MEET DR SEEMA RAO THE FIRST FEMALE COMMANDO TRAINER

EX-SERVICEMAN AMONG 3 HELD FOR ROBBERIES

VIR CHAKRA AWARDEE JAISWAL’S ASSAILANT ARRESTED

1971 WAR HERO PASSES AWAY

MARTYR CREMATED WITH HONOURS GOVT ANNOUNCES RS 5-LAKH COMPENSATION FOR FAMILY

NORTHERN COMMAND CELEBRATES 46TH RAISING DAY IN UDHAMPUR

16 CORPS BIDS ADIEU TO NAIK BAKHTAWAR SINGH

VALLEY TO BE NORMAL SOON: ARMY CHIEF

2 DIE IN DARJEELING VIOLENCE 35 SECURITY MEN INJURED, RAJNATH REVIEWS SITUATION

Darjeeling turns battle zone as stir gets bloody

EVOLVING SITUATION IN J&K: SUMMER 2017 (PART II) BY LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD)

INFILTRATION, BEST COUNTERED BY LT GEN (RETD) SYED ATA HASNAIN

NATION’S FAITH IN ARMY REMAINS INTACT: PRANAB MUKHERJEE

WHEN THREE NEIGHBOURS UNITE

Our Correspondent

Mukerian, June 17

Vir Chakra awardee Captain Nirmal Singh, a 1971 war hero, died of a heart attack at his native Channaur village last night. He was 86. He was cremated with military honours today. No government representative or political leader was present.Nirmal Singh was awarded Vir Chakra for his indomitable courage in the 1971 war. He was recruited in the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment (JAK Rifles) in 1957. After serving the country for 28 years, he retired in 1987.He had fought the 1962 India-China war as well as the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. In 1971, despite being severely injured, he fought with courage and hit the enemy. A contingent of the JAK Rifles reversed their firearms and fired in the air as a mark of respect to the departed soul. His pyre was lit by his son Rajinder Singh, a Sub-Inspector.

New Delhi, June 16

In a major drive against “money laundering and tax evasion through multiple bank accounts”, the Centre today made quoting of the Aadhaar number mandatory for opening a bank account as well as for any financial transaction of Rs 50,000 and above. The existing accounts would also have to be linked to Aadhaar by December 31, failing which the account would cease to be operational.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The notification amending the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005, mandates quoting of the Aadhaar number along with PAN or Form 60 by individuals, companies and partnership firms for all financial transactions of Rs 50,000 or above.The Union Budget for 2017 had already put in place mandatory linking of Aadhaar number with Permanent Account Number (PAN) to avoid individuals using multiple PANs to evade taxes.Plugging the leaks in opening of small bank accounts, which can be done without having officially valid KYC documents, the amendment said such accounts that can have a maximum deposit of Rs 50,000 could be opened only at bank branches with core-banking solution.It could also be opened at a branch where it is possible to manually monitor and ensure that foreign remittance is not credited and stipulated limits on the monthly and annual aggregate of transactions and balance are not breached.Such small bank accounts shall be operational for 12 months and thereafter for a similar period if the holder shows the application for valid identification papers. — TNS

Gurmeet Pinky

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

In a rare act, the Centre recently decided to withdraw the gallantry award given to a Punjab Police Sub-Inspector in 1997, following his conviction in a murder case. Sub-Inspector Gurmeet Singh Pinky was awarded the police medal for gallantry in 1997 on the recommendation of the state government for bravery. In its recommendation letter, the government had issued an integrity certificate. However, Pinky was booked in a 2001 murder case in which he was convicted and given life imprisonment in 2006. Subsequently, he was dismissed from service.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)A Ministry of Home Affairs  official said the President had on June 7 approved the proposal to withdraw the police medal, adding that the MHA had come to know about the conviction only in July, 2015. A medal is withdrawn when an awarded person is convicted for an act or conduct involving moral turpitude, which brings the police force into disrepute or such a person is dismissed for a similar act.

Yuva Rajput Sabha members pay tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh in Jammu on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 14

