Capt Shweta Misra (retd)

Women officers are only showpieces in the Army!’ he said and went on with similar affronts. Those gendered swipes were made at a woman soldier discharging her duties at the sensitive Indo-Pak border for months at a stretch. She had seen no civilian life or even the face of another woman, while facing extreme weather conditions of the Thar Desert in the peak of winter; living in makeshift tents with no concrete roof above or floor below; with no privacy as a woman, as there were only male soldiers for miles around.

The accusations of ‘taking away our share of peace postings’ were made against a woman soldier who wore a dog tag and was out there, ready to make the supreme sacrifice for the country in the event of a war.

In 2001, India’s Parliament was attacked by Pakistan-trained terrorists. The then PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, decided to launch a retaliatory attack. Lakhs of troops were mobilised to the border.

She was a young Captain, on leave, when the orders of ‘recall from leave’ came. Leaving her two-year-old child, the mother reported on duty. Her Air Defence regiment, located in central India, got orders to get deployed along the border and the responsibility of safely transporting the goods train full of weapon systems, associated equipment and manpower was assigned to her. The train took 15 days to reach the operational area. The task was accomplished without a glitch. At no point did she think that she is a woman, and the only one in the train and the deployment area.

However, a woman living in an extreme war situation, performing exceptionally well and excelling, hurt the male ego of some fellow officers. Thus started the everyday nagging, derogatory remarks for being in a profession that didn’t belong to her gender. A climate of intimidation and insecurity was created — ‘women officers are a liability’. It was the sheer ugliness of this mansplaining that made her existence a hell, not the hardships and exigencies of service.

The perpetual sexist jibes lower the morale of women workers and drain out their energy, which otherwise is intended for job performance. Such hostile environment impacts the organisational culture and its overall efficiency. Research shows that 80% of women have been confronted with this phenomenon of mansplaining and manterrupting at work. In order to support inclusive and sustainable development, substantial measures need to be taken to prevent sexism and its manifestations in all public and private spheres.

Our defence forces are at a nascent stage of including women in the organisational setup. They have the opportunity to be at the forefront and lead by example by creating legislation, policies and programmes that perpetuate gender parity. Let them.

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 5

Shock, anger and disbelief have gripped the Shah family after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a father-daughter duo for harbouring and facilitating the Pulwama suicide bomber, Adil Dar, and his Pakistan handler, Mohammad Umar Farooq.

More than 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many others were injured when Dar rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy on February 14 last year. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control and bombed terror camps in Balakote on February 27.

Tariq Ahmed Shah, 50, and his daughter, Insha Jan, 23, were arrested on Tuesday after investigations revealed that they were acting as conduits of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and their house was used for recording Dar’s video before he rammed his Eeco car into the CRPF convoy.

“Militants were coming to our home one and a half years ago. But we couldn’t say no to them as they were armed,” said Tariq’s wife Naseema.

Naseema said militants had visited their house twice, but she had requested them to leave.

“When they (militants) came the first time, I told them that we don’t have space. My husband even fled the house that night. One of the militants told me that they will stay only for the night,” said Naseema.

“When they came for the second time, I categorically told them to leave the house. I even warned them I will go to a nearby camp to inform the forces. The militants threatened to kill us. They even took pictures of my daughter (Insha) and threatened to upload them on social media. Tell me what should I have done?” she asked.

Insha is the youngest of the three siblings, who dropped out after Class IX. Her father, Tariq, is a truck driver.

An NIA spokesman on Tuesday said the accused, Tariq Shah, had disclosed that his house at Hakripora, Pulwama, was used by Adil Dar, Pakistani militant Mohammad Umar Farooq, who assembled the IED, Kamran, another Pakistani militant, Sameer Ahmed Dar and Mohammad Ismail, alias Ibrahim, alias Adnan, a Pakistani militant.

“His house was also used by the terrorists for preparing and recording the video of fidayeen Adil Ahmad Dar, which was released by the Jaish-e-Mohammed soon after the Pulwama attack,” the spokesman said.

Insha Jan, according to the NIA spokesman, facilitated the militants at their home and provided them food and other logistics during their stay on more than 15 occasions for two to four days each time.

“The initial interrogation has revealed that Insha Jan was in constant touch with Mohammad Umar Farooq, Pakistani IED maker, and was in communication with him over the telephone and other social media applications,” he said.

The arrest of the father-daughter duo is the second major breakthrough in the Pulwama attack in the last one week.

On Friday, the NIA arrested a key overground worker Shakir Bashir Magray, who had provided shelter and logistic support to the Jaish suicide bomber, Adil Dar.

Second major breakthrough

• The arrest of the father-daughter duo is the second major breakthrough in the Pulwama attack in the last one week
• On Friday, the NIA arrested a key overground worker, Shakir Bashir Magray, who had provided shelter and logistic support to the Jaish suicide bomber, Adil Dar

srinagar, March 6

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the Pulwama suicide attack, today said the chemicals used in the attack were procured from e-commerce website Amazon.

The probe agency also arrested two youths from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The NIA said one of the accused — Waiz ul Islam, 19, of Srinagar — disclosed that he used his Amazon online shopping account to procure chemicals for making IEDs, batteries and other accessories on the directions of Pakistani JeM terrorists.

“He also personally delivered the items to the JeM terrorists after procuring the incriminating material online as part of the conspiracy to carry out the Pulwama attack,” NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal said. The other youth, Muhammad Abbas Rather, 32, of Hakripora village in Pulwama, has taken the number of arrests in the case to five. “Rather has disclosed that he gave shelter at his home to Jaish terrorist Mohd Umar (IED expert) after he came to Kashmir in April-May 2018,” the NIA said. — TNS

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, March 8

Troops of 39 Rashtriya Rifles under Romeo Force along with the Rajouri district police have rescued nine passengers who were trapped in heavy snow near Dera –Ki-Gali (DKG) the highest point on the border of Rajouri and Poonch districts.

