Lieutenant General KJ Singh retires on Sunday, July 31 as Western Army Commander after a distinguished career spanning four decades. Commissioned in 1977 in 63 Cavalry, he established a bond with the men he commanded; a professional’s hallmark. He did the staff course with the Navy in an experiment in jointmanship. Valuable lessons were learnt by him in a stint with the UN mission in Angola. Command of an armoured regiment, brigade and division followed while commanding XXXIII Corps tasked with the defence of Sikkim and Bhutan brought him the greatest satisfaction as a tankman. Additional armoured and mechanised units were inducted bringing about a change in the nature of operations. The previous defensive mindset prevailing until then was changed. Now any intruding enemy armour or infantry was to be decimated in killing areas.

PHOTO: HQ WESTERN COMMANDLt Gen KJ Singh inspecting weapons and equipment recovered after the Pathankot airbase attack. During his tenure, the effort of the troops was to check infiltration by terrorists as far forward as possible.

The achievements continued in his last posting at Chandimandir. Orientation of operational plans for the Ravi-Chenab corridor was changed.

An aggressive, layered defence against infiltration and terrorist movements in the Jammu region brought results in the Arnia, Samba and other encounters. Vigilant citizens were enlisted into the Jagruk Hindustani scheme, a grassroots information system. Other innovations included overcoming the shortage of officers by introducing JCO-led mobilisation for war. Developing the DharUdhampur road as an alternate to the vulnerable Pathankot-Jammu highway was a strategic initiative. Setting up of the think tank Gyan Chakra and the command museum displayed KJ Singh’s vision and drive in full measure.

The achieving zeal was also displayed in welfare measures for ex-servicemen including the senior veterans’ home, additions to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and a host of other administrative initiatives.

As the general rides off into the sunset today in the tank he commanded as a subaltern (he’s actually doing it in his old regiment), he can certainly look back with satisfaction at having served his country well.

NAVAL COASTAL SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS

A naval detachment (NavDet in Service parlance) has taken up guard at Androth Island in Lakshadweep. Another NavDet will soon be operational on Bitra in the same island group.

These NavDets are small details consisting of 2-3 officers and 25-30 ratings tasked with maintaining surveillance initially establishing a presence in far-flung territories building up to full-fledged bases. The NavDets will maintain surveillance to frustrate moves by terrorists, arms smugglers and pirates. For this purpose they will employ coastal radars networked to the BEL-developed Coastal Surveillance System.

The system can watch over the complete Indian coastline from a consolidated focal point. For local operations, the NavDets will be equipped with Gemini rigidinflatable boats and Solas Marine fast interceptor craft (FICs). The general nautical and coastal security scheme envisages a networked surveillance system with a chain of radar stations and small and large naval forces working in conjunction to deny our space to any hostile elements.

NORTHERN COMMAND TAKES TO TWITTER

Northern Command with it’s active involvement in counterinsurgency and cross-LOC operations not to speak of engaging with the Chinese interacts with the media on a daily, even hourly basis. The need to be in sync with the new communication super-highway is imperative.

Therefore, it was in the fitness of things that the formation’s media team now operates a Twitter handle (NorthernComd_IA) for regular updates on operations, encounters, military news and most importantly to squelch rumours and counter disinformation. Good luck to the Dhruvas!

NEW DELHI: Reliable workhorse — that’s how experts describe Antonov-32, the military aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal on Friday.

COURTESY: IAFThe Antonov-32 is a Russian-origin aircraft that has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 1984. About 250 AN-32s are in service around the world.

The Antonov-32 is a Russianorigin aircraft that has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 1984.

Its design is based on the older AN-26, which first flew in 1969. About 250 AN-32s are in service around the world.

The IAF was the first foreign customer to buy the AN-32 because of the strong defence relations between India and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

India has, over the years, bought 125 of the turboprop military transport aircraft and a little more than 105 are still in service.

India’s AN-32 fleet is currently being upgraded and modernised with advanced avionics, communications systems, landing aids, new oxygen systems and better seats. The upgrade was aimed at extending the aircraft’s service life by 15 years to 40 years.

A contract was signed with Ukraine’s state-owned arms trading agency to refurbish India’s AN-32s by 2017, but the project has run into problems because of the conflict in that country.

The fighting in Ukraine also affected the supply of spares that were to be used to upgrade some 65 aircraft in India.

The AN-32, which can carry 40 to 50 passengers or 7.5 tonnes of cargo, is usually considered a reliable aircraft despite the absence of creature comforts.

