Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha addresses the annual press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 4

IAF Chief Marshal Arup Raha today refrained to comment on the recent strikes at terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC), saying things were still “live” and the IAF had adequate capability to take on any contingency.“Things are still live, it would not be right for me to give a perspective now,” Air Chief Marshal Raha said at a press conference. He refused to take any question on the September 29 surgical strikes. “Our capability is not towards a particular country,” he said without naming Pakistan.Speaking about future plans, he expected the IAF’s fighter jet fleet to grow over the next few years and provide better capabilities. Over the next few years “we will manage the fleet with replacements and upgrade”.After the purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France, there is a plan to make fighter jets in India. The Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, will be inducted in big numbers (106, including the upgraded version).Also there are plans to upgrade the Sukhoi-30 MKI — the IAF’s lead fighter jet that is based at Halwara and Bathinda in Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana, among other bases in the country.The IAF at present has 33 (16-18 in each) fighter squadrons as against the 42 needed to tackle a simultaneous two front war with Pakistan and China.On the LCA, he said the next version called the Tejas ‘Mark1-A’ will be an improved version. It will have better radar, greater weapons carriage avionics. We can start production by 2021. “We can have 80 such planes by 2027.”On having the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), he said there were some issues of transfer of technology with Russia. He said: “We can hopefully move ahead on the research and development of the same.”On the integration of BrahMos missiles with the Sukhoi-30 MKI, he said “we hope to fire a live missile in three months time.” The IAF chief who heads the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) — a body of the three service chiefs — said he hoped the government would resolve the issues of the 7th Pay Commission.

Frankly, I never thought this regressive recommendation would ever be accepted… the pay panel has made unfounded and uncharitable remarks against disabled soldiers. MAJOR NAVDEEP SINGH, lawyer, Punjab and Haryana high court

CHANDIGARH: The central government notified the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations on Friday but disabled officers of the defence forces will still get lower remuneration than their counterparts in civil departments.

Among the accepted recommendations is a return to the slab system for calculation of disability. That was prevalent before the sixth commission replaced it with the system of calculating disability element of pension as a maximum of 30% of pay scale for 100% disability. It is the method used for civilians. For lower degree of disability, the amount was reduced on prorata basis.

The defence services had this time even sought enhancement of the disability element of pension at 50% for complete disability.

But, in the slab system that has made a comeback, for 100% disability, for officers the element of pension is fixed at `27,000, for junior commissioned officers (JCOs) `17,000; for other ranks (ORs), `12,000 a month, for 100% disability. It would be reduced as per lower level of disability. In lower ranks, the change of system won’t make a significant difference, though. WHY THE U-TURN?

The seventh panel reasoned that after implementation of the sixth commission recommendations, emoluments “for 100% disability, at the minimum level for ORs, went up from `1,550 to `3,138, that is, a little over double; and at the highest level amongst officers from `2,600 to `27,000, that is, by 10.38 times”.

It added, “As a percentage of the total officer retirees, the number of officers retiring with disability has increased in 2013-14 (19.8%), as compared to 2007-08 (13.6%). The percentage of JCOs/ORs retiring with disability is, on the other hand, decreasing (18.9 to 7.2).”

For introduction of the flat slab system again, the seventh panel also said that disability pension based on percentage brought inequity, as the difference between maximum and minimum quantum of compensation across the ranks “is now disproportionately high”.

But Major Navdeep Singh, lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana high court, differs: “Frankly, I never thought that this regressive recommendation would ever be accepted. While recommending this aspect, the pay commission has made unfounded and uncharitable remarks against disabled soldiers by casting aspersions on those who have incurred disabilities while in service. These remarks should be expunged by the political executive.”

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 30

The Army recruitment board has rescheduled its recruitment rally at Khasa, scheduled for October 1. In a press note issued by the Army recruitment board, officials have cited the prevailing situation at the border for rescheduling the recruitment rally. The officials stated that the new dates of the rally would be announced at a later date.

Islamabad, September 30

Pakistan on Friday said it has briefed the envoys of the P5 — the US, China, Russia, the UK and France — over “unprovoked firing” by India at the LoC and asked the countries to play their role in ensuring the maintenance of peace and security in the region.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied by the Director-General Military Operations (DGMO) briefed the Ambassadors of Permanent Members of UN Security Council about the “frivolous Indian claim of carrying out surgical strikes on the LoC”, the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.

DGMO Major Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza gave a detailed briefing of the situation on the LoC and completely rejected the Indian “claim of surgical strikes”, the statement said.

It claimed that in reality, on the night of September 28 and 29 September, the Indian forces resorted to “unprovoked firing” at the LoC at multiple points, which led to the death of two Pakistani soldiers.

