Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 8

An Army jawan slipped to death today while patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.Sepoy Kishori Lal, a resident of Dhar village of Kishtwar, slipped and fell into a gorge while patrolling the anti-infiltration fence along the LoC, an Army statement said.“The soldier was immediately evacuated by a helicopter to Army Base Hospital in Srinagar. However, he succumbed to his injuries,” said defence spokesperson Col NN Joshi.The slain soldier was involved in reconstructing the anti-infiltration fence damaged due to heavy snowfall this year, he said.“Speedy resuscitation of the anti-infiltration is undertaken every year soon after the snow melts. This is vital to maintain a robust anti-infiltration posture and prevent infiltration of terrorists through the highly treacherous areas along the LoC,” said Colonel Joshi.He said the slain jawan had joined the Territorial Army last year.“Born to a family of farmers, he is proudly remembered by his peers for his indomitable spirit, high camaraderie quotient, commitment towards duty and thrust of achieving higher goals,” the spokesperson said.“He was physically tough and was a natural choice for his team to undertake challenging tasks. He proved it last month when he was part of a detachment which repaired a critical portion of the fence in record time,” the spokesperson added.Paying tributes to Sepoy Kishori Lal, Lt Gen Satish Dua, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Chinar Corps, saluted his courage and selflessness.“Sepoy Kishori Lal volunteered to supervise the work in the most difficult part of the terrain,” the GOC said.The soldier’s body was flown in an Army helicopter from Srinagar to Kishtwar for last rites at his village with full military honours.

Brig BB sharma from Dehradun to take over the responsibility as President Uttrakand Unit of Sanjha Morcha. 
Brig B B Sharma , is from  GRENADIERS, DEC 75 . Commanded 19 GRENADIERS , on LC during Kargil .

Tibri Brigade . Mostly served J&K . Interests Trekking Garhwal & Kumaon Hills .
Coaching Visually challenged children as a volunteer with National Institute of Visually Handicapped , Dehradun
A great social workers and always ready to help ESM faternity.

Sanjha Morcha welcomes him in the folds of the family of Sanjha Morcha and wish him all the best and ensure him full cooperation from all the front.

BRIG B B SHARMA WRITES

Dear Col Khera Sir ,

It was a pleasure talking to you . I look forward to working with the Sanjha Morcha and be of some use to the ESM of the state of Uttrakhand . Though Uttrakhand has the largest number of ESM , unfortunately , they are not being looked after due to lethargy and lack of interest of the powers to be .

The important post of Director Sainik Kalyan has been vacant for past 5 years . I have appeared twice for the interview but the vested interests have ensured that the appointment remains vacant .

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 7

The Army today paid tribute to Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav who was killed during an operation in the Keran sector of Kupwara district on Friday.The slain soldier was a member of the Army team that foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Friday.Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said homage was paid to the slain soldier in a solemn ceremony at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar today.“Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua and all ranks of the Chinar Corps laid a wreath to salute the soldier,” he said, adding that a wreath was also laid on behalf of the Northern Command chief.The spokesman quoted the Chinar Corps Commander as having said that such exemplary acts always served as an inspiration to the present and future generations and further steeled the resolve of all soldiers.“A group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate was intercepted by alert troops deployed on the LoC. In the ensuing encounter, Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav sustained gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries,” the spokesman saidMeanwhile, the Army continued its combing operation in the forest area of Keran, nearly 120 km from Srinagar, today. Sources said there was a possibility that the militants might have gone back after the gunfight.“There has been no contact with the infiltrators since Friday,” the spokesman said.

The police alleged that the Commandant of Assam Rifles ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits.

Col Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the Aizawl-based 39th battalion of the Assam Rifles, was arrested today by Aizwal police for allegedly being involved in a highway robbery involving Rs 14.5 crore worth of gold bars smuggled from Myanmar.The police alleged that Singh ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits in the southern outskirts of Aizawl city on the night of December 14 last year.

The incident came to light when driver of the vehicle, Lalnunfela

filed an FIR at the Aizawl police station on April 21 alleging his vehicle was waylaid by armed people from the 39 Assam Rifles who decamped with 52 gold biscuits worth Rs 14.5 crore.

The eight Assam Rifles jawans, accused of participating in the dacoity on December 14 last and now in custody, reportedly told their interrogators that they committed the crime after receiving orders from the battalion Commandant.

Singh, through his lawyer, today applied for an anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the Aizawl District and Sessions Judge Lucy Lalrinthari and he was arrested in the court premises.

He was suspended by Brigadier T C Malhotra, DIG (Range), Commander of the Aizawl-based 23 Sector of the Assam Rifles today.

When contacted, Brig Malhotra, refused to comment saying the matter was “sub-judice”.

