Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 3

A Lieutenant Colonel heading the National Security Guards’ (NSG) bomb disposal squad was among the seven fatalities in the terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Force station. Five NSG commandos were among the 20 who sustained injuries. The high number of casualties and injuries despite “specific Intelligence inputs” is being viewed in security circles with concern. Particularly a senior officer of an elite counter-terrorist force losing his life during sanitisation operations. A commando from the IAF’s Garud special force, Gursevek Singh, was also killed.Lt Col Niranjan E Kumar was commissioned into 10 Engineer Regiment in 2004 and moved to the NSG on deputation in May 2014. He leaves behind his wife and an 18-month-old daughter. The last rites are scheduled to be performed at his hometown, Palakkad in Kerala, tomorrow.The mortal remains would be airlifted to Bengaluru and thereafter ferried by road.A tweet by the Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, stated that the officer was killed in “mopping-up operations”. Reports suggested that the NSG casualties occurred due to an explosion from either an IED that the terrorists were carrying or a booby-trapped body that was moved by them. One of the NSG jawans, Bhoop Singh, who sustained serious head injuries, has been airlifted to Chandigarh.Hailing from Ambala, IAF commando Gursevak had been hit during the initial gunfire. He carried on fighting and later succumbed to his injuries. He got married a month ago. Most of the other fatalities were from the Defence Security Corps (DSC), a branch comprising retired armed forces personnel who are reemployed for undertaking guard duties at military establishments. They included 51-year-old national shooting champion Subedar Fateh Singh and Hav Kulwant Singh, both of whom were from Gurdaspur, and jawans Jagdish Singh and Sanjiv Kumar. One of the DSC jawans had chased a terrorist and killed him with the terrorist’s own weapon before falling to fire from the other intruders.While the management of entry points into military stations is controlled by the Military Police, Air Force Police or Naval Police, as the case may be, along with armed active-duty personnel, DSC personnel are deployed on secondary duties such as guarding buildings and manning internal check-points. They are distinguished from the regular services by their khaki uniforms.Some security experts also pointed out that specially trained dogs could have been deployed for sanitising operations. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has recently started training “commando” dogs, referred to in service parlance as Smart Mopping Up Dogs (SMUD), for sanitising encounter sites and hide-outs by sniffing out possible mines, IEDs or booby traps.

HP braveheart was sole earner in his family:Havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana

Lalit Mohan,Tribune News Service,Dharamsala, January 3

A pall of gloom descended on havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana’s native Siyunh village near Shahpur, around 30 km from here, after the news broke that the 51-year-old had fallen to the bullets of the terrorists at the Pathankot Air Force station. His family was inconsolable.Employed with the Defence Security Corps (DSC), Sanjeevan was the sole earning member in his family.Though his wife Pinki Devi was not in a position to speak, relatives present in the house said Sanjeevan was critically injured during the encounter with the terrorists.He had received five bullet injuries in the chest and later died. His body would be brought to the village tomorrow.Sanjeevan is survived by his wife, two daughters – Komal, a Class XII student and Shivani, pursuing BCA – and a son, Shubham, who is doing a B Pharma course. He has five sisters and his parents are no more.Serving in the security forces has been a tradition with the family as Sanjeevan’s father Rattan Rana too retired from the Army.Sanjeevan had retired from the Dogra Regiment in 2009 and joined the DSC. He was transferred to Pathankot Air Base from Jammu two years ago.Kangra Deputy Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shravan Manta also visited the martyr’s family today.Shahpur Congress leader and Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation vice-president Kewal Singh Pathania has expressed grief over the death of the two soldiers from Himachal and has assured all possible help from the state government.Sources said the other solider from Himachal who attained martyrdom during the encounter is Jagdish Chand from Chamba district. The body of Jagdish Chand would also be brought to his native village tomorrow.Sources said Air Force’s Kishori Lal, who belongs to Jaisinghpur area of Kangra district, was also injured in the attack.

Havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana

• Sanjeevan (51) retired from the Dogra Regiment in 2009 and joined the Defence Security Corps
• He was transferred to Pathankot air base from Jammu two years ago
• Rana is survived by his wife Pinki Devi, a housewife, two daughters — Komal, a Class XII student, and Shivani, a student of BCA — and a son Shubham, who is a student of B Pharma
• Serving in the Army has been a tradition in the family of Sanjeevan. His father, Rattan Rana, had also served in the Army

Commando from Ambala who fought till end

Suman Bhatnagar,Ambala, January 3

Garnala village near Ambala City went into mourning soon after hearing the shocking news of Gursewak Singh, who attained martyrdom in the Pathankot terror attack yesterday. The village wore a sombre look as most shops remain closed.The body of the martyr would be airlifted from Adampur (Punjab) to Ambala air base this evening for the last rites in his village. Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sangwan said the martyr would be cremated with full state honours. Gursewak served the Garud Commando Force, a Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force in Adampur.Even as people mourned the death of Gursewak, his father, Sucha Singh, said he was proud of his son’s supreme sacrifice for the country. He said he got the information about the martyrdom of his son from his elder son, who is also an Army officer. Later he confirmed the incident with senior officers of the Garud Commando Force.Sucha Singh said Gursewak was very intelligent and cleared the Air Force exam in his first attempt six years ago after completing his graduation. His idol was Shaheed Bhagat Singh, he added.Gursewak is survived by his wife Jaspreet, to whom he was married around one and half months ago, parents and an elder brother. Gursewak’s village friends could not believe he is no more as it was just last Sunday they had met him. One of the village youths, Amarpreet, said Gursewak was very bold since childhood and he never wanted to face defeat in the life. Heath Minister Anil Vij visited Gursewak’s residence today to share the family’s grief.Haryana to give Rs 20 lakhHaryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of Gursewak Singh, a resident of village Garnala in Ambala, who was killed in the Pathankot attack. He said martyr Gursewak Singh has done the state and the country proud.In a condolence message, the Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty that the departed soul might rest in peace. “Brave soldiers of Haryana have always defended the borders of the country and never hesitated to sacrifice their lives for maintaining the security and integrity of the country. Such brave men sacrificing their lives for their country remain immortal and their sacrifice always inspires fellow countrymen,” the CM said. TNS

Gursewak Singh

• Gursewak served the Garud Commando Force, a Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force in Adampur
• Gursewak cleared the Air Force exam in his first attempt six years ago after completing his graduation. His idol was Shaheed Bhagat Singh
• Gursewak is survived by his wife Jaspreet, to whom he was married around one and half months ago, parents and an elder brother, who is also an Army officer

Five Pak terrorists gunned down | Two Defence Security Corps men, IAF commando killed, says Punjab DGP

Ravi Dhaliwal,Tribune News Service,Pathankot, January 2

Dressed in army fatigues, a group of five terrorists, suspected to belong to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), entered the Pathankot Air Force base in the wee hours today and engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle lasting several hours, before four of them were killed in the morning. The fifth terrorist could be neutralised at only around 7 pm, almost 15 hours after they struck. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said two Defence Security Corps (DSC) men and an Air Force commando also died in the attack. DSC personnel are retired Armymen who are reemployed to undertake guard duties at static establishments. Earlier reports had put the number of DSC casualties at five. Arora said the terrorists belonged to JeM. The attack took place hours after the Pathankot police and the Army launched a massive combing operation in the area falling between Chakki river and the rear gate of the air base.Yesterday, a Gurdaspur-based SP-rank officer had claimed that five terrorists had kidnapped him at 3 am on January 1, before freeing him and his two acquaintances just outside the rear gate of the Air Force station an hour later. All security agencies had been put on high alert and the elite National Security Guards too had been rushed to Pathankot last night. The security agencies had been working on the theory that the five “Urdu-speaking fidayeen” could be targeting the strategic defence installations in this border city. Search operations were launched for these five suspects by 5 pm yesterday and by 8 pm, the entire city had virtually shut down. The terrorists are believed to have entered the air base from the rear gate and their target was said to be the hangars where combat aircraft, including a MiG-21 squadron and an MI-35 attack helicopter unit, are located. As the ultras snooped their way into the station around 3 am, the Air Force claimed they were detected by aerial surveillance platforms. By 5 am, nearly 300 Armymen were deployed along with Armoured Personal Carriers (APC). The IAF also used choppers for surveillance and engaged the terrorists with aerial firing. An IAF statement said they were contained immediately, preventing them from reaching the technical area. This is the second major attack in a city bordering  Pakistan. In July, three Lashkar-e-Toiba ultras had executed a terror strike in Dinanagar, killing seven people, including an SP-rank officer. Dinanagar is 20 km away from Pathankot.  Senior police officers said the target was to destroy military installations in and around Pathankot. “That is why they did not take the SP  hostage as it would have created a furore. They had bigger plans,” an officer said.

