Tributes paid to Pathankot bravehearts

January 7, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Tribune News Service,Mohali, January 6

The Mohali Senior Citizens Association on Wednesday paid tributes to bravehearts, who laid down their lives for the country while fighting terrorists from across the border during an attack at the Pathankot airbase recently. All members observed two-minute silence at their monthly get together here.The senior citizens recited patriotic songs in praise of the supreme sacrifices made by the martyrs, who upheld high traditions of the security forces.Ajit Singh, press secretary of the association, said that each and every citizen of the country was proud of the sacrifice made by the brave soldiers and their families.Association chairman Dr AS Khaira, president JS Thukral, and secretary (administration) Brigadier JJ Singh Jagdev (retd) were also present on the occasion.

Tributes paid to martyr

Jalandhar, January 6

2016_1$largeimg07_Thursday_2016_004738361 — Army officials pay tribute to L/Nk Paranjit Singh on his 14th death anniversary in Kapurthala. A Tribune Photograph

Tributes were paid to Lance Naik, Paramjeet Singh, Sena Medal, on his 14th death anniversary.A function was held in his memory at a war memorial in his native village Surakhpur recently. Paramjeet Singh had laid down his life during operation ‘Parakram’ in Rajasthan on the Indo-Pak border on January 1, 2002 and his corpse was brought to the village on January 3, 2015.Besides, Army officials, various officials of the district administration paid homage.

Residents take out candle march, pay tributes to martyrs

Kuldip Bhatia,Ludhiana, January 6

2016_1$largeimg07_Thursday_2016_011701416 — Members of the Team Insaaf take out a candlelight march in the Ludhiana East, South, Central and Atam Nagar Assembly segments on Wednesday. A tribune photograph

Several political, social and cultural groups held candle march to pay tributes to martyrs of terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase and to condemn the attack on the unity and integrity of the country.Activists of Team Insaaf took out candle march in Atam Nagar, Ludhiana South, Ludhiana Central and Ludhiana East Assembly segments.Baldev Singh, district president, who led the march in Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South segment, said his party bowed to the soldiery who fought against the terrorists valiantly and laid down their lives in the process of saving valuable defence assets of the country.Councillor Gurpreet Singh Khurana of Team Insaaf led the candle march in Ludhiana Central Assembly segment from Field Ganj to Jagraon Bridge. Party workers paid tributes to martyrs of Pathankot and urged the Union government to give a befitting reply to Pakistan for its continued support to acts of terrorism from across the border.Daljit Singh Grewal, councillor, led the Team Insaaf candle march in Ludhiana East segment from Basti Jodhewal Chowk, Rahon Road. Carrying banners and raising slogans against terrorism, party workers asked people to remain united in the face of such provocative acts.Rotary Club, Ludhiana Greater, also organised a candle march to pay tributes to the martyrs of Pathankot terrorist attack.Led by project director Amanpreet Singh Arora, the club members, along with members of Sarabha Nagar Market Association, went round Sarabha Nagar Main Market. Later, two-minute silence was observed to pray for the eternal peace of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism.

Forum pays tribute to Pathankot martyrs

Ludhiana: A meeting of the People’s Awareness Forum was held at Lodhi Club on Tuesday, which the 22 members attended, along with president Prof Prithipal Singh Kapur. Observing a two-minute silence for the departed souls, the members paid rich tributes to the seven martyrs who sacrificed their lives at the Pathankot Air Base. The forum members also wished a speedy recovery for the 17 injured security personnel, and appealed to the Indian government to give the highest respect and best care to these bravehearts.
Vice-president KS Chawla, general secretary IS Khurana, and principal Gurcharan Singh (retd) made a fervent appeal to intellectuals to play an active role in guiding the political system for the betterment of society. “Fear of repression is the most dreaded enemy of democracy, and should not be used as a tool by state power,” observed SS Aulakh and Col RS Sohi.
The bankruptcy of the Punjab government in finances, as well in governance, came in for sharp criticism. “Getting loans by mortgaging public properties is a regressive step of revenue generation, and cannot be substituted for development,” said RS Brar, adding that the recent decision of clubbing electricity bills with water and sewerage charges reflects the state government’s incompetence. The Sangrur police torture case and the barbaric incidents of torture at Abohar are glaring examples of law and order failure, and the government’s violation of the human rights of citizens. “The time has come to break the nexus among politicians, bureaucracy, and the police to ensure good governance,” emphasized the forum members.

Engraving memories of martyrs

Ludhiana: Taking forward their pledge to start a corpus fund to help family members of seven soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base, industrialists have decided to erect statues and hoarding featuring martyrs at prominent chowks in the city.

Manjeet Matharoo, general secretary of Ludhiana Association of Machine Tool Industries, took the pledge to erect a statute of one of the martyrs on Cheema Chowk which his association is beautifying. Further Matharoo will also ensure that statutes of martyrs or inspirational hoardings carrying the images of the martyrs come up at various chowks and landmarks of the city which the various industry associations are beautifying.

In the first meeting on Tuesday, they collected Rs 2.01 lakh, contributed by Rahul Ahuja, convener of CII Punjab, Harish Dua, Ajit Lakra.

Contributing for the purpose, Jagbeer Sokhi, an industrialist and councillor, showed the way for others by donating his month’s salary and also pledging financial support from his association. He has also promised that he would try and convince all the 75 councilors to give away 15-day salary for this fund and bring a motion in the MC House for this purpose.

The members decided that by next week they will collect as much funds as possible from their side and a major portion will be given for the welfare of the families of seven security personnel.

Meanwhile, Brig S S Gill (retd) who was the special guest during the meeting enlightened the group members on how tough the lives of armed forces and their families are. He also raised the issue of insensitive approach of the politicians and bureaucrats towards the family members of the martyrs.