The police had constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 22 to investigate the matter and registered cases including dacoity, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity.

The SIT has already arrested four people, including a former well-known student leader and a businessman on April 23 and 24, who were remanded to judicial custody.

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 1

The 75-km road at the China border, being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass in Dharchula subdivision of Pithoragarh district, will take two more years to complete as a rocky portion of the 25-km stretch on the road is proving to be a challenge. BRO officers told Governor KK Paul’s advisers, who arrived in Munsiyari to review the road construction work at the border last week. The Governor’s advisers, Prakash Mishra and Ravindra Singh, had reached Munsiyari to take stock of the development works in the border region.The construction work on this strategically significant road began in 2003 after a survey work on the aligned portion. The construction agency was given five years to complete the road but it took over 15 years till date and still the road was incomplete. “We have constructed 50 km of the road but the 25-km main hard rocky portion between Lakhanpur and Garvadhar is taking time for levelling. Our directorate has decided to take technical help from private companies in this regard,” a BRO officer told the advisers.Pithoragarh District Magistrate Harish Chandra Semwal said the BRO had planned to four-lane this road for which it had sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. “After the completion of construction work, this border road will not only be strategically significant for security forces but also benefit tourists. Kailas Mansarovar and Chota Kailas pilgrims will be able to reach Lipulekh Pass by buses, avoiding a steep trek to high mountains what they are doing at present,” said Semwal.He added the construction of another road from Munsiyari to Milam at the China border in the district was also in progress. The 55-km road had been completed up to 31 km and the work on the remaining portion had slowed due to the hard rocky portion that had emerged between Rilkot and Lilam villages. “The BRO has also claimed that it will complete the road by 2018,” he said.

A ceremonial border personnel meeting of Indian and Chinese troops marked the International Labour Day in eastern Ladakh on Sunday. A Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 1

The Armies of India and China today expressed resolve to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with their senior commanders holding two border meets in Chinese and Ladakh region as part of efforts to build cordial ties.Both Armies, which met on the occasion of International Labour Day, agreed to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides during two ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings (BPM) on the Chinese and the Indian side today, a defence spokesman said here.The meetings took place at Chinese BPM Hut of Moldo and TWD Garrison in eastern Ladakh, the spokesman said.“The delegation parted amid feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC,” he said.The Indian delegation at Moldo was led by Major General Sudhakar and the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Zhan Peng Zhung. At TWD, Lt Col RC Barthwal, SM and Col Song Zhan Li led the Indian and Chinese delegations, respectively.The meetings were marked by saluting the national flag of China by the delegation members. This was followed by ceremonial address by delegation leaders which comprised of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The meeting reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level along the border.Thereafter, a culture programme showcasing vibrant Chinese culture and tradition was organised.Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 31

The fire at the Army’s Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) in Pulgaon near Nagpur, the latest in the string of such incidents over the past many years, ought to be a wakeup call for the government over the manner in which ammunition is stored at defence installations across the country.While a series of reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as well as Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence have pointed out certain deficiencies in the firefighting and safety mechanisms, heavy encroachment around many such depots have compounded safety issues.Only a few months ago, CAG had observed that ammunition depots were functioning with risk of fire accident as the equipment and manpower were not held as per the requirement and authorisation. In eight selected depots, the deficiency of firefighting staff and main firefighting equipment was 47 and 65 per cent, respectively, during 2008-13, CAG pointed out in its report.Over the past two decades, there have been a number of fire incidents, both at ammunition depots as well as during mobilisation or hostilities, resulting in destruction of ammunition worth several thousand crore rupees.The scale of firefighting equipment and authorisation of firefighting staff was last revised by the government in March 2004. Steps for revision scales and manpower were initiated by the Director General Ordnance Services in November 2011, but could not be finalised, CAG observed.Further, the deficiency in storage accommodation of ammunition with reference to authorisation of war wastage reserves was 57 per cent, while 18 per cent ammunition was stored in temporary accommodation. According to DRDO’s Centre for Environment and Explosive Safety, which prescribes norms for storage of explosives based on storage, transport and explosive committee regulations and UN classification, there is no scope for any storage in temporary accommodation.