Paying tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh on his 118th birth anniversary, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Vikramaditya Singh said he was among the greatest Dogra warriors and his supreme sacrifice must never be forgotten.Recalling his past, Vikramaditya said after graduating from the Prince of Wales College, now the GGM Science College, Jammu, Brig Rajinder Singh had joined the State Forces as a Commissioned Officer. After having commanded 6 JAK Rifles, Kashmir Brigade, Brig Rajinder Singh was chosen by Maharaja Hari Singh to replace Maj Gen HS Scott as the Chief of Army Staff of the J&K State Forces on September 24, 1947.Paying tributes and homage to all men of the J&K State Forces who sacrificed their lives from the time of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the state, Vikramaditya said, “we must never fail to remember brave Indian soldiers and the great martial traditions of the Dogras, as history has failed to do justice to them.”Vikramaditya said his father, Dr Karan Singh, often recalled when, as a young man, he was present at the time when Maharaja Hari Singh called Brig Rajinder Singh and gave him orders to defend Srinagar from the advancing Pakistani forces till the last man and last bullet.The MLC added that from October 23 to 26, 1947, with only 100 men at his disposal, Brig Rajinder Singh held back over 5,000 invaders. He and his men laid down their lives. For this, Brig Rajinder Singh came to be known as the “Saviour of Kashmir” and was awarded the first Gallantry Award of independent India.

Braveheart remembered

The Yuva Rajput Sabha celebrated the 118th birth anniversary of Brig Rajinder Singh in Jammu on Wednesday. Sabha president Rajveer Singh along with other members gathered at Brig Rajinder Singh Chowk and garlanded the statue. Speaking on the occasion, Rajveer said it was because of Brig Rajinder Singh’s supreme sacrifice that J&K was able to successfully crush the invaders from Pakistan in 1947. He said the braveheart, with only a handful of soldiers, defended the state capital and a large region from going into the enemy’s hands. Brig Rajinder Singh was also awarded the highest honour of Maha Vir Chakra. 

Brig Rajinder Singh: The Saviour of Kashmir​

Come October and we remember Brig Rajinder Singh, MVC, (Posthumous) the Saviour of Kashmir. He was born on 14th June 1899 at Village Baguna (now Rajinder Pura) and Commissioned on 14th June 1921. he became Brig in May 1942 and took over as Chief of Staff J and K State Forces from Maj Gen H L Scot on 24th Sep 1947 when the State was, in fact an Independent Country. When Pakistan attacked Kashmir on 22th Oct 1947 and Maharaja Hari Singh was informed about the fall of Mazaffrabad. He ordered Brig Rajinder Singh:-

‘Brig Rajinder Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man.’
Accordingly Brig Rajinder Singh proceeded towards Muzaffrabad with a small Force of Hundred men. After inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders numbering 6,000 at Garhi he decided to blow Uri bridge and delay the Pakistani forces to enable Maharaja Hari Singh to carry out Accession Parleys so that Indian Army could move in to ultimately save the State and throw the invaders out.

After demolishing Uri Bridge he fought delaying actions at Uri, Mahura and Rampur inflicting heavy casualties to gain four days till he was ambushed at Buniyar on the night of 26/27th Oct 1947 and fately wounded but not before achieving a miracle, as the Indian Army landed within six hours after his last action to save the State. Thus we see Brig Rajinder Singh achieving the impossible as ordered by his Ruler ‘To the Last Man’, literally being the last man setting an example for the World which remains unparalled. It was also in Oct 1947, i.e. 26th Oct when Maharaja Hari Singh acceded J and K to the Indian Union after Brig Rajinder Singh his Chief of Staff had saved Kashmir. Brig Rajinder Singh thus became the Saviour of Kashmir and was awarded the first Gallantry Award of Independent India posthumously.

Now the contribution of Brig Rajinder Singh to the making of the Modern India, Maharaja Gulab Singh had founded this unique State which included the most Strategic area of the World now called the Northern Areas which was acceded to India on 26 Oct 1947 through Accession made possible by Brig Rajinder Singh.

Maharaja Hari Singh has also contributed in making the present History. Firstly the Dogra rulers never allowed a foot hold to the British in spite of many attempts to take over the control of the State particularly during Maharaja Partap Singh’s times. Even during World War II when the Britishers wanted the control of the strategic Gilgit Maharaja Hari Singh gave the area of Gilgit only on lease for 40 years which was returned by the British Govt. of India just before Independence in Jul 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh sent Brig Ghansara Singh as Governor of Gilgit who continued to be the Governor till 1st Nov 1947even after the invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan on 21st Oct 1947 where Brig Rajinder Singh the Chief of Staff of J and K State Forces delayed their advance for four days upto 26 Oct. On the day of Accession Gilgit was with us and was acceded to India. Again it was possible due to Brig Rajinder Singh’s action to Save Kashmir.

Only if the Indian Govt. had sent a company worth troops to Gilgit before 1st Nov 1947 Gilgit and Baltistan would have never been lost as Pakistan never conquered these areas. It was Maj Brown Commander of the Gilgit Scouts serving under the Governor of Gilgit who had revolted and arrested the Governor on 1st Nov and handed over the entire area of Baltistan to Pakistan without a fight. Thus Maharaja Hari Singh’s contribution by signing the Instrument of Accession legally and constitutionally acceding the entire State to the Indian Union is his unique contribution in making of the History which in fact is the only legal authority for India to hold on to the State or ultimately to retrieve the lost areas, may be in the 21st century itself as the events are unfurling. Who made it possible. It was Brig Rajinder Singh.