Gill also pressed group members for the adopting more youth centric approach so that the future of India can be motivated to join the armed forces and said, “It’s only possible when the attitude of the society changes towards the martyrs & the armed forces, at the moment martyrs only become part of statistics or history books which instead should be the role model of the youth.”

He also added, “Approach of the society should change towards the armed forces personnel and they (citizens) can help boost the morale of our forces by giving them respect and dignity they deserve. Its high time we realize that soldiers stand in line of fire for the nation and for the citizens.”

During the meeting, the members vented their anger at government for not being able to prevent this attack which led to the loss of precious lives. They also agreed on one point that government should impose a cess or a tax which should be used for the welfare of the families of the armed forces and ex-servicemen. Harish Dua & Rahul Ahuja said “If we can pay swach bharat cess & other such sub taxes, we will be more than happy to pay a cess which would aim at helping the families of the martyrs”

Door-to-door fund raising campaign

Jaswinder Thukral, president of Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association, has decided that his association will collect funds from its members and will start a door-to-door collection campaign from Guru Nanak Engineering College (GNE) till Gill road to raise funds and spread awareness on armed forces.

Schools & colleges may contribute
Apparel Manufacturers Association led by president Sandeep Salwan, vice-president Manish Kaura and general secretary Atul Saggar will run a campaign to convince schools and colleges to include the training of NCC or other activities in their schools so that students learn about the armed forces and get motivation. They will also try to seek financial assistance from schools for funding for their initiative.

Pledge to bring about a change

Kulwant Singh, president of Machine Tools Manufacturing Association; Bhushan Abbi, president of textile & home furnishing cluster; Vipan Vinayak, president of knit and fab hosiery association; Upkar Singh Ahuja, general secretary of CICU; and Balbir Singh Bhamba have taken the initiative of running a massive social media and door-to-door campaign for attaching more and more industrialists and people from all walks of the life with their group which will help spreading awareness about their initiative.

800 attend Army medical camp at Sonwar

January 7, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Tribune News Service,Srinagar, January 6

Over 800 people attended a medical camp organised by the Army at Government Boys High School, Sonwar, today.The medical camp was organised under the aegis of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps with an aim to reach out to the local population, a defence spokesperson said.“People benefitted from the exclusive medical care, including provision of free medicine. The team of doctors also provided necessary guidance for a healthy lifestyle,” said the spokesperson.The team comprised an orthopedic surgeon, physician, pediatrician, dental officer, nursing officers and six nursing assistants.

Parrikar admits to ‘gaps’ in acting on alert

January 5, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Body of sixth terrorist found, but combing operation to continue to sanitise air base

2016_1$largeimg06_Wednesday_2016_010244551gallery — From Left: Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh in Pathankot. Tribune photo

2016_1$largeimg06_Wednesday_2016_010240930 — Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha at the house of martyr Lance Naik Kulwant Singh at Chak Sarif village in Gurdaspur on Tuesday.

Vijay Mohan & Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service,Pathankot, January 5

While admitting lapses in following up Intelligence reports suggesting a terror strike on a key Air Force station here, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today refrained from directly blaming Pakistan for the attack that left seven personnel dead and about 20 injured. He declared that all six terrorists were killed inside the base and combing and search operations were on only to detect any unused ammunition.“I see some gaps in the process, which we would be able to establish only when the investigations are complete, but we did not compromise on the security of the base. The terrorists were contained within a 200-metre radius,” he said in response to a question.Pointing out that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had taken up the probe, he added that he would not like to comment on Pakistan’s role as the investigations were underway, though several items that appeared to be made in Pakistan had been recovered.While refusing to comment on the Border Security Force (BSF), that is responsible for guarding the international border, the Defence Minister said that the NIA has got some initial leads on how the terrorists infiltrated into India.Parrikar said the combing operations are likely to conclude tomorrow. “It is a very complicated task as every inch of a very vast and difficult area with many blind spots has to be combed to recover any IED or grenade that may have been left behind by the terrorists. The body of a terrorist still has a vest strapped to it, with the possibility of it being booby-trapped,” he said.The actual encounter began at 3.30 am on January 2 and finished by 7 pm the next day, and what followed was combing and sanitising operations, Parrikar said.On being asked if two terror attacks within a span of six months in the same sector in Punjab indicated deliberate targeting of the state, he said there could be many responses to this.The Defence Minister also went around the air base and was shown the site of the encounters with the terrorists, their hiding places and the recovered items as well as several “blinds” or undetonated grenades strewn in the area.

PATHANKOT ATTACK

NIA picks up SP for questioning

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service,Gurdaspur, January 5

Controversial former SP (Headquarters) Salwinder Singh was picked up by the National Investigation Agency sleuths for questioning today evening.The officer was taken to an undisclosed location in Gurdaspur, where he is being treated as a “witness” and not an “accused”. However, an officer revealed that he may be in trouble if the investigating agency founded something amiss.Singh, under transfer as Assistant Commandant, 75th Battalion, PAP, Jalandhar, was availing his “joining time” when he claimed that he was kidnapped on the night of December 31 by terrorists.He had said that he, Gurdaspur-based jeweller Rajesh Verma and his longtime cook Madan Gopal were taken hostage by “four or five Urdu-speaking men”. Twenty-four hours after his suspected abduction, five terrorists entered the Air Force complex in Pathankot and started firing.Sources said the NIA team politely questioned his security guards as to where the officer was. Once they were shown the way in, they asked him to accompany them. The SP did not resist.

