Ex-servicemen rally held

Srinagar, September 23

To commemorate the ‘Year of Disabled in Line of Duty’ and to reach out to the ex-servicemen fraternity of the Valley as well as address their grievances, a rally was organised at Badamibagh Cantonment on Sunday, an Army statement said.

The rally was attended by over 300 ex-servicemen, including disabled soldiers and “Veer Naris”.

The rally was addressed by General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, who reaffirmed the resolve of the corps towards espousing the welfare and well-being of the veterans and “Veer Naris.” The Chinar Corps chief also unveiled a compendium covering various welfare schemes and benefits available to ex-servicemen and their families. It was distributed to all veterans and “Veer Naris’ at the rally, the statement said.

The disabled soldiers and their dependents were provided with transport and medical equipment to make them self-reliant. Wards of veterans excelling in various fields were also felicitated to motivate them in achieving greater glory. —TNS

He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra for sacrificing life while clearing enemy bunkers in J&K

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Gurjinder Singh was born into a soldiers’ family at Ambala on July 4, 1974. His grandfather Subedar Gurbaksh Singh had participated in overseas campaigns during World War II and also on mainland India during the wars in 1947-48 and 1962. His father Lt Col TP Singh Suri, a Sikh Light Infantry veteran, took active part in the 1971 war with Pakistan in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gurjinder studied in Army Public Schools at military stations wherever his father was posted. He went on to join the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, in July 1993 and was commissioned into Army Ordnance Corps in June 1997. He had opted for Sikh Light Infantry as his parental claim but at that time, due to paucity of vacancies, he could not get the infantry regiment of his choice. Nonetheless, he was destined to be a part of a combat arm in the most glorious period of his Army career. And that combat arm happened to be 12th Battalion of Bihar Regiment, the regiment the hero and role model of which, Birsa Munda, figures on top among freedom fighters from Bihar. Capt Gurjinder Singh Suri, commissioned in Ordnance Corps, while on attachment to 12 Bihar Battalion in their finest innings, did something which made the Ordnance, the logistic arm of the Army and 12 Bihar, the sword arm, proud of this young Khalsa.

During 1999, Capt Gurjinder Singh Suri was attached to 12 Bihar when the battalion was deployed in the Gulmarg sector of Jammu and Kashmir. It was here at Faulad Post situated at a height of 11,200 feet that Captain Suri attained martyrdom by sacrificing his life in the defence of the motherland.

For his conspicuous act of bravery and supreme sacrifice, Capt Gurjinder was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously. The battle account of his gallant action is available in the War Diary of 12 Bihar. After Captain Gurjinder Suri’s martyrdom, his younger brother Randhir Singh Suri left his lucrative corporate job with a resolve to fill the void. Randhir is today a serving Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. People at Ambala rightly say that Randhir is not part of the third generation of the Suris in uniform, he carries the legacy in the fourth since he joined the Army after his elder brother’s martyrdom. Capt Suri was the lone recipient of Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest military decoration for gallantry, during the investiture ceremony on August 15, 2000.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)

The summary of the gallant action in War Diary of 12 Bihar reads..

Captain Gurjinder Singh Suri was Ghatak platoon commander and was located at Faulad Post in the Forward Defended Locality of the battalion in the Gulmarg Sector of Jammu and Kashmir. On November 9, 1999, the enemy launched an attack on the post, which was successfully repulsed and the enemy retreated. Seizing the opportunity, the Ghatak Platoon was launched to pursue the fleeing enemy. Captain Suri immediately deployed his support group to take care of any reinforcements/ interference and set out to clear the enemy bunkers one by one. When he saw that one of his comrades was grievously injured in the process, he quickly moved on with his buddy to clear the bunker. He killed two enemy soldiers with his AK 47 rifle and silenced the enemy machine gun. However, he got a burst in his left arm in the process. Unmindful of his injury, Captain Suri continued to inspire his men to accomplish the task. He then lobbed two hand grenades into a bunker and entered inside spraying bullets with his rifle, killing one more enemy soldier instantly. At this point the officer was hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade and was critically wounded. He refused to get evacuated and continued to exhort his men till he breathed his last. The officer displayed extraordinary junior leadership, inspired by which the Ghataks fell upon the enemy with vengeance and annihilated them. Captain Gurjinder Singh Suri, thus, displayed conspicuous bravery and exceptional junior leadership in the face of the enemy.

