Patna, December 18

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday shot off a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh registering a strong protest against the Centres decision to shut down the Officers Training Academy situated in Gaya.

In the letter, Kumar said he came across the news of proposed closure of the OTA, Gaya, in some newspapers and digital media.

The Chief Minister, whose JD (U) is an alliance partner of the BJP, termed the development as “shocking and very disturbing”.

The OTA, Gaya, which was set up in 2011, “not only provided employment opportunities in the region but also contributed towards economy and sense of security in the area”, he added.

“It would be very inappropriate to close the Officers Training Academy at Gaya. This wrong decision by Ministry of Defence is against the states interest and it would be a gross injustice to the people of Bihar”, Kumar added. PTI

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Veterans, martrys’ kin take part in ‘Victory Parade’

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 16

The Army’s Chinar Corps celebrated the 48th anniversary of the Indian victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that culminated in the creation of Bangladesh in true military tradition by remembering the nation’s heroes and martyrs.

Rich tributes were paid to the gallant martyrs at a solemn ceremony at the War Memorial in Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, where Lt-Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, paid homage to the heroes by laying a wreath on behalf of the entire soldiers’ fraternity.

The Army held a felicitation function to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices of the veterans and martyrs of the 1971 war.

Addressing the function, Lt-Gen Dhillon said the Army was grateful to the veterans for their services to the nation in their younger years and expressed the Army resolve to look after their welfare.

“In 1971, at least 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered and this was the biggest-ever surrender of any army after World War II,” the corps commander said. “The Army immensely values the sacrifices of the Veer Naaris and their family members. The victory of such a magnitude would not have been possible without the tremendous sacrifice by the soldiers.”

December 16 is celebrated every year as “Vijay Diwas” to commemorate the Indian Army’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War that led to the birth of Bangladesh.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 17

The Army today paid a befitting tribute to late Havildar Chougule Jotiba Ganpati who was killed in a ceasefire violation on the Line of Control on Monday in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district.

In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen Asit Mistry, GOC, Delhi Area and Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry, along with Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, and all ranks, paid homage to the soldier on behalf of the nation.

An Army statement said Havildar Ganpati was manning a forward post on the line of duty in Gurez where he sustained bullet injuries during unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan.

“The soldier was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to the nearest medical station, but unfortunately, he succumbed to injuries,” it said.

The late Havildar was 37 years old and had joined the Army in 2002. He belonged to Mahagaon village of Gadhinglaj tehsil in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 16

To mark Vijay Diwas, the Army today paid tributes to 1965 Indo-Pak war hero Major Surinder Prasad by organising a wreath-laying ceremony here.

Brigadier Akash Johar, Station Commander, Military Station, Abohar, was the chief guest at the function organised at the Major Surinder Prasad Memorial that was renovated recently with the help of NGOs.

The martyr’s sister Nirmala Devi, commanding officers of different regiments, SDM Poonam Singh, DSP Rahul Bhardwaj, BSNL divisional engineer Anil Vij, and heads of many NGOs also laid wreaths at the memorial.

Aarti Sharma, wife of Sergeant Sharat Chander Sharma, who was among the first to land at Dhaka Airport after the Army’s win in 1971, and some ex servicemen also paid floral tributes at the memorial.

An Army contingent reversed arms, sounded bugle as hundreds of soldiers and civilians observed silence while offering the salute.

Major Prasad was born on November 5, 1938, here. An alumnus of Municipal Board High School (now known as Government Senior Secondary Model School for Boys), he did his post-graduation from DAV College, Jalandhar. He was commissioned into the 19 Maratha Light Infantry on December 17, 1961.

Major Prasad was martyred while fighting for the country on September 23, 1965.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

The Standing Committee on Home led by Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma in its report has insisted on paying “paramilitary service pay” to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on a par with defence forces personnel and objected to overuse of the forces for internal security and election duty.

In the report, the panel said, “…overuse of CAPFs for the rigorous internal security and election duties to the extent that even the reserved battalions are deployed for such duties against the norm of providing for rest and recuperation.” It has also reiterated its recommendations in this regard rejecting the government’s explanation.

An official release stated: “The report of the 15-Member Committee chaired by Anand Sharma on the action taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Committee’s recommendations in respect of functioning of Border Guarding Forces viz., Assam Rifles, Shasastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force, contained in the 214th Report of the Committee was presented to Rajya Sabha on last Wednesday.”

Noting that the defence forces personnel are being “paid military service pay” in view of the risk to life and social and family isolation, the panel argued that the CAPFs “also deserve similar incentive” in “the form of paramilitary service pay” as they also face similar risks and isolation while working in hard areas. The MHA, in its response to the panel, said, the 7th Pay Commission and the Committee on Allowance did not agree to such special pay to CAPF.