NIA to seek Pak help

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 5

2016_1$largeimg06_Wednesday_2016_013704786 — Sharad Kumar, NIA Chief

National Investigation Agency chief Sharad Kumar today said the Pathankot terror attack probe was a “very challenging task” and the agency would seek Pakistan’s help once the identity of those involved, both the killed terrorists and their handlers, was ascertained.The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief, who would be flying to the Pathankot Air Force base tomorrow, said, “As a lot of investigation still needs to be done, I am not fixing any deadline. But we will try to complete the probe soon.”The Centre, it is learnt, would be sending to Pakistan a Letter Rogatory (LR), a formal request from a court to a foreign court for some type of judicial assistance. The LR would also carry with it DNA samples of the slain terrorists, their phone call details, number of handlers based in that country and other information to help nab the masterminds of the crime, sources said. The most common remedies sought by LR are service of process and taking of evidence. Kumar refrained from naming any terror group and also did not confirm whether the attackers came from Pakistan (as suggested by preliminary evidence).“Let us work first. We will be able to establish everything once we have some evidence to support our claims. The case has to be proved before the court of law and, therefore, I will refrain from making statements on speculation,” he said.Sources said DNA test on the six terrorists would be conducted as early as possible while the details of the phone calls made by the terrorists to their Pakistan-based handler were being prepared, which would also be submitted to Pakistan.The NIA is also likely to interrogate Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh and his two associates.

5th terrorist killed, endgame in sight

January 5, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

PATHANKOT SIEGE DAY 3 NSG ops still on, officers say all assets being combed; civilians inside airbase safe

Aseem Bassi & Vinay Dhingra

PTI PHOTO- NSG Lt Colonel Niranjan EK’s wife (centre) and other family members with his coffin in Bengaluru on Monday. The officer was killed in a grenade blast at the Pathankot air force base on Sunday.Security personnel were searching Punjab’s Pathankot air force base on Monday after killing a fifth attacker in a counter-terror offensive that began last week, while India announced it would decide on foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan slated for January 15 only after the operation is over.

Security sources told HT that a sixth terrorist too had likely been killed but an announcement would only come later as his badly disfigured body was yet to be identified.

“The search and combing operation is still on. All civilians in the airbase are secure,” said Major General Dushyant Singh, inspector general (operations) of the National Security Guards (NSG).As the government mulled its options on the proposed talks with Pakistan, the United Jehad Council, a conglomerate of militant outfits, claimed that the attack was carried out by Kashmiri militants. Government sources, however, believe it is a diversionary tactic and the strategy displayed by the Pathankot attackers indicates they were trained by professional soldiers.

“The terrorists used all the military tactics like conserving firepower, attacking at 3am when the level of alertness is at its lowest and going quiet to give the impression that all the attackers had died,” said an official.

The Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting in the Capital to discuss the Pathankot counterterror operation during which seven Indian soldiers died and an attack on the Indian consulate at Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar and FM Arun Jaitley attended the meeting. Jaitley said the attack in Pathankot was a fidayeen strike aimed at causing loss to strategic assets. “I think let the operations get over and it is only then government takes a view on such matters (the talks),” the finance minister told reporters.

Asked why it was taking so long to neutralise the terrorists, Major General Dushyant Singh told reporters that the operation would not end until all assets and the entire airbase had been secured. He did not respond to questions about a sixth terrorist holed up in the area.

There was little clarity on how many terrorists remained within the airbase, while the government asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the attack. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was blamed for the December 2001 attack on Parliament, is suspected to behind the siege.

A friend of superintendent of police Salwinder Singh whose car was snatched by the attackers ahead of the terror strike told investigators that the four gunmen who overpowered them were receiving instructions to hurry up as “the other group” had already reached the intended place.

Reports earlier on Monday indicated that at least two terrorists were hiding in a building that housed families of air force personnel and that the gunmen had arrived in two separate groups.

There were unconfirmed reports in the afternoon that the two-storey building in which the terrorists were holed up had been razed.

Security analysts raised questions about the operation that has lasted longer than the 26/11 Mumbai attacks when the NSG was rushed to the financial capital to secure multiple targets.

The assault that began early on Saturday morning dragged on as security forces struggled to contain the heavily armed attackers at the sprawling station. The Pathankot airbase is spread over more than 2,000 acres, including forests and tall grass.

The commanding officer of the base, Air Commodore JS Dhamoon, described it as a “mini-city” that includes homes for families and a school for children of the personnel stationed there.

Officials said there have been no civilian casualties and no aircraft or military equipment has been damaged in the fighting. The base houses a fleet of India’s Russian-origin MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, along with other military hardware.

‘My father was not afraid of anything’

GURDASPUR: The terror attack on the Air Force station in Pathankot will haunt Madhu Radha forever. As the bullets began flying, she, her mother and her brother took refuge under a bed. However, even as she was hiding under her bed, the terrorists took something precious away from her — her father’s life.

HT PHOTOMartyr Fateh Singh’s daughter Madhu Radha carrying his body for cremation at Jhanda Gujjran village in Gurdaspur district on Monday.Honorary Captain Fateh Singh, who had won medals and accolades in the Commonwealth shooting competitions in Delhi in 1995, was transferred as a personnel of the defence security corps (DSC) from Orissa to Pathankot Air Base.

Madhu Radha, 25, who teaches in a Mhow school, had come with her mother Shobha Rani and brother Nitin to spend her winter holidays with her father in Pathankot when the terrorists decided to strike.

Speaking to Hindustan Times on Monday, Madhu Radha said that her Fateh Singh had just stepped of his quarters on Saturday when the firing started. Ordered to switch off all lights, the family stayed hidden under the bed, till an uncle posted with the Dogra Regiment came to their rescue and took them to his quarters.

She said that her mother had come to know about Fateh’s death, but hid the fact from her brother and her. The siblings only came to know that their father had been martyred after the family arrived at their native village.

Madhu Radha said that her father was unarmed when he happened to spot two of the terrorists. He snatched a gun from one of them and killed the two, but suffered fatal injuries in the process, sustaining two bullet wounds.

Her father, she recalled proudly, was not afraid of anything and always advised others to only speak the truth.

Fateh Singh was cremated with military and civil honours at his native Jhanda Gujjran village in Gurdaspur district on Monday, amidst anti-Pakistan slogans by hundreds of mourners. Madhu was among the pall bearers.

Another martyr, DSC personnel Kulwant Singh, from Gurdaspur’s Chak Sharif, was also laid to rest in his hometown with full honours.