Today we pay tribute to the Saviour of the State, Brig Rajinder Singh, MVC (Posthumous), recipient of the Independent Nation’s first Gallantry Award for which the State is justifiably proud. It is worth recalling two tributes paid to him on his Birth Centenary Celebrated by the State from 14th Jun 1999 to 14th Jun 2000 immediately after the Kargil War. These tributes are quoted for the younger generation:-

Army personnel stand guard along a street during an indefinite strike in Darjeeling on Monday. AFP

Darjeeling, June 12

Gorkhaland supporters today vandalised government offices in Darjeeling as the GJM-sponsored indefinite shutdown forced tourists out of the picturesque hill station due to threat of violence.The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which controls the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has called a shutdown of all state and GTA offices to press its demand for creation of a separate state.The Mamata Banerjee government, with which the Gorkha outfit has been on a collision course over introduction of Bengali language in schools in the hills, however, claimed offices recorded “normal” attendance. The GJM leadership has called the government measure an “encroachment” on their distinct Nepali identity and culture.“People have defied GJM’s diktat and attended office. We hope good sense will prevail,” state’s Tourism Minister Gautam Deb said. He claimed government and GTA offices recorded normal attendance in Darjeeling and other hill towns in north Bengal, including Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik.Suspected GJM activists damaged a panchayat office and a PWD office in the hills and did picketing at some places in Kurseong and Kalimpong. The agitators burnt furniture, broke window panes and smashed computers at the PWD office in Darjeeling.The police said eight GJM activists were detained for allegedly trying to set afire the Block Development Office at Phulbazar in Bijanbari block.GJM general secretary Roshan Giri denied his party’s involvement in vandalisation of government offices. He, however, claimed the response to the “appeal” for the shutdown was “good”.“We could have enforced the bandh but we have not done that. We only appealed to the people,” he said, adding “the state government may claim almost cent per cent attendance but that is not the case.”“We want central intervention. Our party chief has written to the PM and Home Minister to consider our demand (for Gorkhaland),” said Giri, whose party is an ally of the NDA. — PTI 

490 PASS OUT OF IMA, 187 FROM OTA

SIX FROM MOHALI INSTITUTE BECOME ARMY OFFICERS

अपने जनरल के दौरे के बाद पाकिस्तानी सेना ने दागे गोले

WOMEN TROOPS WILL DEAL WITH FEMALE PROTESTERS: ARMY CHIEF

13 ARMED INTRUDERS KILLED IN 4 DAYS ALONG LOC, SAYS ARMY

ARMY SET TO DEPLOY FLEET OF ARMED CHOPPERS IN NE

J-K MARTYR CREMATED WITH HONOURS

CHINESE INCURSIONS MATTER OF PERCEPTION: ARMY CHIEF

8 MONTHS ON, URI MARTYR’S WIFE AWAITS EX GRATIA

ULTRA KILLED AS ARMY FOILS INFILTRATION IN GUREZ

MAN BOOKED FOR POSTING OFFENSIVE PICTURE OF UP CM

RAMDEV PRAISES PAKISTANIS; SAYS ‘NOT ALL ARE BAD’

YOUTH IN J&K BEING MISGUIDED, SAYS ARMY CHIEF GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT

J&K FOCUS EVOLVING SITUATION IN J&K: SUMMER 2017 (PART I) BY LT GEN ATA HUSNAIN

JUSTICE FOR JADHAV BY GEN VP MALIK (RETD)

The images on the radar will give Army an upper hand in determining the position of hiding terrorists. File photo

Anantnag, June 8

Aiming to detect terrorists who might be hiding in wall cavities or false ceilings, the Indian Army will now use ‘through the wall’ radar imaging during counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley.

A few such radar systems have already been imported by the Army, official sources said, explaining that the technology would help in more precise — and effective — anti-militancy operations. It would enable forces to get the pinpointed location of terrorists hiding inside homes in congested areas and also avoid civilian casualties.

On more than one occasion, the Army and the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police have had to return without engaging with militants despite specific intelligence inputs. Local informers later conveyed that the terrorists were hiding in a specially created false ceiling or an underground cavity in the same house that had been raided, said a senior official involved in the anti-militancy drive.

This happened on July 8 last year as well when security forces gunned down Burhan Wani, poster-boy of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. The first time they tried to get him, they couldn’t locate any terrorist in the house in a village in Kokernag in south Kashmir despite precise intelligence tip-offs.

