Monthly Archives: August 2018

Patiala: Maj Gen Sanjiv Varma (retd) took over as the principal of Yadavindra Public School here on Wednesday after the retirement of principal Stanley Vinod Kumar (60). Though Kumar had completed his nine-year term on June 30, 2015, he had to continue till the end of the academic year.Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school Malvinder Singh said: “Kumar had expressed his desire to move on the completion of his tenure and we have reluctantly agreed to relieve him. Of all candidates, the board has finally shortlisted Maj Gen Varma”. Kumar said he had served the school for a long duration and it had been one of his best assignments. During his tenure, the school had performed consistently well in board results, delivering 100 per cent pass results in both Class X ICSE and Class XII, ISC examinations. In ISC examination results, school students have figured in the top 1% scoring candidates across the country among council schools and earned scholarships sponsored by the Government of India. The participation of students in co-curricular activities has extensively grown during the years of Stanley Vinod Kumar’s tenure. In the same line, the school hosted its first MUN conference, arguably, the biggest in the region, last year. The IPSC IT Fest has been hosted by the school for the past two years in a row. Another recent achievement has been the selection of YPS, Patiala, for COP21, a global summit on climate change in Paris in November-December, last year.  — TNS

During the Indo-Pak War of 1965, a battle took place, which the Indian army had already lost, on paper. Although, what happened on the battlefield proved yet again that the bravery and courage of the Indian army soldiers is beyond measure. This was the Battle Of Asal Uttar or ‘The Real Answer’.

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At the peak of the war of 1965, Pakistan’s General Ayub Khan devised a strategy to capture Amritsar and block the supplies of the Indian Armed Forces stationed in Jammu & Kashmir. The task was handed over to the ‘1st Armoured Division’ aka the ‘Pride Of Pakistan’. Pakistan’s motive, in a nutshell, was to defeat India in the worst way, inflicting as much collateral damage as possible.

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Backed by America, the Pakistani army back then, was armed with the world’s best Patton Tanks. The Indian army was still recovering from the loss it had suffered against China in 1962 and the military modernization was still underway. On 8th September 1965, Pakistan army launched its first arm of offensive in the Khem Karan area of Punjab with over 220 Patton tanks ready to turn everything in that came their way to dust. Lt. General Harbaksh Singh was commanding the Indian battalion that was to face this massive attack. The Pakistani offensive outnumbered the Indian defensive by the number of soldiers and tanks. It was up to Lt. Singh to either withdraw or defend his position. Instead of withdrawing, he rearranged his forces in a U-shaped formation around the town of Asal Uttar. The idea was to assault as many tanks as possible from all three sides.

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Thinking that Indian troops had withdrawn, the Pakistani tanks got lured into the U-shaped area. The Indian army had already flooded the sugarcane fields with water that led the thick armored Pakistani Patton tanks to sink and get stuck into the mushy soil. The entire Pakistani cavalry of 200 plus tanks was now immobilized. At this time, the soldiers and tanks of Indian army commenced a massive fire assault. The tall sugarcane grass allowed the Indian forces in the U-formation to remain hidden but yet, stay very close to the Paki tanks. The result was that out of 220 Patton tanks, 170 were destroyed or abandoned and 11 captured. Only 32 Indian tanks were damaged.  The sight of the destroyed tanks was such that the town was named Patton Nagar aka The Graveyard of Pattons. The story of Lt. Singh’s brilliant strategy is still told at military schools all over the world. This battle went down in history as the largest tank battle after World War 2.

Beijing, April 5

China today dismissed as “groundless” allegations that eight of its ruling Communist Party officials, including President Xi Jinping’s brother-in-law Deng Jiagui, used off-shore tax heavens while the official media here alleged that “powerful” western forces were behind the ‘Panama Papers’.“For such groundless allegations I have no comments to make,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told mediapersons. He declined to answer another question about whether China, which embarked on new tax reforms, will investigate the offshore accounts. “As for the Panama papers, I have no comment,” Hong said. — PTI

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, April 3

The Pathankot civil hospital authorities can heave a sigh of relief as the Punjab Police will now have to dispose of the bodies of the four militants currently lying in the hospital mortuary.For the past more than two months, the cadavers had become a problem for the hospital forcing civil surgeon Dr Ajay Bagga to send an SOS to his seniors asking for instructions on how to dispose them of.The civil surgeon had even floated an option to shift them to the mortuary of any one of the three state-owed medical colleges in the state — Patiala, Amritsar or Faridkot.Confabulations were still going on when the Pakistan government decided to dispatch a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to the Pathankot Airbase to have first hand information of the January 2 attack.Following this development, the NIA asked the civil surgeon not to shift the corpses because the JIT “may decide to have a look at them during their March 29 visit to the city.”However, the JIT, during its trip, refused to take cognisance of the bodies and even decided against visiting the hospital.This, officials say, means that the Punjab Police will have to dispose of the bodies.Sources say the bodies will be taken out from the mortuary in the night. “This is what happened to the Dinanagar terrorist bodies. Gurdaspur SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor was instructed by his Chandigarh-based seniors to keep the shifting a secret affair following which the SSP refused to share any information with the media. The final destination where the burial took place also remains a secret,” said an officer.Days after the shifting took place, security remained deployed at the mortuary and this acted as a subterfuge.Although Pathankot SSP RK Kaushal denied that there was any move to dispose of the bodies, senior officers disclosed that the burial might take any time now.“We were just waiting for the JIT to have a look. Now that is over, we will initiate the procedure as soon as the NIA asks us,” he said.The civil surgeon had many a time said he was facing space constraints. “We have space for just four bodies in the mortuary. In this case we have kept five. One of the bodies has been placed in a refrigerator in the mortuary. We have to keep the interests of the common people in mind who want to keep their dead in the mortuary,” averred a doctor.