The IAF has lost a handful of AN-32s in accidents, the most serious being the crash of one of the aircraft near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in March 1999 that killed all 18 people on board and four more on the ground.

In March 1986, one of the first AN-32s being delivered to the IAF from the Soviet Union, disappeared over the Indian Ocean and no trace was found of the aircraft or the seven people on board.

In June 2009, an AN-32 aircraft with 13 people on board crashed while flying from Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh to Jorhat in Assam. The IAF decided to upgrade the aircraft soon after this crash

India has accused Pakistan of fanning discontent in the Valley. — Reuters file

New Delhi, July 21

India on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan for “inciting and supporting” terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and instead asked it to vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).In a sharp reaction over anti-India rallies being held in Pakistan and other statements emanating from there over the situation in Kashmir, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India strongly condemns encouragement and support to UN-designated terrorists and their activities from Pakistan.Read: Pakistan spreading terrorism in India, says Rajnath
Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said in view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Pakistan should ensure full safety and security of Indian officials and their families there.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

“We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to J&K in Pakistan and PoK over the last two days. We have also noted that the events were led by UN-designated terrorists, who had in the past protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan.“India strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan’s state.”We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner,” the spokesperson said.Asserting that the observance of ‘Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day’ exposes Pakistan’s longing for the territory of J&K, Swarup said, “India demands that Pakistan must fulfil the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of POK.”   India also asked Pakistan to stop “misleading the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in PoK which Pakistan ironically calls ‘Azad’ (free).At least 43 people have died and more than 3,000 have been injured in the violence that erupted in Kashmir after the killing of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8.India has accused Pakistan of not only pushing in terrorists but also fanning discontent within the Valley by providing support to terrorist outfits in fomenting the recent trouble in Kashmir.Pakistan used Wani’s killing to needle India at the United Nations and issued statements where it accused India of atrocities in Kashmir. Pakistan also observed ‘Black Day’ on July 19 to express solidarity with the people of the Valley over the killing of Wani. — PTI

Squarely blames Pakistan for the mess in Kashmir. ANI

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 18

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday blamed Pakistan for stoking violence in Kashmir.He was replying to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the recent violence in the Valley.Whatever happened in Kashmir has pained me and PM Narendra Modi. He was in constant touch on the issue even while abroad, he said.Replying to the charge that excessive force was used to quell the violence, Rajnath said he and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had instructed security forces to use maximum restraint.He said a team of eye specialists had been sent to Kashmir. He said as many as 1,671 security personnel had been injured.Rajnath said an extremist had been killed and Pakistan is celebrating Black Day, which is unacceptable. Whatever is happening in Kashmir is sponsored by Pakistan, he added.“I agree there should be a dialogue. I told Mehbooba Mufti that I wanted to come to Srinagar and begin a dialogue process with the locals.” He said the CM had asked him to wait till the situation returned to normal.“Some vested forces are trying to misguide Kashmiri youth. We promise that we will bring them to the right path,” he said.He condemned Pakistan for trying to interfere in matters related to Indian Muslims. “We, and not Pakistan, will look after Indian Muslims. Pakistan, which itself is divided over religious issues, is playing a dirty game. We are not indulging in divisive politics. We will carry everyone along on the issue,” he said.Earlier, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad hit out at the Centre over “brutalities” inflicted on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, asking if civilians should be “treated in the same manner as militants”.Starting the discussion on the Kashmir situation in the Upper House, Azad said he did not want to blame anyone–either the Centre or the state government. However, it was a matter of concern why the situation had deteriorated so much, he added.People had died in all 10 districts in the Valley, which is unprecedented, he said. The way guns were used, the sheer brutality with which pellets were used and the police controlled the situation is unacceptable, he said.Azad said no party, including the Congress, supported militancy. But there should be a difference between how a militant and the old, women and children are treated. “We support your call against militancy,” Azad told the government. “However, we cannot support you in the way you are treating ordinary citizens,” he added.“As many as 1,800 people are lying injured in hospitals. This type of violence was not used even in Haryana despite a huge agitation there,” he said.The way Kashmiri students are “treated” in educational institutes is adding to the “lack of trust” that people have in the current government at the Centre, Azad alleged.“The BJP does not have acceptability in Kashmir Valley, we had warned,” Azad said, adding, “The BJP’s “mismatch” with the PDP had resulted in the “bursting of the simmering lava”.He said there should be a healing touch and not the use of “disproportionate force” in the Valley. Why such a disproportionate force was not used elsewhere in the country, he wondered.Azad said he is all for the freedom of Press but the media should also act responsibly. The way TV channels compete with one another in inciting sentiments, they should be taken to task.Azad asked the government to call an all-party meeting and fix responsibility of those who used “excessive force” in the Valley.Leader of the House Arun Jaitley thanked Azad for highlighting the issue. He said many a time one needed to get out of one’s political limitations and show a level of statesmanship.