The commanding officer and his men, it is learnt, entered the house twice but were unable to find any terrorists who were hiding in a false ceiling. During the third round of searches, the hiding militants gave themselves away when they fired at the Army men. It was only after that that three men, including Wani, were killed, leading to unrest in the entire Valley.

Often, troops face hostile crowds when they are unable to locate a terrorist at a house notified by human intelligence as well as technically generated intelligence.

Given the many hits and misses, need was felt for ‘through-the-wall’ radars which would help troops function better during counter-insurgency operations especially in densely populated areas, sources said.

The radar is based on short electromagnetic waves generated by the ‘signatures’ of people hidden behind the wall or other concrete barriers.

It is useful for detecting small changes in electromagnetic waves induced by humans; this includes even micro-movements caused by breathing, an official explained.

The images on the radar will give Army an upper hand in determining the position of hiding terrorists and their movements on real-time basis, he said.

Though the Army has imported only a few such radars, officials are hopeful that the number would go up once their utility was put to test.

Interestingly, the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been making attempts to build the radar indigenously. However, the product has not moved to the trial stage yet.

Named Divyachakshu (divine eye), the radar is designed to scan 25-30 cm wall. The project was started after 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks when commandos of the elite NSG unit were injured while clearing the Taj Mahal hotel. PTI

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 6

The rental compensation for the land used for fencing on the Indo-Pak border is still pending with the Central government. However, all other states are getting full rent for their land since 1999, but the J&K Government couldn’t compile the land record even after 18 years.The Centre had hurriedly started fencing the border in 1999 and after the ceasefire agreement in November 2003, the work was started for a 44-foot-wide fence which was upgraded from time to time with the latest equipment.The fence on the India-Pakistan Border and the Line of Control (LoC) has controlled the infiltration from the other side of the border, but it has also occupied the agricultural land of farmers living in the border villages. The border villagers who voluntarily handed over their land for the construction of fence on the assurance of rental compensation are still waiting for their due share.“We’ve had a double whammy as the on one side, we are facing shelling from Pakistan and on the other, we are awaiting rental compensation for our land for the last 18 years, which is being used by the BSF for fencing,” said Beli Ram of Chalariayan village at Samba district on the International Border.“Border residents of other states are getting the rent at the rate of Rs 3,000 per acre and are now appealing the government through the court to increase it to Rs 10,000 per acre. But we are just waiting for the minimal rent which was promised at the time of acquiring the land,” he added.The fence in Jammu and Kashmir runs up to 202 km. It is not along the border, but inside the Indian territory, at certain points more than 1 km within and overlapping the agricultural land.Mohammad Ashraf Mir, secretary, state Revenue Department, told The Tribune, “Wherever the land is acquired through the Revenue Department, we have given proper compensation to the owner. But sometimes, the Army or the BSF themselves acquire the land, for which they deal directly with the owners through the district administration.”The district administration was asked to prepare the proposal for the rental compensation for the 44-foot-wide land used for fencing. But a few years ago, on the request of the BSF, the Central government had asked them to prepare the proposal for the 135-foot-wide land near the fence. Later, the plan was again changed and now again the district administration has started preparing the record for the previous fence.

The Jagdamba Seva Samiti has lodged protest with the Army for planning new guns’ trials on land meant for cattle breeding.

Yash Goyal

TWO imported M777 ultra-light Howitzer artillery guns, which have a strike range of 24 to 40 km, have been battling for a ground location for their field trials at Pokhran since their arrival on May 24.The Jagdamba Seva Samiti (JSS) has lodged a strong protest with the Army in Jodhpur, claiming that the new guns’ field trials could not be conducted on 45,000 acres land which belonged to Bhadariya Mandir Seva Samiti (BMSS), its office functionary claimed.After the samiti’s objection, the Army has decided to remove a concrete foundation made to place the guns at ‘Bayanadi Talai’ for the trials, the functionary said.The Army has got a firing range from Ramdeora to Mohangarh in Pokhran where the trial could be conducted. Why it was being planned in the BMSS land area where 26,000 cattle are kept for conservation and breeding at a gaushala, he asked.Bhadariya, with a population of 1,500 persons, has one of the oldest libraries with 4,000 seats and over one lakh books and a huge land area for pasture development that was allocated to BMSS by the Revenue Board in 2007.Due to the land controversy, Howitzer trials have been postponed for some time and would be planned later in mid-June, official sources confirmed in Delhi. Meanwhile, a compromise formula and legal angles are also being explored by the defence department in Jodhpur. Till a solution is reached, Howitzers three-month-long test firing at Pokhran remains an uncertainty.