Less space, encroachment raise safety concerns

• Heavy encroachment around many ammunition depots and unabated construction in the notified areas has compounded safety issues
• The deficiency in storage accommodation of ammunition with reference to authorisation of war wastage reserves stands at 57 per cent
• 18 per cent of it is stored in temporary accommodation. According to safety norms, there is no scope for any storage in temporary accommodation

Beijing, May 30

Ahead of a high-level Sino-US dialogue, China today accused the Pentagon of clinging to ‘cold war’ mentality and attempting to stage a Hollywood blockbuster by deploying its modern weapons in the South China Sea to ‘terrify’ Beijing.In an angry reaction to US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s remarks that ‘China’s actions could erect a Great Wall of self-isolation’ in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said “Carter’s remarks reflected typical American style thinking and hegemony”.“Although we have entered 21st century, some people in US still keeps the cold war mentality,” she said.China claims all but most all of the SCS which is vehemently disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. US waded into the region by sending naval ships and aircraft to assert freedom of navigation around an artificial islands built by Beijing in the region to beef-up its claims. — PTI

Outskirts of Falluja, May 30 

A Reuters TV crew about 1.5 km from the city’s edge said explosions and gunfire were ripping through Naimiya, a district of Fallujah on its southern outskirts.An elite military unit, the Rapid Response Team, seized the district’s police station at midday, state television reported.The battle for Fallujah is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever fought against Islamic State, in the city where US forces waged the heaviest battles of their 2003-2011 occupation against the Sunni Muslim militant group’s precursors.Fallujah is Islamic State’s closest bastion to Baghdad, and believed to be the base from which the group has plotted an escalating campaign of suicide bombings against Shia civilians and government targets inside the capital.As government forces pressed their onslaught, suicide bombers driving a car and a motorcycle and another bomb planted in a car killed more than 20 people and injured more than 50 in three districts of Baghdad, police and medical sources said.Separately, Kurdish security forces announced advances against Islamic State in northern Iraq, capturing villages from militants outside Mosul, the biggest city under militant control.The Iraqi army launched its operation to recover Fallujah a week ago, first by tightening a six-month-old siege around the city 50 km west of Baghdad.Fallujah, in the heartland of Sunni Muslim tribes who resent the Shia-led government in Baghdad, was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. A Shia militia coalition known as Popular Mobilization, or Hashid Shaabi, was seeking to consolidate the siege by dislodging militants from Saqlawiya, a village just to the north of Fallujah. — Reuters

Fallujah — An Islamist militant stronghold

• Fallujah has been a bastion of the Sunni insurgency that fought both the US occupation of Iraq and the Shia-led Baghdad govt that took over after the fall of Saddam Hussein
• American troops suffered some of their worst losses of the war there in two battles in 2004 to wrest it back from Al-Qaida in Iraq, the insurgent group now known as Islamic State
• Fallujah is the second-largest Iraqi city still under control of the militants, after Mosul, their de facto capital in the north that had a pre-war population of about 2 million
• It would be the third major city in Iraq recaptured by the government after Saddam’s home town Tikrit and Ramadi, the capitalof Iraq’s vast western Anbar province

Islamic State bombings kill 24 in Baghdad

• A wave of bombings claimed by the Islamic State group targeted commercial areas in and around Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 24 people in attacks that came as Iraqi troops poised to recapture Fallujah
• The bombings by IS, which has been behind several recent deadly attacks in Baghdad and beyond, are seen as an attempt by the militants to divert the security forces’ attention away from the front lines
• In an online statement, IS claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they targeted members of the Shiamilitias and a government office

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 29

A section of ex-servicemen in Punjab today sought to unite various factions of veterans in the state in an endeavour to become a “recognisable force” that could effectively help address their issues and problems and work towards becoming a political player in the long run.“Our immediate aim is to bring all ex-servicemen’s organisations under one umbrella and muster enough strength to enable us to initiate and implement effective measures for welfare of all veterans as well as other sections of the society,” said Col MS Bajwa (retd), general secretary of the Core Group of Ex-servicemen, Punjab, during its plenary session here today.Representatives from several other ex-servicemen’s organisations such as Indian Ex-servicemen’s League, Sainik Ekta Party, Sanjha Morcha and Indian Ex-servicemen Movement too attended the meet.Col Bajwa said there were a large number of such organisations, which are divided and hence not able to do what is required, due to which ex-servicemen or their dependants are running from pillar to post.“At a later stage, we can also consider affiliation with a party which we feel is doing good work in Punjab and can help the cause of ex-servicemen,” he said, adding that a roadmap has been drawn up for spreading awareness at the grass-roots level about the group’s aims and intentions

NOTE :::BUNDLE OF LIES 

The above News published in the Tribune is totally false and fabricated and  a white-lie. Not a single member from  Sanjha Morcha attended the meet nor Col MS Bajwa had the decency to intimate/request any of the Core Committee members of Sanjha Morcha.  No Agenda for the meeting was circulated .The meeting was without any fruit full purpose  for welfare of ESM but to garner support for Political purpose and full fill their political ambitions. Sanjha Morcha is above political ambitions and does not ever get involved in petty politics of ESM . Naming Sanjha Morcha is to garner support of ESM and Sanjha Morcha members and fool ESM community.

Col Charanjit Singh Khera(Retd)

Gen secy

Sanjha Morcha