In the absence of political engagement, a wide space has opened up for radicalisation in the Valley.

A terrorist’s days are always numbered and so were Burhan Wani’s. Leading the new militancy in South Kashmir, the 22-year-old angry young man from the passionately anti-India town of Tral brought an aura of romance to terror in South Kashmir. Induced into leading a renegade life because of the allegedly undignified treatment by a few errant policemen, Burhan swore retribution. Rather than follow the path of extreme violence, he acquired a Robin Hood image through social media, which catapulted him to iconic fame in the eyes of those favouring a fracture from India. This enabled him to attract 60-70 young local Kashmiris to a similar cause, and empowered them to take the path of violence. In reality, his new militancy was all about indigenous struggle, with “azadi” as the aspiration; hence the attraction.

Burhan met his end at Kokernag in an encounter which was in the offing for some time once the focus of intelligence had him in the spotlight. His death expectedly sparked widespread violence in the streets. The situation throws up many questions which need to be answered here, in as much black and white and least through shades of grey. Was it necessary to neutralise Burhan at a time when all triggers attempted by the separatists had failed to instigate a return to the situation in 2008-10? Could it have awaited the termination of the Amarnath Yatra, the implications being obvious?

WATCH VIDEO: Kashmir Protests: Visuals Of Curfew In the State

Intelligence generated opportunities to neutralise an important terrorist who has acquired inspirational status, do not come easily. Terrorist leaders of the past have survived over 10 years in the same area in South Kashmir and Burhan was becoming larger than life, an embarrassment to the army and police. The decision to target him was correct. The decision to hand over his body for burial with full knowledge of the implications, was a bold one and no doubt considered by all stakeholders. This decision too was correct because it diluted the angst to some degree. Without the body, prayers “in absentia” would still have taken place all over South Kashmir and Srinagar; what the tempers would have been like could not be ascertained.

The more important thing to examine is the continued linkage between the directors sitting across the LoC and the speed with which the stone-throwing mobs mobilised, as if the contingency was well thought out. The focus with which 17 police stations were targeted on the first day appeared almost like a military plan. Remote places like D.H. Pora near Shopian, otherwise low in terror activity and with mainstream political influence, erupted unpredictably. Mobs were bold enough even to target the air force station at Awantipura and the BSF camp nearby, a far cry from 2010.

WATCH VIDEO: Kashmir Protests Victim: 5-Year Old Zohra On How She Got Hit

The deduction is clear. With the improvement in Pakistan’s internal security situation, focus has returned to Kashmir to arrest the situation perceived as slipping from Pakistan’s control. Pathankot was the first attempt; it upset the peace process. Handwara and Sainik Colonies were the second and third attempted triggers; both failed. Contingency planning probably focused on the potential neutralisation of a terrorist leader perceived as charismatic by the public. That a terrorist leader’s days are numbered has already been stated and in today’s environment the average life span in militancy is a mere six months. Burhan was pushing his luck for five years.

The officials admit that the violence was expected, as is the norm in Kashmir, but the speed, scale and spread were not. A return to 2008-10 spelt advantage for the deep state in Pakistan, and for the separatists and ideologues, who had been vainly attempting a revival of the mass upsurge and not finding the trigger to achieve the desired effect. And that really is the story behind the sordid drama being played out all over again.

The Central and state governments are being accused of being in denial of the problem and barking up the wrong tree, with the former engaging Pakistan in a peace process which will apparently go nowhere. That may be a trifle unfair; I do believe that the issues are mutually exclusive. What is, however, wholly true is the dearth of a strategy. Anyone who has worked in and experienced Kashmir’s turbulence will tell you that the angst and the alienation come from the sheer lack of communication, the inability of the political community to shed the fears of 26 years of proxy conflict and engage deeply with their constituencies; the lack of grassroot politics and the mistaken belief that polls make up for all that. In the absence of this engagement, a wide space has been opened to the religious ideologues. Can anyone deny that the so-called radicalisation of society and power at the hands of the rabblerousing clergy happened right under our noses? Reports were frequently made but the buck was passed through chains of bureaucracy without application of mind on how to tackle it.