Combing of area to continue today

• Combing and sanitising operation in the Pathankot Air Force station is to continue on Sunday as well
• The five terrorists could have used multiple entry points. One was shot dead as he was scaling the 10-metre-high outer wall of the IAF station
• The area where the terrorists were stopped and engaged in gunbattle houses the administrative complex, canteen, residential quarters, officers’ mess and airmen mess
• Salwinder Singh, SP (Headquarters) in Gurdaspur till recently, who claimed to have been kidnapped by fiveterrorists on January 1, is being questioned by various security and Intelligence agencies

NSG led from front, cops formed outside cordon

• In Saturday’s operation, Punjab Police formed the outer cordon, while the NSG commandos took charge. Punjab Police were controlling the surging crowds at the main gate while the NSG collaborated with the Army to execute the counter-attack.
• Punjab Police had come under fire during the Dinanagar attack for not letting the Army take charge of that operation. Only senior Punjab Police officers were allowed to go inside the encounter site on Saturday. The DGP, Suresh Arora, arrived around 10.30 am.
• Two attack helicopters and an NSG plane kept hovering over the station through the day.

Peshawar, January 20

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Geedar group commander who claimed the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda Wednesday is Umar Mansoor, the de facto operational head of TTP in KP.Journalist Hasan Abdullah tells Dawn.com Mansoor is the faction’s commander specifically in Charsadda, Darra Adam Khel, Noshera and surrounding areas. “He had been very close to Hakimullah Mehsud’s inner circle and was also close to Umar Khalid Khorasani at one time,” says Abdullah.He adds while he is said to have shifted to Afghanistan after Pakistan’s military operation in 2014, Mansoor is reported to have crossed into Pakistan at several points.A Reuters profile titled ‘Pakistan’s most hated man: volleyball player, child killer’ described Mansoor as a 37-year-old father of three and volleyball enthusiast who is nicknamed “Slim”.His real name is Umar Mansoor and is also claimed by TTP to be the mastermind of 2014’s massacre of 134 children and nine staff at a military-run school in Peshawar – the deadliest militant attack in Pakistan’s history.A video posted on a Taliban wesbite after the Army Public School attack showed a man with a chest-length beard, who sought to justify the December 16 attack. The caption identified him as Umar Mansoor. The Taliban said the APS attack, in which gunmen wearing suicide-bomb vests executed children, was retaliation for a military offensive carried out by the Pakistani army. Six Pakistani Taliban interviewed by Reuters confirmed the mastermind was Mansoor. Four of them said he is close to Mullah Fazlullah, the embattled leader of the TTP who ordered assassins to kill schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai. Mansoor got a high school education in the capital, Islamabad, two Taliban members said, and later studied in a madrassah. Mansoor has two brothers and spent some time working in the city of Karachi as a labourer before joining the Taliban soon after it was formed, in late 2007, said one commander.His nickname is “naray,” a word in the Pashto language meaning “slim”, and he is the father of two daughters and a son, said another commanders. The Taliban video describes him as the “amir”, or leader, of Peshawar and nearby Darra Adam Khel. Mansoor deeply opposes talks with the government, the commanders said.“He was very strict from the start when he joined,” a commander said. “He left many commanders behind if they had a soft corner (of their heart) for the government.”— By arrangement with the Dawn

