It participated in Operation Pawan, the Indian Peace Keeping Force operation in Sri Lanka, in October 1987 and carried out reconnaissance missions. Wing Commander AK Singh, who later rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, led the squadron and received a Vayu Sena Medal in 1989.

Squadron No. 1 to 4 and 6 to 10 were raised before 1947, mostly during World War II, but not Squadron No. 5. That’s because Royal Air Force’s Squadron 5 was operating in India from 1920 until 1947 and a new squadron with the same number would have created confusion. Finally, when it was disbanded, Tuskers was raised in 1948.

“It has established an identity and track record that is in no danger of being confused with anyone else’s. They remain the only IAF combat unit to have served on another continent, after Independence,” says the official account of the squadron.

Tuskers became the first bomber squadron to receive the President’s Colours on April 9, 1975. Recently, 5 Squadron celebrated its platinum jubilee at Ambala. 

Incriminating material, arms and ammunition seized from encounter site

Srinagar, December 1

A Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

Acting on specific intel regarding the presence of a terrorist in Arihal village of the south Kashmir district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area on Thursday, a police spokesman said.

During the search operation, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately at the security forces, which retaliated, triggering an encounter, he said.

The terrorist, identified as Kifayat Ayoub Alie, a resident of Pinjoora Shopian and associated with the proscribed terror outfit LeT, was neutralised. His body was retrieved from the encounter site, the spokesman said.

Police records indicate his involvement in several terror-related crimes, the spokesman added.

Incriminating material and arms and ammunition, including a pistol, two magazines, five rounds, and two grenades, were seized from the encounter site, police said. 

The decision amounts to creating a parallel jurisdiction, taking away police powers of the State: Punjab Government

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, December 1

The Centre on Friday sought to defend its decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab from 15 to 50 km along the Indo-Pak border, even as the state government alleged that it amounted to creating a parallel jurisdiction, taking away police powers of the state.

“This only means that in some offences like passport, etc., the BSF has jurisdiction along with the local police… There is concurrent jurisdiction,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud. Pointing out that the Punjab Government filed the petition in 2021, Mehta said the situation has changed since then.

As the CJI said Punjab is a border state and sought to know how the state government was aggrieved now, advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the state government, termed the exercise of powers by the Centre as “unreasonable”.

“Punjab is a small state. There is a parallel jurisdiction and this takes away powers of the state. Gujarat has marsh lands… Rajasthan has desert… The exercise of power is unreasonable,” Farasat submitted.

Clarifying that the notification under challenge did not include all cognisable offences, Mehta said the amendment only increased the distance and the local police were not deprived of the jurisdiction as there was concurrent jurisdiction.

Farasat said these were core law and order provisions which impacted the state.

The CJI pointed out that the power of investigation was not taken away from the Punjab Police and the entire Chapter 12 of Criminal Procedure Code had not been made applicable. 

Asking the parties to sit together and draft the issues involved, the Bench listed the matter for further hearing in January 2024.

In a lighter vein Mehta told Punjab Advocate-General Gurminder Singh, who attended the proceedings virtually, to meet him in his chamber whenever he was here. “I will be grateful for the hospitality,” Singh responded.

The Punjab Government had in December 2021 moved the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to extend the BSF’s jurisdiction in the state from 15 to 50 km along the Indo-Pak border, saying it went against federalism and will lead to chaos.

In its original suit filed under Article 131 of the Constitution, the Punjab Government said, “…geographically, the State of Punjab is a small state, but has a very potent history and, therefore, its case and concerns are distinguishable and no reason can justify the extension of jurisdiction (of BSF) to the belt of 50 kilometers.”

Noting that more than 80% areas of the border districts and all major towns and cities, including all the district headquarters of Punjab would be covered under BSF’s jurisdiction, the Punjab Government submitted that the MHA’s decision “is likely to give rise to unrest among the populace, including peasantry which has to cross the bribed wire to cultivate their land along the border.”

Contending that it can lead to chaos and conflict in trial of offences between law enforcement agencies, the Punjab Government has urged the top court to stay the October 11, 2021 notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

While the MHA notification extended the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 to 50 km in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, it reduced the same from 80 to 50 km in Gujarat. In Rajasthan the limit remained unchanged at 50 km.

The Punjab Government has termed the MHA’s decision a “unilateral declaration” without consulting the state and without conducting any consultative process.

It has assailed the notification on the ground that it “defeats the purpose of Entry 1 and 2 of List-II of Schedule-7 of the Constitution of India and encroaches upon the plaintiff’s plenary authority to legislate on issues which relate to or are necessary for maintenance of public order and internal peace.”

Under Entry 1 and 2 of List-II (State List) of Schedule-7 of the Constitution, ‘public order’ and ‘police’ are enumerated as subjects on which states are empowered to make laws and exercise executive powers.

“To this extent the defendant (MHA) has departed from the principle of federalism inasmuch as the defendant has no power to make any laws in respect of the matters enumerated in List-II of schedule-7 of the Constitution of India.