The inevitable question is: What next? There is no option but to cast aside all political differences and come on to the same page. Leaving ego aside, all-party delegations must get to the ground and engage those willing to be engaged even as no nonsense is broached on the law and order front. They can even meet the clergy, if necessary, to stop impassioning the street with sermons and negativity. Let the Unified Command burn the midnight oil to come up with options for reducing strife at the tactical level. In 2010, it was the brigade commanders and officers below that rank who proved tenacious and subtle in dealing with elders and youth alike. There is no guarantee it will work this time — but try we must.

Whenever this phase passes, let Delhi’s think tanks focus on Kashmir instead of giving priority to issues of faraway West Asia and South China Sea. That, too, is important but not as much as the home turf which needs more ideas on how to communicate better with a population awaiting just that. All is not lost, but it will be, if the message does not sink in this time.

The Supreme Court has come out strongly in favour of the human rights of Indian citizens, including those living in the “disturbed” areas. The court’s direction on a PIL petition on the 1,528 alleged killings by security forces and the police in Manipur shows that it was not satisfied with the submissions made in defence by the government and the Army. After a long time the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has come under a critical review. The court has asserted that there is no absolute immunity under the Act.
While the Army maintains that it needs AFSPA’s protection, allegations of misuse of power have surfaced frequently and bred resentment against the state and its armed forces in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Ideally, the Army should not deal with terrorism. Punjab was able to contain militancy without Army help. Whenever the Army is deployed, it has to be ensured that excessive or retaliatory force is not allowed to be used. A prolonged Army deployment with unlimited powers under AFSPA can prove counter-productive as has happened in Manipur. For many years now Manipur has lived with internal disturbances, fake encounters and protests against AFSPA. The Centre and the state government are to blame for the excessive reliance on the Army to contain insurgency.
The Supreme Court has called for an inquiry by an independent agency into all Manipur encounters that have happened in the last two decades. This will hopefully make the powers-that-be realise that no matter how difficult and challenging a situation, violations of the rule of law cannot be overlooked or sanctioned. The Army, at best, can supplement the civil administration’s efforts to control a volatile situation in the short term. If allowed to carry on beyond a point for whatever reason — political convenience or inadequacies of the state/Central forces — the arrangement is bound to backfire. When AFSPA is allowed to stay for six long decades, instances of abuse of power are bound to crop up. As and when excesses happen, these must be investigated thoroughly and swiftly so that the guilty don’t go unpunished.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

The country’s first indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Tejas, was today inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF), making it an important day in the history of India’s defence manufacturing efforts.Group Captain Madhav Rangachari will command ‘Flying Daggers’ — the first squadron of Tejas. He flew the inaugural flight of the plane in Bengaluru today.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)Only two planes have been inducted so far and the entire squadron of 18 planes will be built over the next two years. Six more planes will join in by December-end. The euphoria of history apart, the real test of maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Defence, starts now. The HAL has been asked to deliver two successive improved versions of Tejas with the second version called “Tejas Mark 1-A” to start production in 2019.These will include new generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which simultaneously tracks and aims at targets in the air and ground, an advanced electronic warfare suite, addition of latest beyond visual range (BVR) of missiles, mid-air refuelling facility and greater war fighting abilities. In all, 43 improvements will be made in the existing plane.”These additions will make the plane truly world class. Today is a historic day and signals ours growth,” said Air Marshal Kapil Kak (retd).In all, 120-125 planes are to be produced and with HAL’s existing capacity of making eight planes annually. This may take up to 15-17 years. The HAL has been asked to produce 16 jets annually and a Rs 1,252-crore modernisation plan has been approved to ramp up capacities.Tejas will fill in the void created by MiG-21s and MiG-27s that will be phased out by 2022. The IAF needs 400 jets over the next 10 years. The gap is slated to be filled by 36 Rafale jets, 80-100 fifth generation fighter aircraft to be co-produced with Russia and another 80-100 Rafale-type medium combat jets. 