Punjab Police reduced to a mere bystander

SIDELINED Despite experience of anti-terror operations, state police officers kept at arm’s length by army

From page 1 CHANDIGARH: Ever since Pakistani terrorists struck at the Pathankot airbase before dawn on Saturday, the Punjab Police top brass have been kept at an arm’s length by the army. Even as the anti-terror operation that is still not over and is taking place in Punjab’s territory, the state police have literally no clue about what is happening inside the battle zone.

SHYAM SHARMA
AND SAMEER SEHGAL/HT(Top) Army jawans carry the coffin of Havildar Jagdish Chand during his cremation in Chamba; and Brigadier Anupinder Singh Bevli (left), Major General Dushyant Singh, IG (operations), National Security Guard, and Air Commodore JS Dhamoon (right) addressing a press conference at the Pathankot airbase on Monday.The role of the state police has been restricted to ‘traffic management’, while the police top brass known for proven antiterror exercise have been kept at bay. While additional director general of police (ADGP, law and order) HS Dhillon has been camping in Pathankot since January 1, director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora reached the hot spot on January 2 soon after the terror strikes began. Both cops are well known for their rich experience in anti-terror operations when the border state was in the grip of militancy. However, the role of DGP Arora and ADGP Dhillon in the ongoing operation has been reduced to that of a bystander.

This despite the fact that the first and the concrete input of ultras’ having sneaked inside Pathankot came from the state police after the vehicle of a superintendent of police (SP) was waylaid on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 by the four terrorists wearing army fatigues. It was the Punjab Police that raised the alarm, prompting other security agencies to react and act fast.

Key state police officers sheepishly admit that they have been reduced to a “doormat” and know “nothing” about what is happening inside the airbase.

“We are clueless about the ongoing operation. The security agencies executing this operation have not involved the Punjab Police in planning etc.,” a senior police functionary admitted. The well-equipped state intelligence wing, which has busted a range of terrorist modules even abroad and are now being headed by DGP Anil Kumar Sharma, who has spent more than a decade in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) —the premier spy agency of India is groping in the dark.

DINANAGAR OP: STATE POLICE DID IT ALONE

The response to the Pathankot terror strike has brought under spotlight the July 27, 2015, Dinanagar attack and the swift action of the Punjab Police in neutralising hardcore terrorists. Parallels are being drawn between the counter-offensive of the state police in the Dinanagar police station siege and the Pathankot action, where the cream of the Indian defence forces is taking on the terrorists since the morning of January 2.

When the three heavily armed ‘jihadi’ Pakistani terrorists had stormed the police station at dawn on July 27, they were neutralised much before dusk in the counteroffensive exclusively launched by the Punjab Police. Not letting the army take on the ultras holed up inside the police station had come under criticism. But the police’s stand was that state cops were “capable of killing jihadis.” Also, questions were raised that it took police 12 hours to kill terrorists. But the Pathankot operation is not yet over even after almost three days.

Patriotism fills Ambala air as Gursewak Singh cremated

MBALA: “Bharat mata ki jai”slogans rent the air in Garnala village on Monday morning, as the body of Garuda (air force) commando Gursewak Singh, killed in the Pathankot airbase attack, was brought home for cremation. Gursewak’s body arrived in an air force vehicle bedecked with flowers as villagers chanting ‘Gursewak amar rahe (long live Gursewak)’lined the 4-km stretch of the AmbalaNaraingarh road to Garnala.

R KHANNA/HTGaruda (IAF) commando Gursewak Singh’s body being taken for cremation at Garnala in Ambala district on Monday.

Nearly 400 air force personnel escorted the martyr’s body to the cremation ground, where a large number of officers, bureaucrats and villagers had gathered.

Jawans of the 20 Air Force and the Haryana Armed Police fired their guns in the air, upended their guns, and sounded the last post. Gursewak’s brother, a soldier himself, lit the pyre.

State ministers Anil Vij and Nayab Singh Saini, and MLAs Assem Goyal and Balwant Singh laid wreaths on behalf of the government. Vij also announced `20 lakh financial assistance to Gursewak’s family. Ambala police commissioner OP Singh, Air Vice Marshal Parshant Kaushik, Air Force Officer Commanding at the Ambala airbase, Air Commodore Tejinder Singh, also laid wreaths.

Himachal bids tearful adieu to two martyrs

BASA (CHAMBA)/SHAHPUR: Amid the pall of gloom that descended on the twin Basa-Gola villages in Chamba and Siyunh village in Kangra district, the steady stream of mourning villagers bade a tearful adieu to havildar Jagdish Chand and havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana, killed in the Pathankot airbase attack.

SHYAM SHARMA/HTArmy jawans and officers carry the coffin of martyr Sanjeevan Singh Rana during his cremation at his native village Siyunh near Shahpur in Kangra district on Monday.Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel havildar Jagdish Chand, 48, from Basa-Gola was one of the first casualties in the attack in the wee hours of Saturday. Chand, who was among the first security personnel to engage the terrorists, managed to neutralise one of the attackers before being shot dead.

“Serving in the Indian Army is a tradition in our family,” said Chand’s elder brother Budhi Singh, who also retired from the army. The martyr’s father, Bachiter Singh, is also an exserviceman, while his younger brother is a serving soldier.

Chand’s body, wrapped with the tricolour, was taken by pall bearers in the afternoon to the village crematorium, where he was cremated with full state and military honours in the presence of administrative officials and local politicians, including forest minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, and soldiers from 3/11 Gorkha Regiment and 39 Mountain Division.

Chand, who retired from 7 Dogra Regiment and joined the DSC in 2009, is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, who lit the pyre. He was the family’s breadwinner.

In Siyunh, a sea of humanity swooped down on the premises of havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana, 50, who was critically injured in the terror attack and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

“It’s a tragedy not for me but for the nation. I am proud my son sacrificed his life for the country,” said Rattan Singh, who retired from the army, while trying to hold back tears. “I am a proud soldier and want my grandson to also don the olive greens.”