Pak’s ‘most hated’ man

• Umar Mansoor, who claimed the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda, is the de facto operational head of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in KP province
• A Reuters profile titled ‘Pakistan’s most hated man: volleyball player, child killer’ described Mansoor as a 37-year-old father of three and volleyball enthusiast who is nicknamed “Slim”
• He is claimed by TTP to be the mastermind of 2014’s massacre of 134 children and nine staff at a military-run school in Peshawar – the deadliest militant attack in Pakistan’s history

‘Hero teacher’ goes down fighting militants

Peshawar, January 20

In a heroic act, a Pakistani chemistry professor in his 30s today lost his life while trying to protect his students using his licensed pistol against armed Taliban militants who stormed the university. Assistant professor Syed Hamid Hussain, 34, fought back against the terrorists as he warned students not to leave the building of the Bacha Khan university in Charsadda, some 50 km southwest of Peshawar.Students spoke of the hero teacher, who flashed his pistol but was gunned down by the militants besides 24 others, media reports said. Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said his chemistry lecturer had warned him not to leave the building after the first shots were fired. “He was holding a pistol in his hand,” he said. “Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall.” Another student told television reporters he was in class when he heard gunshots.“We saw three terrorists shouting slogans and rushing towards the stairs of our department,” he said as he described seeing the chemistry professor holding a pistol and firing at the attackers. “Then we saw him fall down and as the terrorists entered the (registrar) office we ran away,” said the student.A traumatised sutdent said they saw several young men wielding AK-47 guns storming the university housing where many students were sleeping. They came from behind and there was a big commotion. We were told by teachers to leave immediately. Some people hid in bathroomsPresident Mamnoon Hussain confirmed Hamid was among the deceased and condoled his death.Netizens took to social networking sites like Twitter to hail the lecturer as a “martyr”. “Martyr of #education: Prof Hamid who was killed by terrorists in #BachaKhanUniversity #Pakistan,” tweeted journalist and academic Raza Ahmad Rumi.The official Facebook page of the university also said Hamid was among those killed. Teachers in northwest Pakistan were given permission to carry firearms in the classroom after the Peshawar school carnage of December 2014 in which Taliban militants killed over 150 people, mostly children. — PTI

Hailed as martyr

• Assistant professor Syed Hamid Hussain, 34, at Bacha Khan university in Charsadda fought back against the terrorists as he warned students not to leave the building after hearing the shots
• Students said the hero teacher flashed his pistol but was gunned down by the militants. Netizens took to social networking sites like Twitter to hail the lecturer as a “martyr”

OH PAKISTAN !

‘Four shot anyone, everyone they came across’

Peshawar, January 20

Ayat Ibrahim was entering the South Block of the Bacha Khan University on Wednesday morning when she heard the first of the gunshots and huge blasts. Initially, the student, in her late 20s, had no idea that the university, named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, was under terrorist attack. It took only a few seconds for Ibrahim to realise the horrific truth.“I saw people screaming and running here and there, and people sprawled on the ground,” the traumatized student told IANS in a telephonic interview from Peshawar.Authorities would later blame the carnage that left 20 people, including students, dead on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is at war with the Pakistani state. The TTP too claimed responsibility. “I couldn’t understand what was going on… And I could not see my friend who I had come to see,” she said. The attackers, four in all, opened indiscriminate fire at anyone and everyone they came across. They also hurled grenades, killing or wounding those trying to escape the bloodbath.There were some 3,000 students and staff in the university at the time of the attack besides about 600 guests. They had gathered in the campus for a poetry recital to commemorate the anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan.Ibrahim was stunned but did what many other students did at the spur of the moment – she ran towards the university buses parked in the vicinity. As the buses began to fill up, the drivers drove away the vehicles out of the campus at top speed, saving numerous lives.Ibrahim told IANS that she had no idea how many people had been killed. But she guessed it would be a large number.Soldiers rushed to the university and engaged the terrorists, triggering gun battles that lasted over five hours.They managed to kill all four attackers. But by then, the university — set up in July 2012 — was badly battered with 20 students, academics and other employees dead and dozens wounded. — IANS