Proper security drill to be followed

• For the past more than two months, the bodies had become a problem for the Pathankot civil hospital forcing civil surgeon Dr Ajay Bagga to send an SOS to his seniors asking for instructions on how to dispose them of
• The civil surgeon had even floated an option to shift them to the mortuary of any one of the three state-owed medical colleges in the state — Patiala, Amritsar or Faridkot
• We were just waiting for the Joint Investigation Team to have a look. Now that is over, we will initiate the procedure as soon as the National Investigation Agency asks us. Proper security drill will be followed in disposing of the bodies. A senior police officer

Director General, BSF, KK Sharma (2R) offers sweets to the Pakistan Rangers at the Attari border on Saturday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Tribune News Service

Attari, April 2

After the Pathankot infiltration, the prime item on the agenda of the Border Security Force (BSF) is to strengthen security on the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. Director General of BSF KK Sharma said this during his maiden two-day visit to the Punjab border after assuming charge on March 1.He and his wife Renu Sharma, president of the BSF Wives Welfare Association, flagged off the newly inducted golf carts that will be used by elderly people/differently abled guests at Joint Check Post Attari.Later, they witnessed the high-pitched Beating Retreat ceremony and offered sweets to officials of Pakistan Rangers.Sharma said both technical and manual vigilance has been enhanced at the areas in Punjab sharing the border with Pakistan.“After Dinanagar and Pathankot attacks, our prime concern is to enhance security at the border. We identified the vulnerable points and plugged the gaps to check infiltration. We are introducing laser and infra-red walls along the fencing. Apart from these, manpower from other battalions has been deployed on the Punjab borders.“The intelligence agencies’ mechanism too has been revamped. The results can be seen in the recent instances in which our vigilant officials gunned down four Pakistani smugglers,” he said.Sharma said that the spectators’ gallery being renovated should be dedicated to the public by January 26, 2017. At Amritsar, he met all DIGs and Commandants of the Punjab Frontier to gather information about the operational activities being undertaken in the area. Later, he visited border outpost Mahwa.

Bystanders look on as ISRO’s navigation satellite IRNSS-1G is launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday. AFP

India on Thursday completed its mission for a regional navigational system on a par with US-based GPS with successful launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh and last in constellation of satellites that make up the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite SystemWhen it becomes operational in a month’s time, IRNSS, or ‘desi GPS, would aid terrestrial, aerial, marine navigation, fleet tracking and disaster management. The service can also be integrated with mobile phones in the countryThe new GPS will benefit the defence forces, which cannot count on foreign service providers on a long-term basis. The military can use IRNSS to find targets even in the dark or in unknown areas. The US had denied GPS information to India during the Kargil war in 1999 

A Lieutenant General, one Major General, five Brigadiers, three Colonels and one Major were dismissed by the Army Chief on corruption charges, security officials said.

Pakistan’s two senior Generals were among 11 top officers dismissed by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on charges of corruption, a rare move in the country where the military wields enormous power.

A Lieutenant General, one Major General, five Brigadiers, three Colonels and one Major were dismissed by the Army Chief on corruption charges, security officials said.

Two soldiers were also dismissed on similar charges.

Gen Raheel’s move came days after he demanded “across the board accountability”, saying the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted.

“Therefore, across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan,” he had said.

So far no official announcement was made but all local TV channels also reported the sacking of the officers.

Gen Raheel’s move to dismissed the top officers assume significance in the wake of raging scandal in Pakistan over embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family offshore wealth after the Panama Papers leak mentioned his children’s name for having shell companies.

Sharif’s two sons and one daughter were mentioned in the Panama papers for offshore account and companies.

Opposition leaders have demanded a probe into the scandal, with some demanding Sharif’s resignation.

It is believed that decision by the Army Chief may have impact on the political government and demand of Sharif’s resignation might increase.

Pakistan Army is a powerful institution and has ruled the country for more than half of its history since Pakistan was created in 1947.