Rana, who retired from 15 Dogra regiment in 2007 before joining the DSC, is survived by his wife Pinki Devi, a son and two daughters. He, too, was the sole earner in the family. Transport minister GS Bali and social welfare minister Dhani Ram Shandil attended the fallen soldier’s cremation, done with full military honours.

`20 LAKH EACH FOR KIN

SHIMLA: Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday announced a financial assistance of `20 lakh each to the family members of the deceased soldiers.

He loved to be in thick of action, says Samba martyr’s family

SAMBA (J&K): Mortal remains of Lance Naik Mool Raj, who was killed in Pathankot operations, were on Monday consigned to flames with full militarty honours at his native village here.

Mool Raj was such a man who always wanted to be in the thick of action, the family said. The father of two had fallen to the bullets of terrorists inside the airforce base, just a day after he returned to join his duties after celebrating the New Year with his family which consists his aged mother, wife and two college-going children.

Before returning to join his duties in Pathankot, he took a promise from his children that one day they would make him feel proud.

“Instead he made us proud! Though the lacuna that his absence has created in our life will never be fulfilled, but we are proud to have a father like him”, said Mool Raj’s Asish Kumar.

Mool Raj had joined the Defence Security Corps (DSC) after his retirement from the army 13 years ago. Thousands of people, including state minister Chander Prakash Ganga, senior Congress leader Manjeet Singh and senior defence official, bid their final adieu to the braveheart.

Proud of his sacrifice, says NSG bomb expert’s father

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/BENGALURU: : The body of Lt Colonel Niranjan EK, a bomb expert with the National Security Guard (NSG) who was killed while defusing a grenade at the Pathankot airbase, was brought to Bengaluru, from where it was taken to his hometown Palakkad in Kerala.

His body was accompanied by family members and senior IAF and NSG officials, and was taken to his ancestral village Elambulassery by road from Palakkad for last rites. People assembled on both sides of the road to catch a last glimpse of the martyr. It took almost two hours to cover the 20km distance from the helipad to his house.

The cremation will take place on Tuesday afternoon. The body will be placed at a school nearby for the public to pay their respect.

In Bengaluru, teary-eyed people filed past the body as the martyr’s family members sat near it. “He was always interested in the army. I am proud of his sacrifice,” Niranjan’s father Sivarajan said. His sister said, “I look at him as Arjuna who fought for his karmabhoomi.” He is survived by his wife Dr Radhika and an 18-month-old daughter.

Tributes paid to bravehearts

January 4, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Tribune News Service,Ludhiana, January 3

Several religious, social and political bodies have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Pathankot air base and paid rich tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives fighting against the terrorists.District Congress activists led by District Congress president Gurpreet Gogi and MLA Surinder Dawar held a candlelight march and burnt the flag of Pakistan at Gaushala Chowk in Division No. 3 area.Speaking on the occasion, Gurpreet Gogi urged the Centre to keep an eye on the terrorist activities in Pakistan while extending a hand of friendship.Meanwhile, activists of the Congress and Rashtriya Dharm led by convener Vinod Jain and Ranjan Singh also paid floral tributes to the martyrs.Members of Rashtriya Dharm said Pakistan had once again launched a proxy attack on the sovereignty of India.“The government ought to mend the security lapse, if any, in the attack on air base at Pathankot, seal the borders andkeep strict vigil to maintain security on the borders to avoid recurrence of such incidents,” the members added.Moreover, members the Anti-Drug and Corruption Welfare Society led by president Sanjeev Chaudhary and chairman Jaspal Singh Bunty took out a candlelight march at Chaura Bazar to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Pathankot terror attack.Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeev Chaudhary demanded government jobs and Rs 1 crorecash for every martyrwho laid down hislife fighting against the terrorists.

आतंकी को उसी की बंदूक से मार गिराया

Posted On January – 3 – 2016

पठानकाेट, 3 जनवरी (ट्रिन्यू)
शनिवार तड़के जब आतंकी एयरबेस में घुसे उस वक्त डीएससी (डिफेंस सिक्योरिटी कॉर्प्स) मेस के कुक हाउस में नाश्ते की तैयारी की जा रही थी। वहां पर लाइटें जल रही थी। आतंकियों ने फायरिंग शुरू कर दी। इस हमले में तीन जवान शहीद हो गए। उसके बाद आतंकी आगे बढ़े तो डीएससी जवान जगदीश सिंह उनके पीछे भागे। उन्होंने एक आतंकी को दबोच लिया और उसकी ही राइफल छीनकर उसे मार गिराया। इसके बाद वह बाकी आतंकियों का पीछा करने के लिए उनकी ओर भागे, लेकिन आतंकियों की गोली का निशाना बने और बहादुरी से लड़ते हुए शहीद हो गये। उनकी शहादत काे पंजाब सहित देश के कई लोगों ने सैल्यूट किया है।
इन जांबाजों ने दी शहादत : लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल निरंजन ई कुमार, कैप्टन फतेह सिंह, हवलदार कुलवंत सिंह, सिपाही जगदीश सिंह, संजीव कुमार, गुरसेवक, गरुड़ कमांडो करतार।
ग्रेनेड हटाते हुए शहीद हुए लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल निरंजन : रविवार को शहीद हुए लेफ्टिनेट कर्नल निरंजन केरल के रहने वाले थे और एनएसजी के बम निष्क्रिय करने वाले दस्ते के सदस्य थे। आतंकी हमले के बाद के तलाशी अभियान के दौरान वे एक मृत आतंकी के शरीर से ग्रेनेड हटाकर निष्क्रिय करने का प्रयास कर रहे थे। इसी दौरान ग्रेनेड फटने से निरंजन की मौत हो गई। इस दौरान चार अन्य सुरक्षाकर्मी घायल हो गये।
शुरुआती संकेतों के अनुसार आतंकी ब्यास नदी की सहायक नदियों के रास्ते अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सीमा से लगे पठानकोट के बमियाल गांव में घुसे। माना जा रहा है कि आतंकियों ने 30-31 की रात को भारत में घुसपैठ की। आतंकियों ने जिस इलाके से सीमा पार की वहां बड़ी-बड़ी जंगली घास है, जिससे उन्हें छिपने में मदद मिली। ब्यास की एक सहायक नदी इस गांव से होते हुए पाकिस्तान जाती है और भारत में प्रवेश करने के लिए मादक पदार्थ तस्कर अकसर इस रास्ते का इस्तेमाल करते हैं।
उमर का पीएम पर कटाक्ष : जम्मू-कश्मीर के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री उमर अब्दुल्ला ने पठानकोट में आतंकवादियों से मुठभेड़ के दौरान प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी द्वारा योग पर चर्चा किए जाने की निंदा की है। उमर ने मोदी पर कटाक्ष करते हुए ट्वीट किया, ‘काम करते रहना ठीक है, लेकिन जब पठानकोट में मुठभेड़ चल रही हो तो योग पर भाषण देना ठीक नहीं है।’ वह कर्नाटक में योग सम्मेलन में प्रधानमंत्री के संबोधन का जिक्र कर रहे थे। उमर ने पठानकोट में आत्मघाती हमले के स्थान से जख्मी सैनिकों को बाहर निकालने के लिए आपातकालीन प्रबंध नहीं होने को लेकर पंजाब के अधिकारियों की भी आलोचना की।