Maintaining that the concerns of Punjab are “totally different and distinguishable” from the geography and concerns of other border states and union territories, the Punjab Government complained that densely populated areas of the state have now been included in the jurisdiction of BSF.

“In the case of Gujarat, most of the area falls in Kutch and saline marshes, whereas the areas in the State of Rajasthan is a desert land, permitting only sparse vegetation to sustain low populace in the relevant area to which jurisdiction of BSF has been extended,” it submitted.

“In the case of Punjab, the area is highly fertile, heavily populated, and covers most of the physical areas forming part of the border districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka etc.” it contended.

7th Military Lit Festival (MLF) being held at Lake Sports Complex, Sukhna Lake Chd 02 – 03 Dec 2023. Festival showcases contribution armed forces in national security.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Former Engineer-In-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (Retd) says “Everything went according to the plan. PM Modi was constantly monitoring the rescue work. All departments of the Government of India were involved in the operation…We were the happiest when we saw the workers coming out on their own feet. They were extremely happy…”

ट्टानों को चीर सुरक्षित आये सभी 41 श्रमवीर | रेस्क्यू से जुडी सभी ज़रूरी जानकारी के लिए आज तक ने की ले. ज. (रि) हरपाल सिंह से #exclusive बातचीत

Bravo to 201 Engr Regt for their superb work in making the vertical tunnel in record time. Delighted that all 41 trapped workers were quickly and safely evacuated🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 And kudos to the NDRF all the various organizations that concurrently and cooperatively worked to achieve successful evacuation.👍👍👍🙏

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Jawans of 201 Engineering Regiment to helped with manual drilling

PTI

Uttarkashi, November 29

Feroze Qureshi and Monu Kumar, experts in the rat-hole mining technique, were the first to meet the 41 labourers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand after they cleared the last bit of the rubble inside the structure.

All the 41 workers were rescued on Tuesday evening after 17 days of a multi-agency operation conducted by the central and state governments.

Qureshi from Delhi and Kumar from Uttar Pradesh were part of a 12-member team of rat-hole mining technique experts who were called on Sunday to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.

“They (the labourers) could hear us when we reached the last portion of the rubble. Soon after removing the rubble, we got down to the other side,” Qureshi, a resident of Delhi’s Khajoori Khas, told PTI.

“The labourers thanked and hugged me. They also lifted me on their shoulders,” he said, adding that he was happier than the rescued workers.

Qureshi is an employee of the Delhi-based Rockwell Enterprises and an expert in tunnelling work.

“They (the labourers) gave me almonds and asked my name. Soon, our other colleagues joined us and we were there for about half an hour,” Kumar, a resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, said.

He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel went inside the tunnel after them. “We came back only after the NDRF personnel arrived,” Kumar said.

“We are very happy that we were part of this historic operation,” he added.

The leader of the 12-member team from Rockwell Enterprises, Wakeel Hassan, said he was approached for help by a company involved in the rescue operation four days ago.

“The work got delayed while removing the portion of the auger from the rubble. We started at 3 pm on Monday and finished the work at 6 pm on Tuesday,” Hassan said, adding, “We had said the work would be finished in 24 to 36 hours and that is what we did.” He also said they did not charge any money for taking part in the rescue operation.

The woman, hailing from Kerala, was undergoing training at the INS Hamla in Malwani area in Malad

PTI

Mumbai, November 28

A 20-year-old woman undergoing Agniveer training in the Indian Navy allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room at INS Hamla in Mumbai, police said on Tuesday.

The woman, hailing from Kerala, was undergoing training at the INS Hamla in Malwani area in the western suburb of Malad, an official said.

She allegedly hanged herself in her hostel room on Monday morning, he said.

While no suicide note was recovered, it appears the woman took the extreme step due to personal reasons, the official said.

The woman had been training at the facility for the 15 days after completing her basic training, he said.

The police have registered an accidental death report and an investigation is under way, the official added.

Agniveers are soldiers recruited by the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme, which was introduced in 2022. 

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan said the Indian Air Force is planning to take over three airstrips in Uttarkhand and use them for strategic purposes.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said the Uttarkhand government made the proposal for the takeover of teh airstrips to the Armed Forces. (File photo)

The Indian Air Force is considering taking over three airstrips in Uttarakhand to strengthen its operational capabilities in Uttarakhand, said Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Saturday.

The three airstrips include Pithoragarh in the Kumaon Hills and, Dharasu and Gauchar in the Garhwal Hills.

General Anil Chauhan said the landing strips were made on the state government’s land and it wanted the Armed Forces to take over the property. This will not help provide strategic use of the airstrips but also help in improving air connectivity for the locals in the area, he added.

The incident took place while Aparna was undergoing training on the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Attack,” a police officer said.