“The Armed Forces of Pakistan gave a befitting response to the ceasefire violations by India. He also highlighted the troops positions on the LoC and explained the anti- infiltration mechanisms already in place,” the statement said.

The DGMO also informed the envoys about layers of fencing, barbed wires, lighting, border posts, bunkers etc, on the LoC, which ensure that no infiltration takes place.

The Foreign Secretary also rejected the “false and baseless Indian claims”, the statement said.

“He conveyed serious concerns over the increased Indian aggression and belligerence, especially during the last few days which could also be seen in multiple public statements made by the Indian Prime Minister,” it said.

The Foreign Secretary informed the Ambassadors that Pakistan remains the “major victim of terrorism, including state terrorism”.

He called upon the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to play their role to ensure maintenance of peace and security in the region.

Earlier, reports said Pakistan’s DGMO met Foreign Secretary Chaudhry and gave a detailed briefing to him on the situation at the LoC.

India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting “significant casualties” on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

The terror launch pads were targeted by the Army on the intervening night of September 28 and 29 in a nearly five- hour-long operation. — PTI

Residents of Toor and Mummy Chak villages shift to Behrampur in Gurdaspur on Friday. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Thakur Pur (Gurdaspur), September 30The evacuation drive launched by the administration in border villages yesterday took a hit today as some residents told the police that they would not leave their homes “till firing starts from across the border.”Scores of shelters designated by the administration wore a deserted look as those who shifted yesterday returned home today.Those who came back included residents of about 100 villages of Dorangla, Behrampur, Dinanagar, Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks.The official statement said 30 per cent of the villagers were evacuated on Thursday. However, in reality just 5 to 10 per cent of the people had gone to their relatives’ homes in safer places yesterday. Today, they too returned with many saying their paddy crop had ripened and hence they could not afford to stay away.At the Thakur Pur village Observation Post (OP) of the 12 Battalion of the BSF, security men were seen telling the villagers to leave. However, nobody seemed to be listening and residents nonchalantly kept on attending to their daily chores.Gurdaspur SSP Jasdeep Singh said, “We are telling them that a strike is possible. However, they tell us that strike or no strike they will not go anywhere.”Residents of the neighbouring hamlets of Srirampur, Jainpur, Kana and Behrampur too have refused to toe officials’ diktat. Today people paid little heed to police gypsies making announcements.Similar reports filtered in from other places in Gurdaspur district. Likewise, police officials admit that in neighbouring Pathankot district too people are not willing to relocate. SSP Rakesh Kaushal admitted that the policemen were having a torrid time convincing the locals.Meanwhile, the BSF has stopped farmers from moving across the wire fencing to till their land. At the Thakur Pur OP, till yesterday around 85 farmers, accompanied by BSF jawans, used to cross over daily to till their land. “Since Thursday afternoon, we have locked the gate. We are not allowing anybody to cross over,” said the two jawans manning the post.Govt ordered evacuation in haste: Villagers  Abohar: Most families with whom Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar interacted on Friday, during a visit to border areas and camps, questioned the decision of the authorities of getting villages evacuated. Gurdial Singh of Pucca Chishti village said residents had to vacate their village due to wars in 1965 and 1971, floods in 1988 and then following the Kargil war. “We rebuilt houses thrice despite inadequate resources. Five or six families are staying back as it is not convenient to shift cattle,” he said. Many villagers questioned that when the government in neighbouring Rajasthan did not ask border residents to vacate villages, what compelled the Punjab to order evacuation. OCSpecial steps for paddy procurement Chandigarh: The state on Friday said it had made special arrangements for the procurement of paddy sown near the border. “As soon as the farmers bring their crop, it will be lifted. The growers should not worry about their crop,” Agriculture Minister Tota Singh said. A committee of four ministers has been set up to ensure that farmers living near the border do not face any problem in selling their produce. This committee comprises Tota Singh, Food and Civil Supply Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal. PTI

Harvesting makes them reluctant to shift

Villagers take shelter at Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib in Tarn Taran on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Tarn Taran, September 30After 14 years, residents of border villages in Tarn Taran district have been once again forced to leave their farms and homes behind as the government has issued an advisory. However, this time, as the paddy harvesting season is around the corner, villagers are reluctant to leave.Even as many people had left their homes for safe places yesterday, no such movement was seen today. Most of the people preferred to send women and children to safe places as they themselves stayed behind. Last time, the villagers had to leave their homes in 2012, when land mines were installed in most of the fields after the attack on Parliament. It was only a year and a half later that these land mines were removed and normalcy returned.“It is not possible to leave farms at this moment as crop has almost ripened and will be ready for harvesting in the next few days. We have decided to send children, women and old persons to safe places,” said Avtar Singh of Khalra. “We cannot take our animals to some other place. Besides, many families, barring children, have already returned,” said Ranjit Singh of Naushera.