अमेरिका सहित तमाम देशों ने की निंदा
वाशिंगटन : पठानकोट एयरबेस पर पाकिस्तानी आतंकियों के हमले की अमेरिका समेत तमाम देशों ने निंदा की है। अमेरिकी विदेश विभाग के प्रवक्ता जॉन किर्बी ने कहा, ‘अमेरिका भारतीय वायुसेना के स्टेशन पर हुए हमले की कड़ी निंदा करता है। पीड़ितों और उनके परिजनों के प्रति हम संवेदना व्यक्त करते हैं। अमेरिका आतंकवाद के खिलाफ लड़ाई में भारत सरकार के साथ मजबूत साझेदारी के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है।’

स्वतंत्रता सेनानी की पत्नी ने सम्मान लेने से किया इनकार

January 28, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Posted On January – 27 – 2016

होशियारपुर, 27 जनवरी (निस)

गणतंत्र दिवस समारोह के दौरान स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों के परिवारों को समानित किये जाने के दौरान मुख्यातिथि स्वास्थ्य मंत्री सुरजीत कुमार ज्याणी उस वक्त हतप्रभ रह गये जब सालभर उपेक्षा किये जाने का आरोप लगाते हुए एक स्वतंत्रता सेनानी की पत्नी ने उनके द्वारा दिये जा रहे सम्मान को लेने से
इंकार कर दिया।
यह कदम उठाया नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस के ड्राइवर रहे जय सिंह की पत्नी चन्नण कौर ने। चन्नण कौर का आरोप था कि न तो जिला प्रसासन और न ही पुलिस उनकी सुनवाई करती है। और बस दिखावे के लिए 15 अगस्त व 26 जनवरी को उन्हें बुलाकर दो मीटर कपड़ा थमा दिया जाता है।
चन्नण कौर का कहना था कि उन्हें जब भी किसी काम से प्रशासनिक व पुलिस अधिकारियों के पास जाना पड़ता है तो उनकी पूरी तरह अनदेखी की जाती है। उनका कहना था कि कई बार तो पुलिस वालों ने उन्हें पकड़ कर थाने या दफ्तर से बाहर भी निकाला है।

केंद्र ने दी 17 रिजर्व बटालियनों के गठन को मंजूरी

Posted On January – 27 – 2016

नयी दिल्ली, 27 जनवरी (एजेंसियां)
केन्द्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने आतंकवाद और नक्सलवाद की समस्या से निपटने के लिए 17 रिजर्व बटालियनों के गठन को आज मंजूरी दे दी। इनमें से 5 बटालियन जम्मू-कश्मीर, 4 छत्तीसगढ़ , 3 झारखंड, 3 ओडिशा और 2 महाराष्ट्र के लिए होंगी। इसी के साथ काबुल में अफगान संसद भवन के निर्माण की 969 करोड़ रुपये की संशोधित लागत को आज पूर्व प्रभाव से मंजूरी दे दी गयी। यह भवन गत दिसंबर में ही तैयार हो गया था।
प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी की अध्यक्षता में हुई मंत्रिमंडल की बैठक में इस आशय के प्रस्तावों को मंजूरी दी गयी। इन बटालियानों में स्थानीय युवाओं को भर्ती में प्राथमिकता दी जायेगी।
जम्मू-कश्मीर की 5 बटालियनों में सिपाहियों और चतुर्थ श्रेणी के कर्मचारियों की 60 प्रतिशत भर्ती राज्य के सीमावर्ती जिलों से की जायेगी। नक्सल प्रभावित राज्यों में सिपाहियों की 75 प्रतिशत भर्ती नक्सली गतिविधियों के गढ़ माने-जाने वाले 27 जिलों से की जायेगी। आतंकवाद की बढ़ती घटनाओं को देखते हुए लंबे समय से रिजर्व बटालियनों के गठन की मांग की जा रही थी।
साइबर सुरक्षा के 3 समझौतों पर हस्ताक्षर
इंडियन कंप्यूटर इमर्जेंसी रेस्पांस टीम (सीईआरटी-इन) ने मलेशिया, सिंगापुर व जापान स्थित अपनी समकक्ष इकाइयों के साथ साइबर सुरक्षा के क्षेत्र में सहयोग के समझौते किए हैं। संचार व आईटी मंत्रालय के बयान में यह जानकारी दी गयी है। इन समझौतों का उद्देश्य भारत तथा इन देशों के बीच साइबर सुरक्षा से जुड़े मामलों में ज्ञान व अनुभव साझा करने को प्रोत्साहित करना है।

President Mukherjee approves 11 gallantry awards

January 26, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the award of one Ashok Chakra, two Kirti Chakras and eight Shaurya Chakras to the Indian Army personnel on the occasion of Republic Day 2016.

