Monthly Archives: August 2018

The encounter is on. ANI

Srinagar, October 30

An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in forest area of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, army said here.Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in the forest area of Kupwara on Sunday morning following information about the presence of militants in the area, an army official said.

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He said some gunshots were exchanged at the start of the operation which was continuing when the reports last came in.Further details were awaited, he added. PTI

Many ITBP posts are located between 9,000-14,500 feet high. PTI file photo

Greater Noida, October 28

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday announced new “high-altitude medals” for border guards deployed in terrains that are more than 9,000 feet high.Making the announcement at the 55th Raising Day celebrations of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Singh said the medal would also given to the troopers of the Border Security Force (Indo-Pak, Indo-Bangla border-guarding force) and the Sashastra Sena Bal (Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border guarding force) among others.

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“We got to know that there were some difficulties in awarding the high-altitude medals to the personnel working at border outposts located above the height of 9,000 ft. So, we have decided that now all jawans and officers who work at a height of 9,000 ft and above will be awarded with the high -altitude medal,” he said.Border guards have been demanding such a medal, which is aimed at boosting morale of those serving in tough terrain under harsh conditions, for some time now.”I am aware of the adverse conditions the ITBP personnel face while discharging their duties,” he said. “I have seen ITBP personnel working in tough, adverse conditions and even that could not dampen their morale. They have carried out all responsibilities they were entrusted with,” he saidEstablished in 1962, the ITBP’s 90,000 border guards are stationed along the 3,488-km Sino-India border that goes through five states from Karakoram Pass in Jammu and Kashmir to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh.Many ITBP posts are located between 9,000-14,500 feet high. — PTI

Greater Noida: Border-guarding troops deployed on posts above 9,000 feet will now be decorated with ‘high altitude medal’ in recognition of their services in the tough terrain, said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the 55th Raising Day celebrations of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police on Friday. PTI

Army officials pay tributes to martyrs at the Vajra Corps Headquarters in Jalandhar Cantonment . A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 27

Vajra Corps celebrated the 69th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity and gaiety today. Lt Gen BS Sahrawat, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, laid a wreath at the ‘Vajra Shaurya Sthal’ at the Corps headquarters here and paid homage to the heroes. Besides serving officers of the station, Infantry veterans of the Jalandhar station were also present.October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day in 1947, that an infantry company of the First Battalion, the Sikh Regiment, was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the invading tribals who were supported by the Pakistan army.At the Golden Arrow Division, the wreath was laid by the General Officer Commanding, Major Gen Vijay Pingale and other officers paid homage to the martyrs at the Infantry War Memorial. It was followed by unit-level Barakhana for all ranks.General Officer Commanding of the Pine Division, Maj Gen Rajesh Chaba also laid a wreath at the Pine War Memorial. The ceremony was also attended by all seniors veterans, serving officers and jawans of the station.Wreath was also laid at the Panther Division at the Panther Inspirational Park by General Officer Commanding, Panther Division. Wreath-laying ceremonies were also organised at the Dera Baba Nanak War Memorial and the Batala War Memorial which were attended by all serving ranks and veterans. The infantry, also popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’, is the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.

US envoy to India Richard Verma is scheduled to visit the Tawang — an area that China claims as its own — on October 22. File

Beijing, October 24China on Monday warned to US against interfering in the Sino-India border dispute as it objected to US envoy’s visit to the “disputed” state of Arunachal Pradesh.In a statement issued during press briefing on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that the visit would complicate the dispute and “disturb” peace.US envoy to India Richard Verma visited Tawang — an area that China claims as its own — on October 22 for the Tawang Festival after he was invited by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. “We have also noted that the place visited by senior US diplomatic official is a disputed region between China and India. We are firmly opposed to his visit,” he said.China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet and routinely protests visits by Indian leaders, foreign officials and the Dalai Lama to the area. India, on the other hand, contests Beijing’s occupation of Aksai Chin, a territory the Chinese occupied forcibly in the Sino-Indian war of 1962.Both sides held the 19th round of Special Representatives’ talks to resolve the disputes over the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).”China’s position on eastern section of the China-India boundary is very clear and consistent. The two countries are now trying to resolve territorial disputes through negotiations and consultations,” he said referring to the Special Representatives mechanism headed by National Security Advisors of both countries to find a solution.”Any third party with a sense of responsibility should respect efforts made by China and India for peace reconciliation and tranquility rather than the opposite,” he said.China said US interference would reverse the progress that talks between India and China has made.”We urge the US to stop its interference in the boundary issue between China and India and make more contribution to regional peace and stability,” he said.”We believe India and China as two major countries have enough wisdom to properly to deal with this issue and safeguard the fundamental interest of the two peoples,” Lu said.