A woman hailing from Kerala undergoing Agniveer training allegedly died by suicide at a Navy hostel in Mumbai, news agencies reported citing police on Tuesday. According to Mumbai police, the deceased was identified as 20-year-old Aparna Nair who took the extreme step at the INS Hamla in Malwani area in the western suburb of Malad.

“The incident took place while Aparna was undergoing training on the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Attack,” news agency ANI quoted an officer as saying.

Shortly after receiving the information, Navy doctors were called to check up on the woman. Thereupon after conducting the examination of the woman, the doctors declared her dead, said police.

The Malwani Police in Mumbai has registered a case under the accidental death report (ADR) and have started the investigation, ANI reported.

While no suicide note was recovered from the spot, it appears the woman took the extreme step due to personal reasons, news agency PTI reported citing an official.

The woman had been training at the facility for the last 15 days after completing her basic training, the official said.

Editorial by Inder Raj Ahluwalia

“Ek Onkar Satnam”.

Three magic words that mean ‘there is but one God, whose name is Truth’. This simple concept was the springboard of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, the guru who was also the repository and propagator of myriad revolutionary ideas, concepts, beliefs and practices. His life impacted society as never before, and remarkably, are to totally relevant today.

While philosophers like John Knox, Martin Luther, and John Wesley were influencing the Western world, Guru Nanak was quietly preaching a new, unique and inspiring gospel in the Indian sub-continent.

The Guru’s destiny was stamped in his childhood itself. While other children indulged in sports, fun and frolic, he chose isolation and meditation, singing in praise of God Almighty. Displaying extraordinary traits, he slept little, ate frugally, and spoke sparingly. No fakir or sadhu left his home empty-handed.

He had a stint as a cattle-grazer; had a cobra use his hood to shade his face from the sun; practiced ‘sachcha sauda’ (good bargain), by distributing rations among the poor; had a divine visitation while bathing in the Beni River; travelled extensively; prayed at a mosque; listened to people of all faiths and cultures; read extensively about Hinduism,  Buddhism, and Islam; and affected several miracles. Significantly, he applied logic to what he encountered.

Guru Nanak Dev placed truth and God above all religious ceremonies and manifestations. He preached and taught ‘Do Nama Smarana’, (Love and be devoted to God, and enjoy the bliss of union with Him).

He proclaimed and espoused theories that shaped human thinking. He addressed issues that impacted on society and contemporary existence. He challenged the Indian caste system, and endorsed women’s rights. He promoted education for all men, women and children by introducing the Gurmukhi script of the Adi Granth, which became accessible to everyone. He believed that integrity, respect and trust between different communities engendered dignity for everyone.

The Guru’s philosophy is manifest in his three fundamental principles: ‘Kirt Karni’ (working for a living); ‘Naam Japna’ (remembering God); and ‘Vand Chakna’ (sharing one’s possessions with the needy). These were the cornerstone of his philosophy, and the guiding principles of Sikhs.  

His greatest contribution to mankind was the teaching of the ‘Science of the Word’ (Naam), which forms the subject – matter of the Adi Granth which was composed and compiled by the Sikh Gurus. It proclaims that personal realization of God, and hence salvation, was attained by communion with the ‘Word’ (Shabad).

Guru Nanak was the most widely travelled man of his age, devoting  twenty-five years of his life to visiting numerous places in and out of India, in his five major tours (Udasis) of the world from 1500 to 1524. He travelled because he wanted the regeneration of humanity to create a better world. He felt he was God’s messenger of goodwill, spreading the gospel of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy. His travels threw up revolutionary ideas and reformed people everywhere.

He was also arguably the world’s first activist, environmentalist, and conservationist, extolling the value of water and vegetation. He was the first major spiritual leader to proclaim that women should be respected and not persecuted.

He was definitely among the world’s first and foremost secularists, proclaiming famously, “I am neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim. We are all children of God”. He spent his life trying to create a bridge between Hindus and Muslims.

He was the creator of ‘langar’, wherein food is served free to everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or status. The langar constantly served in thousands of Gurdwaras worldwide, feeding millions, owes its existence to him. Availability of langar provided a huge boost during the covid pandemic.

His travels over, Guru Nanak settled down to a simple life at Kartarpur.  His daily routine started at dawn when he awoke, bathed and recited the sacred hymns. At daybreak, he addressed a congregation of Sikhs. After this he worked in the fields.
Guru Nanak’s wisdom and benevolence earned him everyone’s love and respect. On his death in Kartarpur in 1539, both Hindus and Muslims placed flowers over his body. The site is immortalized by a tomb and temple built over the Muslims’ and Hindus’ flowers, respectively.
Guru Nanak was among the modern era’s greatest philosophers and teachers. He reached exceptional heights of spiritual enlightenment, and his teachings have paralleled those in the Bible and other holy scriptures.

Today, the world is acknowledging Guru Nanak’s glorious, invaluable legacy, philosophy and divinity, left behind for humanity. It promotes generosity and communal harmony, and provides a healing touch to our fractured, turbulent society.  

The world owes him a debt of gratitude beyond compare.