The list of awardees:

Ashok Chakra

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami (Posthumous), 9 PARA (Special Force)

Kirti Chakra

Subedar Mahendra Singh, Sena Medal, 9 PARA (Special Force)

Sepoy Jagdish Chand (Posthumous), 546 DSC Platoon

Shaurya Chakra

Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik (Posthumous), Sena Medal, 41 Rashtriya Rifle (PARA)

Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj, 12 PARA (Special Force)

Major Anurag Kumar, 9 PARA (Special Force)

Major Sandip Yadav, 55 Rashtriya Rifle (Armed)

Lieutenant Harjinder Singh, 3 KUMAON

Naik Satish Kumar (Posthumous), 21 Rashtriya Rifle (Guards)

Naik Kheem Singh Mehra, 21 KUMAON

Sepoy Dharma Ram (Posthumous), 1 Rashtriya Rifle (MAHAR)

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/president-pranab-mukherjee-has-approved-11-gallantry-awards-to-the-indian-army-on-republic-day/#sthash.V2zleHXj.dpuf

Top gallantry awards for Pathankot hero, Kashmir braveheart

January 26, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: An unarmed Sepoy who chased a terrorist, snatched his assault weapon and killed him during the Pathankot terror attack, and a para commando who was part of three critical operations in Kashmir, in which 12 terrorists were killed, will be posthumously awarded top gallantry medals on Republic Day.

Sepoy Jagdish Chand, who belonged to the Defence Service Corps (DSC), will be conferred with the Kirti Chakra, the country’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for killing one of the terrorists that had stormed the DSC mess at the Pathankot airbase on January 2.

Chand, a cook, was one of the seven security personnel killed in the attack.

The country’s highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashoka Chakra, will be given to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces), who killed two terrorists and assisted in neutralising another two during an operation in Haphruda forest of J&K’s Kupwara district’s last September.

Despite being hit by bullets, Goswami helped save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues. The 365 gallantry awards and other decorations approved by the President this Republic Day include one Ashoka Chakra, four Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya Chakras. The other Kirti Chakra awardees are Subedar Mahendra Singh of 9 Para (SF), head constable Rajesh Atra and constable Gautam Koch (Posthumous).

Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik, who led his troops from the front and was killed in a gun battle with terrorists in Kupwara last November, has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Two ITBP personnel will be awarded the police medal for gallantry for their role in the September, 2014, border standoff with China in the Ladakh region — assistant commandant Deepak Singh and head constable Kanwar Singh.

Kirti Chakra for DSC Pathankot braveheart

Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 25

Sepoy Jagdish Chand of the Defence Security Corps (DSC), who died while grappling with terrorists during the Pathankot attack earlier this month, has been decorated posthumously with the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award.He is among the two heroes from the Western Command who have been awarded for bravery. Lance Naik Naresh Singh Rajput of the Rajputana Rifles has been decorated with the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his acts during the terrorist encounter in Dinanagar near Pathankot in July last year. The awards have been announced on the eve of the 67th Republic Day.Jagdish Chand was working in the mess in the wee hours of January 2, when terrorists struck under the cover of darkness. Despite being caught unawares, he tackled one of the terrorists, snatched his weapon and shot him. In the meantime, he was fired upon and fell to other terrorists’ bullets. He was among the first security personnel to engage the terrorists.Hailing from Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, he served in the Dogra Regiment and after retiring in 2009, he was re-employed with the DSC, which is deployed on security duties at military establishments. He had been transferred to Pathankot from Leh last month and had joined duty just a day before the incident after returning from a 10-day leave.

भारत में है दुनिया का ‘नंबर वन’ होटल और किराया कुछ ज्यादा नहीं..बस 50 हजार प्रतिदिन!!

January 24, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

मुंबई: ट्रैवल साइट ट्रिपएडवाइजर के एक सर्वे की मानें तो जोधपुर के उम्मेद भवन पैलेस को दुनिया का सबसे अच्छा होटल आंका गया है। यह निष्कर्ष अलग अलग समीक्षाओं और टिप्पणियों के आधार पर निकाला गया है। बलुआ पत्थर से बने इस भव्य होटल में 347 कमरे हैं। ट्रिपएडवाइजर के ‘ट्रेवलर्स च्वाइस अवार्ड फार होटल्स’ में दुनिया के शीर्ष होटल श्रेणी में इसे पहले स्थान पर रखा गया है। इस श्रेणी के 25 शीर्ष होटलों की सूची में मैसूर का ऑरेंज कंट्री रि‍सॉर्ट 13वें स्थान पर है।

‘होश उड़ाने वाला किराया’
महाराजा उम्‍मेद सिंह के नाम पर बने इस महल को 1943 में पूरा किया गया और यह जोधपुर के राजघराने का शाही निवास था। उम्‍मेद भवन पैलेस के 347 कमरों में 64 कमरों का रखरखाव ताज होटल के हवाले है और पर्यटकों के लिए उपलब्‍ध हैं। अलग अलग ट्रैवेल वेबसाइट के अनुसार उम्‍मेद भवन पैलेस होटल में दो लोगों के लिए एक सामान्‍य कमरे का औसत किराया 50 हजार रुपये प्रति दिन है। यही नहीं महल में एक संग्रहालय भी है। उम्‍मेद भवन पैलेस का डिजाइन मशहूर एडवर्डियन आर्किटेक्‍ट हेनरी लैनकेस्‍टर ने तैयार किया था और इसपर पूर्वी और पश्चिमी दोनों ही वास्‍तुकला का असर दिखता है।

Teacher defies ‘Taliban’ in Pakistan varsity attack

January 21, 2016 webadmin Leave a comment

Students recall how Hussain fired at gunmen, giving them time to flee

CHARSADDA: A chemistry teacher, who tried to protect his students by opening fire on Taliban militants during a deadly attack at a university in Pakistan on Wednesday, has been hailed as a “martyr” and a “gentleman”. At least 21 people were killed in the attack.