India brushed away the protest saying Arunachal Pradesh was part of India.

“The US Ambassador visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state which is an integral part of the country to which he is accredited,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media.

Beijing said visits like that of Verma would make the border dispute between India and China more “complicated” and “sabotage” peace in the region.”There is nothing unusual in (Verma’s visit),” Swarup said. —  Agencies

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 18

Smriti Sharma (name changed) is married to an army officer for the past 12 years but could only celebrate Karwa Chauth twice with him.Wedded to olive green, many women living inside the cantonment area will silently pray for the well-being of their husbands posted in the border areas, especially during the escalated tension between India and Pakistan.“Very rarely we get a chance to celebrate festivals with our husbands, but when they are at home, the festival becomes a gala one. Though now we are used to celebrate festivals alone with our fellow army wives here, we actually miss them on Karwa Chauth,” said Sharma.While remembering her first Karwa Chauth, a wife of an Army personnel said that her husband was posted in Bikaner and two days before the festival, he was sent to Churu to conduct a recruitment rally. “I requested my husband to stay for the festival, but he refused and went ahead. I was very annoyed and kept on crying the whole day. However on the day of the event, the commanding officer’s wife came along with two more ladies to meet me and said that I would soon get habitual to such circumstances,” said the woman.However, she said her joy knew no bounds when her husband knocked at the door in the evening to celebrate her first Karwa Chauth with her. “Even though the incident happened around 15 years ago, the happiness I felt on seeing my husband standing at the door is still fresh today,” said the woman whose husband was especially called back by his CO for a day to spend the day with her newly wedded wife.Is she expecting such surprise this time also? “This kind of surprise makes you feel good when you are a youngster. Now, he is having a lot more responsibilities than before and his presence is required more in the field than at home,” said the braveheart.With advances in technology, distances though have lost meaning in today’s world, but time seems to have stood still for many women whose husbands, posted in forward areas, do not have access to the Internet.“Even though my husband has access to the Internet facility at his location, the speed is very slow and so he is not able to communicate with me through various social media sites. However, we do talk often on phone in a day,” said another army wife working in a private firm here.What are her plans this year? “Since I have recently shifted to separate family quarters, I have made some new friends and have tied up with some of them to celebrate the festival together. Also, we have planned a party in the evening to pep up the mood of our children as well,” said the woman.Do the army authorities organise special events on festivals, especially for women living in separate family accommodations? “Not only festivals, we have many other social events whereby senior ladies come and meet us. For Karwa Chauth Pooja, special arrangements are being made in various unit-run temples and we can go there for the pooja,” said another wife. She also said that many wives have even planned events at home and will offer silent prayers for the well-being of their husbands.“Now the time is very critical as we do not know whether we are able to speak to our husbands next time. During such time, faith in God plays a very important role and provides us strength to overcome momentary fears and apprehensions,” said another braveheart.Amidst the rising tension and their concern for their husbands guarding the borders, these women, well-guarded by the Army authorities, are all set to celebrate the festival of love and faith with full pomp and show. The rush at the menhdi stalls and sweet shops at the Sadar Bazar area can be taken as a proof to the undying spirit, their courage and their never-ending belief in the almighty.