On Wednesday, CBI claimed to have busted a racket of Indian Overseas Bank officials.

o mark 72nd Independence Day, the army installed two artillery guns at Fauji Chowk in Bathinda. The landmark is named after naib subedar Nand Singh, with a statue in the background, who was bestowed the Victoria Cross for his heroics in the World War II. He was also awarded Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously, for fighting Pakistani aggressors in J&K in 1947.

Jammu, August 9

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Command chief, accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, visited the Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform) at Reasi to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation on Thursday.General Officer Commanding, Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform), briefed the Northern Command chief on the security situation and the counter-terrorist grid. The Army Commander interacted with soldiers and exhorted them to remain vigilant and counter the designs of anti-national elements.Lt Gen Ranbir calls on VohraSrinagar: Lt Gen Ranbir Singh met Governor NN Vohra here on Thursday. The Governor and Army Commander had discussions to review issues relating to internal and external security management, particularly the recent pattern of infiltration attempts across the Line of Control. TNS

As many as 600 terrorists are stationed at various launching pads, dotted along the Line of Control and right up to Jammu, Intelligence agencies have said. These terrorists are poised to infiltrate into the country, said the inputs. A Home Ministry official told Zee News that these terrorists have the backing of Pakistan Army. He said some of these groups also comprise Pakistan Army jawans who are ready for BAT action on the Indian Army.

This is for the first time, since India’s surgical strikes in PoK, that terrorists are present in such a large number along the border. Sources said this has again laid bare now Pakistan’s words and actions don’t match. Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting, had the Army’s support which led him to a victory in the country’s general elections held recently. Khan had said he was keen to see Indo-Pak relations improve.

However, terrorist presence along the LoC now belies his comments. In Gurej sector, the launching pad has 67 terrorists. There has also been a movement of 96 terrorists in Machal sector, 112 terrorists in Keran sector, 79 terrorists in Tanghar sector. In Naugham, 52 terrorists have been spotted with Pakistan Army men. In Uri sector, 26 terrorists, comprising LeT and JeM recruits, have been seen.

Likewise, 26 terrorists belonging to LeT have been spotted at the launching pad in Rampur sector. In Poonch, the movement of 43 terrorists has been observed. They belong to LeT, Hizbul and Al-badr. In Krishnaghati sector, 21 terrorists have been spotted along with Pakistan Army presence. As many as 40 terrorists are present in Bimbhar gulley, ready to attack the Indian Army. There are six terrorists in Naushera sector and they all belong to either LeT or JeM. In Sunderbani sector, 16 terrorists are lying in wait.

Sources said that in July, the militants made 47 attempts to infiltrate of which they succeeded 28 times. They are the most active in Machal and Keran sectors, said intel inputs.

The Indian contingent in Australia is being led by Group Captain CUV Rao and includes a Garud Team, four SU-30 MKI, one X C-130 and a X C-17 aircrafts.DARWIN (AUSTRALIA): A part of Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent, comprising of SU-30MKI and C-130 aircraft, undertook its maiden operations from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in Darwin, Australia on Monday.

In a tweet, the Indian Air Force said, “#ExPitchBlack18 : Today, IAF SU-30MKI & C-130 aircraft, undertook the Maiden Operations from RAAF base, Darwin, Australia. The Air-Warriors respond swiftly to challenges. They are resilient, flexible in their approach to work & quickly adapt to new environment. Jai Hind!!!”

An IAF contingent is currently at the Darwin Air Force Base in Australia to participate in the multinational air exercise Ex Pitch Black, one of the biggest exercises of its kinds. Officially inaugurated on Friday, the Indian Air Force has been at the centre of the exercise as it looks to build on regional partnerships, improve interoperability between nations and promote regional stability.

More than 140 aircraft and 4000 personnel from several countries are participating in the Operation Pitch Black in Australia.

The Indian contingent in Australia is being led by Group Captain CUV Rao and includes a Garud Team, four SU-30 MKI, one X C-130 and a X C-17 aircraft.