University bus drivers saved many

• There were nearly 3,000 students and staff in Bacha Khan University at the time of the terror attack,besides about 600 guests. They had gathered onthe campus for a poetry recital to commemoratethe anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan,popularly known as Bacha Khan
• Ayat Ibrahim, a student, said she was stunned by the attack but did what many other students did at thespur of the moment — she ran towards the universitybuses parked in the vicinity. As the buses began tofill up, the drivers drove away out of the campus attop speed, saving numerous lives

Tribune News Service,Dehradun, January 15

The much-awaited Civil Military Laisioning Conference will take place in Uttarakhand shortly.Talking to mediapersons in Dehradun on occasion of Army Day today, Uttarakhand sub area General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj Gen Shammi Sabharwal said the laisioning conference, which holds key importance from both civil and military point of view, was expected to be held in the state shortly.The conference was an important platform to address various issues that affected the general public. The last Civil Military Laisioning Conference had taken place in 2012, he stated.Referring to Army Day, Maj Gen Sabharwal said army personnel of Uttarakhand sub area had re-dedicated themselves for the betterment of the nation as part of Army Day observation.Army Day symbolises tributes to valiant soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the nation, he added. Several senior Uttarakhand sub area Army officials were present on the occasion.

Tributes paid to martyrs on Army Day

Tribune News Service,Dehradun, January 15

Golden Key Division paid rich tributes to martyrs on the occasion of 68th Army Day here today. Brigadier Paritosh Pant, Deputy GOC, Golden Key Division, laid a wreath at the Golden Key War Memorial on behalf of the division.He complimented all ranks of the division who had dedicated their lives to the service of the nation. Remembering the martyrs, he said their sacrifices would never be forgotten.Army Day is celebrated on January 15 in the remembrance of late Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army who took charge from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander, in 1949.Golden Key Division has a glorious history of valour and sacrifice which was displayed not only during World Wars but also with acts of bravery and unswerving sense of duty during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.

Army Day celebrated at Chetak Corps

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 15

Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year, in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa’s taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of our Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, on January 15, 1949.This year Chetak Corps organised a series of events to commemorate this auspicious day. The day started with paying respect to the courageous and brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country, by a solemn wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial ‘Yodha Yaadgar’ by Lieutenant General DR Soni, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps.Later, to honour the contribution of our veterans, war widows and veer naris a function was organised at Bathinda Military Station. Lieutenant General DR Soni, General Officer Commanding Chetak Corps, the chief host of the function welcomed all veterans, war widows and veer naris.During the interaction he reiterated that the Indian Army has always been committed to the well being of the veterans, widows and their dependents. Rendering care and compassion to the retired fraternity is an important part of the Army life.Apart from resolving pension related problems and resettlement issues, canteen service outlet, bank counters, ‘grievances cell’ were also established to address the problems of ex-servicemen, veer naris and war widows.Suman Soni, zonal president, AWWA, Chetak Corps felicitated and interacted with the veer naris and thanked them for their presence and assured them of all assistance.The veer naris, war widows and veterans thanked and extended their gratitude to the Chetak Corps for the concerted effort in organising the event and for looking after them.