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NSG ENTRY BID China says it’s ready for further talks on India’s inclusion but consensus needed within nuclear group

BEIJING: Days ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Goa for the Brics Summit, China said it is ready for more talks on New Delhi’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group even as it hinted that India’s drive to isolate Pakistan could be an instance of the fight against terror being used for political gains.

PTI FILESO NEAR, YET SO FAR: PM Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Hangzhou in China in September.

Without naming India or Pakistan, vice foreign minister Li Baodong said on Monday no country should have double standards on terrorism. He was briefing reporters on Xi’s visit to India for the Brics Summit during October 15-16.

“There should be no double standards on terrorism nor should one pursue its own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism,” Li said while answering a question on whether terrorism would come up during the summit of leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“On counter-terrorism, the five countries have consensus. The foreign ministers of the five countries reached an agreement on the margins of the UN General Assembly. We hope and believe this Goa summit will build on past consensus and continue to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism and other issues of political security,” Li said.

Li made no reference to China’s extension of its “technical hold” against India’s bid to get Pakistan-based Jaishe-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar designated a terrorist by the UN Security Council. It is widely believed China acted at the behest of its “all weather” ally Pakistan. In April, China blocked India’s bid to ban Azhar, blamed for masterminding the attack on Pathankot airbase. China extended the “technical hold” on October 1, days after the terror attack in Uri, bringing into focus its stand on terrorism, which is seen in India as ambiguous or completely hinged on its close ties with Pakistan.

Li also said China is ready for more consultations with India on its inclusion in the NSG, which controls trade in nuclear technology and know-how. He added India could become a NSG member only through consensus within the group.

China was instrumental in blocking India’s bid in June, with Beijing saying the “non-proliferation regime would collapse if nonNPT countries such as India were allowed in the NSG”.

“China and India have maintained good communication (on the NSG issue),” Li said when he was asked whether the matter will come up during a meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS meet.

“We are ready to continue consultations with India on the consensus and we also hope India can go to other members of the NSG as well. In this respect, we are also ready for discussions with India to explore the possibilities but things need to be in keeping with the procedures and norms and regulations of the NSG.”

The rules of the 48-member NSG say all members must be signatories to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT), which has not been signed by India. Besides China, South Africa, New Zealand and Austria were among the countries that opposed India’s bid.

Kashmiri youths rescuing a solider after a road accident in Srinagar on Sunday. ANI videograb

Srinagar, October 9

Kashmiri youths on Sunday rescued a soldier who was trapped inside a mangled vehicle which had met an accident on Srinagar Bypass road near Lasjan area of the city, police said.An army vehicle veered off the road after the driver lost control at Lasjan and hit a tree, a police official said.He said one soldier was trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle and efforts of other army men to evacuate him did not fructify.

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“Local Kashmiri youths rushed to the spot and managed to bring the injured army jawan out by placing a truck next to the damaged army vehicle,” the official said.Some passers-by shot the entire incident on their mobile phones.The video of the incident has been widely shared on ‘YouTube’ and other social networking sites.The incident comes amidst the ongoing unrest which has claimed 84 lives and thousands others injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.In July, residents of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district defied curfew to rescue over 20 Amarnath pilgrims whose vehicle had met an accident during the beginning of the current unrest. — PTI

जालन्धर, 8 अक्तूबर (निस)