Of national pride and happiness!Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride and happiness…I laud HAL and ADA on the induction of Tejas fighter jet. This illustrates our skills and strengths to enhance indigenous defence manufacturing. Narendra Modi, Prime MinisterCongratulations to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Aeronautical Development Agency for successful induction of the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet…Moment of National pride…Tejas will take our air strength to new heights. Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister

33 years in makingRs 10,397.11 cr Spent so far

1983Conception year

Makers Hindustan Aeronautics Limited & Aeronautical Development Agency

Made up of

42%carbon fibre composites

43%aluminium alloy

15%titanium alloy

Two delivered2 Aircraft in new ‘Flying Daggers’ squadron18 Planes to be ready by 2018MiG-21 To be replaced by Tejas

Supersonic LCA

1,300 km/hr(1.6 Mach) Speed

4 tonnesPayload capacity

2,000 hours Test flying

‘I felt on top of the world’Flying the indigenous Tejas LCA after its induction into the IAF was like being on top of the world, said Group Captain Madhav Rangachari on Friday. “I felt like being on top of the world when flying the Tejas fighter. It’s an honour and a privilege to pilot the inaugural flight of the LCA soon after its induction,” Rangachari told reporters after a 10-minute solo sortie under a cloudy sky and windy conditions. The 40-year-old test pilot is the commanding officer of the IAF’s 45 squadron nicknamed “Flying Daggers”. With 3,000 flying hours’ experience, Rangachari was part of the Mirage 2000 squadron before flying the multirole Tejas since a year. “I could do only horizontal profile and not vertical due to the cloudy sky. It’s an excellent aircraft and generation ahead of other fighters in the world,” Rangachari said. — IANS

IAF adds muscle power with Tejas

A milestone in country’s military aviation, officials say aircraft will be used for air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes

THE REAL CHALLENGE IS HOW FAST THE TEJAS CAN MATURE INTO A FULL-FLEDGED FIGHTER JET

From page 01 NEW DELHI: The Indian government officially announced the induction of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) into the air force on Friday. This is a landmark development in Indian aeronautical technology. Yet it has to be seen if the aircraft, for both technical and production reasons, can cover a dangerous gap in India’s airpower. TECHNICAL TEST The purpose of the LCA was to replace the lightweight component of the IAF, largely composed of its obsolete Mig-21s and ageing Mirage 2000s. It is technologically far superior to the various types of Mig-21s, aircraft that were designed in the 1960s and put away in museums everywhere else. But the Tejas real test is whether it can better its equivalents in the Pakistani and Chinese air forces: respectively, the JF-17 and J-10.

Former Air Vice-Marshal Kapil Kak, based on conversation with pilots who have flown both the JF-17 and the Tejas, says, “The Tejas is far superior to the JF-17.” However, it is questionable if the Tejas is upto scratch when it comes to the Chinese J-10. The latter has received good reviews even in the US. Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment, in a report on the IAF, notes the J-10 has “turned out to be an impressive lightweight fourth-generation combatant.” And it is far ahead on the development curve than Tejas. The LCA was initially envisaged to allow India to leapfrog ahead of its principal military rivals in the region, with claims it would be a 1000 kgs lighter and so on. According to those who have flown it, the LCA is remarkably manoeuvrable and agile, especially in turning.

But it is on par rather than decisively superior to comparable airplanes. The Tejas empty weight, for example, of 6560 kgs and a fully-loaded weight of 13,500 kgs, no real improvement on the much older Mirage 200C’s figures of 7,500 kgs and 17,000 kgs. Executives of major international defence companies say the Tejas has poor thrust-to-weight ratio and a limited top speed given how new it is. It also uses an Israeli EL/M-2052 radar that is inferior to the US counterparts used by Pakistan. The Israeli Air Force prefers the US radar over the EL/M-2052. PRODUCTION TEST The real challenge is how fast the Tejas can mature into a fully mature fighter and how fast it can be churned out. The Indian Air Force is already suffering a crisis in numbers and, in the coming decade, will be forced to retire many of its old fighters. The evidence is that Tejas fighters will trundle off the assembly lines too slowly to matter.

The first problem is that what is being inducted in the air force right now is not the finished fighter. This is the Initial Operational Clearance model, a functional early variety that will be used to help detect teething problems in the aircraft. This will then be followed by a Final Operational Clearance model and then, in theory, a final battle space-ready product, the Tejas 1A. What is being rolled out now, says Kak, cannot be deployed in sensitive combat theatres in the east and west “for at least 10 years.” And the Tejas 1A may not make an appearance until 2030 or so.

The second problem is how fast Hindustan Aeronautics can actually produce the Tejas. At present, HAL can only churn out eight aircraft a year against an IAF minimum requirement of 18 aircraft a year. “Half a squadron a year is the rate of induction we can hope for, in the best of circumstances,” says Kak.