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/two-top-generals-among-11-officers-dismissed-for-corruption-by-pakistan-army-2764206/?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=inshorts_full_article&utm_campaign=inshorts_full_article#sthash.p5hQNiTc.dpuf

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19Keeping in view the ongoing talks with Naga groups after the Centre signed an accord with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) in August last year, the Modi government here today decided to extend the ceasefire agreement with two other insurgent outfits – the NSCN-Khole Kitovi and the NSCN-Reformation for one year.The extension of the ceasefire will come in effect from April 28, the date when the existing agreement expires. The Centre’s chief interlocutor for talks with the Naga groups, RN Ravi continued to engage with the two militant groups, sources in the MHA said, adding that the two groups, both breakaway NSCN factions, had been in talks with the government after signing a ceasefire agreement a few years ago.Former interlocutor of the Centre RS Panday said, “The process is a continuous exercise and unless all the Naga factions are taken on board, no lasting peace could be achieved in the North East. It was during my tenure that all the peace contours were finalised with the NSCN-IM and so was the accord. It is good that the government has extended the ceasefire and engaging with other groups too.”The government had signed a historic peace accord with the NSCN-IM on August 3 last year. This was announced at an event at 7, Race Course Road, here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSCN (IM) General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah.

The key airbase at Panagarh in West Bengal has been renamed as ‘Air Force Station Arjan Singh’ in honour of the Marshal of the Air Force, who turned 97 on Friday.

The renaming of the Air Force Station was announced by Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha at a function in Delhi to mark Singh’s birthday.

Addressing a simple renaming ceremony in Panagarh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command Air Marshal C Hari Kumar said, “It is a proud moment for the Indian Air Force and the state of West Bengal.”

“He is an icon and a role model. We have to work hard to ensure that the name is suitably looked after in terms of capability and performance. It is for the first time that we have taken a conscious decision to rename an airbase after an individual,” Air Marshal Kumar said.

An icon of the Indian military history, Singh, the first Indian Air Force Chief to lead a young IAF into war in 1965, was hardly 44 years of age when entrusted with the responsibility.

Air Force Station Arjan Singh in Panagarh, approximately 150 kms from Kolkata, will house the C-130J military transport aircraft, capable of carrying out special operations. These planes will be flying with the Mountain Strike Corps along areas bordering China.

Singh was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyalpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan), and completed his education at Montgomery (now Sahiwal, Pakistan).

At the age of 19, he was selected to the Empire Pilot training course at RAF Cranwell.

His first assignment on being commissioned was to fly Westland Wapiti biplanes in the North-WesternFrontierProvince as a member of the No.1 RIAF Squadron.

After a brief stint with the newly formed No. 2 RIAF Squadron where the Marshal flew against the tribal forces, he later moved back to No.1 Sqn as a Flying Officer to fly the Hawker Hurricane.

He was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader in 1944.

Singh led the Squadron against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign, flying close air support missions during the crucial Imphal Campaign and later assisting the advance of the Allied Forces to Rangoon.

For his role in successfully leading the squadron in combat, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

On August 15, 1947, he achieved the unique honour of leading a fly-past of over a hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi.

After his promotion to the rank of Wing Commander, he attended the RoyalStaffCollege at the UK. Immediately after Indian independence, he commanded Ambala in the rank of Group Captain.

In 1949, he was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and took over as Air Officer Commanding of an operational command, which later came to be known as Western Air Command.

Singh had the distinction of having the longest tenure as AOC of an operational base, initially from 1949-1952 and then again from 1957-1961.

After his promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed as the AOC-in-C of an operational command.

Towards the end of the 1962 war, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and he became the Vice Chief of the Air Staff in 1963. He was the overall commander of the joint air training exercise “Shiksha” held between IAF, RAF (Royal Air Force) and RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force).

On August 1, 1964, in the rank of Air Marshal, the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh took over reins of IAF, at a time when it was still rebuilding itself and was gearing up to meet new challenges.

Singh was the first Air Chief to keep his flying currency till his CAS rank.

Having flown over 60 different types of aircraft from pre-World War II era biplanes to the more contemporary, Gnats and Vampires, he has also flown in transport aircraft like the Super Constellation.

In 1965, when Pakistan launched its Operation Grand Slam, with an armoured thrust targeted at the vital town of Akhnoor, Singh led Indian Air Force through the war with courage, determination and professional skill.

He inspired IAF to victory, despite the constraints imposed on the full-scale use of Air Force combat power.

Then Defence Minister Y B Chavan wrote about him, “Air Marshal Arjan Singh is a jewel of a person, quiet efficient and firm; unexcitable but a very able leader”.

He was awarded Padma Vibhushan for his astute leadership of the Air Force during the war.

Subsequently in recognition of the Air Force’s contribution during the war, the rank of the CAS was upgraded and Arjan Singh became the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

He remained a flyer to the end of his tenure in IAF, visiting forward bases and units and flying with the squadrons.

He retired in August 1969, thereupon accepting Ambassadorship to Switzerland. He was Lieutenant Governor of New Delhi from December 1989 to December 1990.

Having been a source of inspiration to all personnel of Armed Forces through the years, government conferred the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force upon Arjan Singh in January 2002 making him the first and the only ‘Five Star’ rank officer with Indian Air Force.