पंजाब प्रदेश कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष कैप्टन अमरेन्द्र सिंह ने कहा है कि मोदी सरकार भारतीय सेना द्वारा पाकिस्तानी क्षेत्र में घुसकर आतंकी शिविरों का सफाया करने के लिए की गई सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक के जरिये दिखाई गई जांबाजी पर राजनीतिक दुकानदारी कर रही है।
कैप्टन अमरेन्द्र सिंह आज यहां इंडियन एक्स सर्विसमैन लीग द्वारा देशभगत यादगार हाल में आयोजित एक समारोह को संबोधित कर रहे थे। कैप्टन ने कहा कि सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक को लेकर तनाव और हमले का खतरा तो जम्मू-कश्मीर में एलओसी पर था, लेकिन पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री ने पंजाब के सीमांत गांव खाली करवा दिए। उन्होंने कहा कि इससे साबित होता है कि अकाली दल-भाजपा  गठबंधन पंजाब और उत्तर प्रदेश में विधानसभा चुनावों के दृष्टिगत इसका राजनीतिक लाभ उठा रहा है। उन्होंने कहा कि बादल यह नहीं सोच रहे कि जिस तरह उन्होंने पंजाब के सीमांत गांवों में युद्ध का माहौल बनाकर गांव खाली करवाए उससे लोग कितने परेशान हुए हैं। कैप्टन अमरेन्द्र ने कहा कि वह भी बतौर फौजी पाकिस्तान के साथ जंग लड़ चुके हैं, इसलिए वह जानते हैं कि इस समय खतरा कहां है। अकाली-भाजपा गठबंधन सरकार पर बरसते हुए कैप्टन ने कहा कि आज प्रदेश का 70 प्रतिशत युवा बेरोजगारी के आलम से नशे के गर्त में डूबता जा रहा है।
बैंकों और आढ़तियों के कर्ज तले दबा किसान आत्महत्या कर रहा है और मौजूदा सरकार संरक्षित माफिया राज में कोई भी राष्ट्रीय अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर का समूह पंजाब में उद्योग लगाने नहीं आना चाहता। राजनेताओं के दबाव में लोगों पर झूठे पर्चे दर्ज किए जा रहे हैं। कैप्टन ने कहा कि कांग्रेस की सरकार आते ही इन सब समस्याओं से शीघ्र मुक्ति दिलाई जाएगी।

अनाज घोटाले की सीबीआई जांच की मांग
पंजाब में अनाज की खरीद में 32 हजार करोड़ रुपये की हेराफेरी का आरोप मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल पर लगाते हुए प्रदेश कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष कैप्टन अमरेंद्र सिंह ने आज यहां कहा कि पूरे मामले की जांच केंद्रीय अन्वेषण ब्यूरो से करवाई जानी चाहिए ताकि सच्चाई सामने आ सके। पूर्व सैनिकों की एक बैठक को संबोधित करते हुए अमरेंद्र सिंह ने आज यहां कहा, ‘राज्य के गोदामों से 32 हजार करोड़ का अनाज गायब है। राज्य सरकार ने भी यह स्वीकार करते हुए कहा है कि अनाज गायब है। यह एक बड़ा घोटाला है और इसके लिए केवल मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल जिम्मेदार हैं।’

सिद्धू को बताया कन्फ्यूज्ड आदमी
कार्यक्रम के दौरान पत्रकारों से संक्षिप्त वार्ता में नवजोत सिद्धू के कांग्रेस में आने या उनका समर्थन मिलने के संबंध में पूछे गए सवाल के जवाब में कैप्टन ने कहा कि वह कन्फ्यूजड आदमी है, उसका कांग्रेस के लिए कोई महत्व नहीं है। गौरतलब है कि पूर्व सांसद नवजोत सिद्धू के आवाज-ए-पंजाब मोर्चा के कांग्रेस को समर्थन की संभावनाएं जताई जा रही हैं।

सीमा पर हो कड़ी सुरक्षा : बादल
मुक्तसर (भाषा) : पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल ने आज केंद्र से सीमा पार से होने वाली घुसपैठ को रोकने के लिए भारत-पाक सीमा पर सुरक्षा कड़ी करने का आग्रह किया। बादल ने यहां कहा, ‘केंद्र सरकार को राज्य में भारत-पाक सीमा पर सुरक्षा कड़ी करनी चाहिए। सीमा पार से घुसपैठ को रोकने के लिए भारत सरकार को प्रभावी कदम उठाने चाहिए।’ बादल ने भारत-पाक सीमा के 10 किलोमीटर के क्षेत्र में आने वाले गांवों को खाली कराने के आदेश को वापस लेने के केंद्रीय गृह मंत्रालय के निर्णय पर खुशी जाहिर की।