In the meantime, IAF is facing a steady attrition in its numbers from crashes and simple age.

India’s domestically-developed light combat aircraft formally joined the IAF and flew on its first sortie in Bengaluru on Friday

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 30

The J&K Government today said a critical review of the security situation is needed for revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.“The AFSPA is in operation in various districts. The need and desirability of revocation of the AFSPA in various areas of the state requires critical review of the security situation and other relevant factors,” said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who holds charge of the home portfolio. She said this in a written reply to clubbed questions of National Conference legislators Shehnaz Ganai, Showkat Hussain Ganai and Bashir Ahmad Veeri in the Legislative Council here.The lawmakers had asked the government as to what steps were being taken to revoke the disturbed areas Act from the state in a phased manner.Mehbooba said that the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997, ceased to be in force with effect from October 7, 1998.Later, giving details about the Public Safety Act, Mehbooba said that 240 persons had been booked under the Act in the state since 2014.“Those booked under the PSA have been detained under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, and the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic and Drugs Act, 1998,” Mehbooba said.

ANCHKULA: Lt Gen KJ Singh, Western Army commander Command, who is retiring on July 31, has said that the role of army in neutralising the terrorists at Dinanagar (Gurdaspur) on July 27 last year was underplayed.

He said the light machine gun (LMG) bullets that killed at least one of the three terrorists were those of army. “At Dinanagar, Punjab Police wanted to tackle terrorists on their own. But by the time they reached there, our jawans had taken positions. Of the three terrorists, our LMG fire killed at least one (or it can be two) as we backed the police,” he said. He said a bomb too was disposed of by the army, but all the credit went to the police.

“Pakistan wanted to alter the arc of terrorism by including Gurdaspur, Samba. We had terrorist incidents at Arambag, Arnia, Samba, Dinanagar and Pathankot. We thwarted Pakistan’s designs,” he said.

WILL RIDE THE TANK HE WAS COMMISSIONED ON

“I will spend some time on the tank at Amritsar on which I was commissioned,” said Lt Gen KJ Singh. He will go to Amritsar on Sunday for fulfilling his wish. On how did he find the tank, he said, “Like people find their exgirlfriends on Facebook, I also found ZX 1685. It’s a T-55 tank and is still in service.

My journey with the Army started 50 years ago at an age of 14 when I joined the Sainik School at Chittorgarh, in 1966. On May 30, 1973, I left the school and joined NDA on June 30 the same year. I never went to college. The only college I went to was Army War College,” he said.

Lt Gen Singh will hang up his boots after puttin in 39 years’ of service in the armed forces. ON SUCCESSOR

“Only I am retiring, not the Western Command. I cannot comment on why a permanent commander has not been appointed. But Lt Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Vajra Corps, who has been given the charge as an interim arrangement, is fully competent. The only thing is that he doesn’t have a fixed tenure. He has been GOC of 11 Corps for a year and before that he was Chief of Staff, Eastern Command,” he said. ON CHINA

The Western Command shares 200-km border with China. “But we don’t have any boundary dispute with China in this area…At Kaurik and Shipki La passes, we are eyeball to eyeball with them. We have to remain vigilant,” he said. ON FUTURE PLANS

Lt Gen KJ Singh said he wanted to settle down in Gurgaon, but after coming here, he changed his mind. “As of now, I don’t have a house of my own, but I have invested in DLF Valley, Pinjore. I will settle down there,” he said. He thanked Panjab University for offering him the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair to him.

A FINAL BYE BEFORE HANGING UP BOOTS

Lt Gen KJ Singh, general officer commanding-in-chief, Western Command, bidding adieu to armymen at Chandimandir on Saturday. The general, who is hanging his boots after 39 years of service, on Sunday, plans to settle down at a Pinjore colony.

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 28

The Supreme Court on Thursday denounced the practice of ruling parties misusing defamation laws to stifle criticism against the government.“Such acts amount to curbing free speech. Defamation laws cannot be misused as a political weapon to ward off criticism, which needs to be tolerated,” a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and RF Nariman remarked.The Bench made the comments while hearing actor-turned-politician Vijayakant’s plea for quashing 14 such cases filed against him by the Tamil Nadu government headed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.Governments should not invoke such laws, particularly to deter people from exposing corruption in the administration, the Bench said.Seeking a list of the defamation cases filed by the Jayalalithaa government against its political opponents, the Bench stayed the non-bailable warrants issued against DMDK chief Captain Vijaykanth and his wife Premalatha for calling the administration corrupt.