The DKG situated at a height of 6,500 feet from sea level and falls in the temperate region. It experiences heavy snowfall in the winter. According to a report, all the nine, including five women were on way to Bafliaz town (in Poonch district) from Thanamandi town in Rajouri in Tata Sumo.

The vehicle got stuck ahead of the DKG in the heavy snowfall which kept increasing with every minute. On receiving a message from the trapped passengers, troops of 33 RR and cops from their respective posts at the DKG swung into action.

The rescue operation was launched under the supervision of Sajjad Khan, SDPO, Thanamandi, and Commanding Officer of 39 RR and all the trapped passengers were brought to the joint check post at the DKG.

“All passengers were provided tea and medical attention by the Army” said an Army spokesman.

Srinagar, March 9

Two labourers were killed while two others injured in an explosion at an ammunition depot of the Army in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

The explosion took place at Khundru in the south Kashmir district on Monday afternoon, a police official said.

He said two labourers were killed on the spot due to the explosion, while two others were injured.

The deceased have been identified as Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, resident of Pahloo and Gulzar Ahmad Khan, resident of Uttersoo Maidphall areas of the district, he said.

The two injured labourers identified as Fida Hussain and Shabir Ahmad have been rushed to a hospital, the official added.

Khundru is one of the biggest ammunition depots in the Kashmir valley. There have been few such incidents in the past as well. In 2007, several people were killed in a fire, which continued for days, after an accidental blast at the depot.—PTI

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 8

The Cantonment Board Ambala has not been getting service charges regularly from the Army. With the Army owing the board over Rs524 crore, its councillors have planned to raise the issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The annual expenditure of the board is between Rs50 crore and Rs60 crore, which includes salaries, maintenance, allowances and contingency funds. The present annual demand of service charges from the Army is Rs64 crore.

“The Army owes us over Rs524 crore. The payment of service charges has been irregular since 2008-09. Around Rs1 crore has been received this year. The board has limited revenue resources like rent, house tax and service charges. If we fail to get service charges, it will be very hard to function in the coming months,” said a senior board official.

“The board is like a local body and the Army pays service charges from the budget allocated by the Ministry of Defence. The board has been struggling in the absence of adequate funds and has decided to send project proposals to the Ministry of Defence to seek grants. If the situation remains the same, things will get difficult next year,” said Ajay Baweja, board vice-president.

“The matter was raised during a meeting with Brig VS Sankhyan, board president. He said he had been trying at his level and asked us to raise the issue. The situation is similar in other cantonment boards. We will meet Rajnath Singh and raise the issue as funds are to be released by the ministry,” he added.

“The board has not faced any major issue so far as it has been using its buffer, which has started decreasing. The board will have to send its projects to the ministry for grants. The board may face some issues in the long term. We have been raising the matter with the Army and the ministry. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon,” said Anuj Goel, board chief executive officer.

Struggling to survive, say board officials

• Cantonment Board Ambala vice-president Ajay Baweja said the board is like a local body and its annual expenditure is between Rs50 crore and Rs60 crore
• The Army pays the board service charges from the budget allocated by the Ministry of Defence and owes it over Rs524 crore
• Baweja said the board had been struggling in the absence of adequate funds and has decided to send project proposals to the Ministry of Defence to seek grants

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7

Two alumni from institutes in the tricity bagged top honours during the passing-out parade held for the newly commissioned Lieutenants at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Saturday.

Lt Harpreet Singh, an alumnus of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, received the coveted Sword of Honour and the gold medal for standing first in the overall order of merit in the course, while Lt Vaibhav Mahajan, a cadet with No 1 Chandigarh NCC Air Squadron, was awarded the silver medal for standing second. Lt Mahajan had the distinction of commanding the parade.

In all, 167 gentlemen cadets, including 31 lady cadets, became officers on Saturday. The passing-out parade was reviewed by Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff.

Lt Singh, who held the rank of the Academy Cadet Adjutant during the training period, has been commissioned into the Scinde Horse, an elite armoured regiment that dates back to the pre-Independence era. His father, Risaldar Sukh Ram (retd), is a veteran tankman having served with the Hodson’s Horse. The family belongs to Abiana Khurd village near Ropar.

Lt Mahajan, on the other hand, has opted to be a foot soldier and has been commissioned into the Parachute Regiment. An alumnus of Postgraduate Government College in Sector 11 here, he had represented Chandigarh in the NCC Republic Day Camp in New Delhi in 2016. Later, he went to Moscow as part of the Youth Exchange Programme.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) has opened up its medical facilities located in forward areas to civilians residing in border regions for availing routine medical treatment.

Director General, ITBP, SS Deswal said during his visit here that the practice was initiated recently to reach out to people residing in remote areas who do not have ready access to medical aid.

Earlier, civilians could get medical help only during an emergency or during special camps organised by the force from time to time. Now, they can routinely walk up to any ITBP medical centre and avail treatment.

According to an ITBP officer, over 40 battalions are deployed in the vicinity of the mountainous border with China, with each battalion controlling a number of border outposts (BOPs) situated along the border.

Each battalion HQs as well as BOPs are equipped with medical facilities. Besides catering to general illness, these can also be lifesavers during a medical emergency by providing first aid. The officer said the ITBP move would benefit thousands of civilians.

The ITBP has also been involved in screening persons evacuated from China for Covid-19.