Lecturer Syed Hamid Husain, an assistant professor at the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, ordered his students to stay inside as Taliban gunmen stormed the school near the city of Peshawar.

Students recalled how the professor opened fire at the gunmen as they rampaged across the campus, giving students the time to flee before their teacher was gunned down.

“We saw three terrorists. They were shouting, ‘Allah is great’ and rushing towards the stairs of our department,” one of the students who escaped, said.

“A student jumped out of the classroom through the window. We never saw him get up.”

Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said Husain had warned him not to leave the building after the first shots were heard. “He was holding a pistol. I saw two militants firing at him and I saw a bullet hit him. I ran inside and managed to flee by jumping over the back wall,” he said.

“They fired directly at the professor,” sociology student Muhammad Daud said, describing Husain as “a real gentleman and a respectable teacher”.

Tributes were paid to the slain academic on Twitter.

“Martyr of #education: Prof Hamid was killed by terrorists in #BachaKhan University#Pakistan,” tweeted journalist Raza Ahmad Rumi.

Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain confirmed the lecturer’s death and expressed condolences to his family.

Security officials said the operation went on for several hours. The military said it had killed four extremists. However, it is unclear whether this figure has been added to the death toll.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Teachers in northwest Pakistan were given permission to carry firearms to the classroom after Taliban militants massacred more than 150 people, majority of them children, at a school in Peshawar in 2014.

The attack on an army-run school in the city, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Charsadda, was the deadliest in Pakistan’s history. It saw heavily armed militants go from room to room slaughtering students and staff.

Core Committe

ALL INDIA EX-SERVICEMEN JOINT ACTION FRONT

SANJHA MORCHA

CHAIRMAN ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

BRIG PRAHALAD SINGH , Dogra Regt

PRESIDENT ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA ,Director (Hony) Sr Veterans Association, Ontario, .Member Indo- Canadian Veteran Association Canada

COL CHARANJIT SINGH,BENGAL SAPPERS

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JOINT PRESIDENT ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

COL AVTAR SINGH BHINDER, SIKH REGT

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PRESIDENT DISTT PATIALA CUM JOINT SECRETARY SANJHA MORCHA

CAPT KUSHWANT SINGH DHILLON,BOMBAY SAPPERS

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PRESIDENT TRI CITY COORDINATOR

COL B S BRAR (BHUPI BRAR)

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PRESIDENT CHANDIGARH ZONE

COL SHANJIT SINGH BHULLAR

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PRESIDENT CALCUTTA ZONE SANJHA MORCHA

MAJOR JOGINDER SINGH KOCHAR

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LEGAL ADVISOR SANJHA MORCHA

COL SAJJAN PARKASH ADVOCATE AFT

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EX-SERVICEMEN COORDINATOR : MOHALI

HAV NASIB SINGH , Engineers

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Tribune News Service,Mohali, January 6

Tributes paid to martyr

Residents take out candle march, pay tributes to martyrs

Forum pays tribute to Pathankot martyrs

Engraving memories of martyrs

NIA picks up SP for questioning

NIA to seek Pak help

PATHANKOT SIEGE DAY 3 NSG ops still on, officers say all assets being combed; civilians inside airbase safe

‘My father was not afraid of anything’

Punjab Police reduced to a mere bystander

SIDELINED Despite experience of anti-terror operations, state police officers kept at arm’s length by army

Patriotism fills Ambala air as Gursewak Singh cremated

Himachal bids tearful adieu to two martyrs

He loved to be in thick of action, says Samba martyr’s family

Proud of his sacrifice, says NSG bomb expert’s father

आतंकी को उसी की बंदूक से मार गिराया

Posted On January – 27 – 2016

केंद्र ने दी 17 रिजर्व बटालियनों के गठन को मंजूरी

Kirti Chakra for DSC Pathankot braveheart

Students recall how Hussain fired at gunmen, giving them time to flee

State Stalwarts

DEFENCES FORCES RNKS

ARMY, NAVY, AIRFORCE RANKS

FORMATION SIGNS

FORMATION SIGNS

ALL HUMANS ARE ONE CREATED BY GOD

HINDUS,MUSLIMS,SIKHS.ISAI SAB HAI BHAI BHAI

CHIEF PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL, DOGRA

PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

MAJOR GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SENA MEDAL ,corps of signals

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DARING FEMALE OFFICERS

COL SOFIA QUERESHI ,Wg Cdr VYOMIKA SINGH

PRESIDENT DISTT LUDHIANA : ALL INDIA EXSERVICEMEN SANJHA MORCHA

BRIG SS GILL ARTY

PRESIDENT PANCHKULA HARYANA UNIT SANJHA MORCHA

BRIG DALJIT THUKRAL (Retd) BENGAL SAPPERS

PRESIDENT DISTT MOHALI :ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

COL BALBIR SINGH , ARTY

SECY (HONY) NRI’s ESMs , ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

SUB AVTAR SINGH

PRESIDENT ALL INDIA
SANJHA MORCHA ,
Director (Hony) Sr Veterans Association, Ontario,
.Member Indo- Canadian Veteran Association Canada

JOINT PRESIDENT ALL INDIA
SANJHA MORCHA

PRESIDENT DISTT PATIALA CUM JOINT SECRETARY
SANJHA MORCHA

PRESIDENT PANCHKULA HARYANA UNIT
SANJHA MORCHA

15 Th PRESIDENT OF INDIA
SUPREME COMMANDER ARMED FORCES