An evening with Army veterans

Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 15

As patriotic music played in the background, and servers dressed up in fauji colours carrying trays of piping hot eatables, some seniors got to know each other over a cup of coffee.In a first-of-its-kind initiative, ex-Army officers with their spouses enjoyed an evening filled with music and fun outside their own set up. The occasion was Army Day, which was celebrated at a local hotel to honour the Army veterans.“I retired in 1987 and its for the first time that I am invited and honoured at a civilian gathering,” said Col Gurpreet Inder Sidhu (retd). With his wife Manjit Sidhu, he enjoyed the attention showered on them as they merrily walked the ramp. Col Gursewak Singh (retd) made an impressive picture with some 14 stars and medals shining on his chest. Enthusiastically he pointed out that the stars were for having fought the wars and rendering a fine service.He introduced his wife Bhupinder, who at one point of time during the Operation Prakram had six relatives on the border. “My husband, son, son-in-law, two brothers and a nephew were on the duty,” she said. Did it scare her? “No,” comes an emphatic reply.“In the Army, we are a unit, a family. Senior most officer’s wife would take us all in her cover. We would eat, play cards and even watch news together,” she smiled.In the company were AVSM Brig BJS Oberoi (retd) with his wife Rupinder, Brig Subhash Khullar (retd) with wife Kamal and Maj SS Parwana (retd) with his wife Simarjit. Remembering the wars with a sense of pride was the highlight of the evening and the couples enjoyed karaoke and danced on old numbers like “Awara Hoon”.Kamal Khullar, a proud wife, said, “My husband was a para commando. He would go for the jump and trust me I was scared at the slightest sound when he was at practice but then there comes the honour of being in the Army family.”“The idea behind the programme was to show gratitude towards the armymen who faced all kind of challenges so that we could enjoy a peaceful life,” said Deepak Gupta, organiser of the event.

Army Day celebrated by Vajra Corps

Tribune News Service,Jalandhar, January 15

The Vajra Corps headquarters, Jalandhar, today celebrated the Army Day with a wreath-laying ceremony.The Army Day is celebrated on January 15th every year, in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa’s taking over as the first Commander- in-Chief of the Indian Army of Independent India, on 15 January 1949. The Indian Army marks this day to pay homage and salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect our country.As a mark of respect to the martyrs, a solemn wreath laying ceremony with appropriate military decorum was held at “Vajra Shaurya Sthal”. The Wreath was laid by Lieutenant General JS Cheema, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, followed by a large number of senior officers and Subedar Majors of the units. The event was attended by a large number of servicemen.As many as 250 NCC cadets and 20 students of Sainik School, Kapurthala were special invitees to the event.

500 woman constables join ITBP

Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 15

As many as 23 widows of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, who died in harness, were among 500 woman constables inducted into the force today. This is the largest batch of women constables to pass-out since women were allowed to join the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) a few years ago.While the Ministry of Home Affairs has a long standing policy to provide employment in the CAPFs on compassionate grounds to widows, they were earlier recruited for ministerial posts. Induction as constables in the CAPFs, other than the Central Reserve Police Force, which has special women’s battalions, is a recent development.ITBP officers said though relaxation in some rules like age limit was granted, the minimum educational and physical standards had to be met by them for induction as constables. Among them was a woman who had a young child and special arrangements were made for the child to stay at the basic training centre (BTC) here, the alma mater of all ITBP recruits.There have been instances of widows being recruited as constables in other CAPFs like the Border Security Force. Many of the new inductees are well educated. Though minimum qualification for induction as contables is Class X pass, 40 of them hold masters degree in commerce, education, science and arts. Only five per cent of the total number had the minimum educational qualification. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pardesh and Bihar had the highest contribution of recruits in the batch.The Director General ITBP, Krishna Chaudhary, reviewed the passing-out parade and gave away prizes for outstanding performance during the training. These included Shuhani Kunda (best in physical), Manshi (best in dirll), Gita Chaudhary (best in weapon handling), Shama (best in sports) and Deepika Tyagi (over all best trainee).The Deputy Inspector General, BTC, PS Papta, said the recruits had undergone a 44-week intensive training programme that included all aspects of service orientation and physical fitness.