DSP beaten to death outside mosque, 2 suspects arrested
A senior police officer was stripped and beaten to death by a mob after an altercation outside Jamia Masjid in Jammu and Kashmir’s capital Srinagar on Thursday night, officials said on Friday.
WASEEM ANDRABI/HTJ&K CM Mehbooba Mufti lays a wreath on the coffin of Mohammed Ayoub Pandith (left) in Srinagar on Friday.
The officer has been identified as a local deputy superintendent of police Mohammed Ayoub Pandith. He was working with the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir police. “Another police officer sacrificed his life in line of duty. Dy SP Mohammed Ayoub Pandith of Security attacked and beaten to death by a mob at Nowhatta last night,” the police said in a statement.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the lynching so far and a third has been identified.
Director general of police SP Vaid told the Hindustan Times that the officer was checking the access control in the area following a congregation. “All of them (involved in lynching of the officer) will face the law,” Vaid told reporters on sidelines of the wreath laying ceremony of slain officer at district police lines here.
“When he came out after checking access control in the area, he was surrounded by some miscreants who started manhandling him and asking for his identification. Initial investigation revealed that there was an altercation and the officer fired to get away from the mob. He was, however, overpowered and killed near Bata Chowk in Nowhatta area,” he added.
Bata Chowk is in the vicinity of Jama Masjid where thousands of people had gathered for nightlong congregational prayers at the mosque in the old city late on Thursday evening. Eyewitnesses said three people were injured in the firing.
News agency Press Trust of India reported a group of people had earlier spotted the policeman taking photographs outside the mosque. When they tried to catch him, he allegedly pulled out his pistol and fired shots that injured three people, it said.
Reports said Pandith’s security guards ran away after they found the mob too large to be handled. The policeman was allegedly stripped before killing him. Locals also destroyed police pickets in the area later.
Pandith, who belonged to Nowpora area, had been posted there for quite some time and many locals who regularly visited knew him.
Tribune News Service Guwahati, June 21 Heavy gun battle ensued between the Army and a group of unidentified insurgents at Totak Chingnyu in Mon district of Nagaland bordering Myanmar on Tuesday night and subsequent search operation for ultras continued till Wednesday morning. The insurgents were suspected to have fled to the jungle. The Army said the firefight started when Army launched a search operation in the area on the basis of inputs about movement of insurgents. Noticing the movement, the army challenged them and the insurgents opened fire. Faced with heavy retaliation from the Army, the ultras fled to the jungle. The Army then launched a search operation in the area and it was called off on Wednesday morning. Mon district of Nagaland is a hotbed of insurgents from Nagaland, Assam and Manipur which use the route to travel to their base in Myanmar besides indulging in criminal activities like extortion in the area. –
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Opinion: Army Chief Bipin Rawat should know that India is not prepared for a two-front war
Last Saturdy, Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat declared in an interview to the news agency ANI that India was now prepared for a “two-and-a-half front war”. By this, he meant that India was capable of fighting a war with China and Pakistan simultaneously, while also taking on internal security duties in Kashmir.
There was just one problem with his assertion: the facts on the ground do not support Rawat. Even his counterpart in the Indian Air Force is not so sure. Just a little over a year ago, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal BS Dhanoa, who was the vice chief at that time, said that the IAF fleet could not handle a two-front conflict. At a press conference, he had said: “Our numbers are not adequate to fully execute an air campaign in a two-front scenario”.
Modern conflict has made it clear that air power, and not land forces, generally shape the outcome of battles. If the IAF chief is clear that he does not have the fighter squadrons to fight on two fronts simultaneously, why did Rawat make such an assertion? This question is even more important given that even the Army, which Rawat commands, is far from fit to fight on a single front, let alone two or two-and-a-half fronts at the same time.
An obsolete Army
In March 2012, Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the Army’s woeful preparedness in the event of a war. Singh wrote that the Army’s tanks were outdated and running out of ammunition, air defence was obsolete, and the infantry was short of critical weapons.
In February, newspapers reported that India had decided to make “urgent purchases” to make up critical deficiencies in its defence preparedness. Reports suggested that the Modi government had cleared purchases worth Rs 20,000 crore to help the Indian military “undertake at least 10 days of ‘intense fighting’ without worrying about ammunition, spares and other reserves”. However, much of the equipment listed for this urgent purchase – tank ammunition, artillery guns, assault rifles –was the same as those Singh listed in his 2012 letter to the prime minister. Clearly, in the four years since that letter, the pace of upgrading and modernising the Indian Army’s weapons has been far from desirable.
Also, if the military needed urgent purchases to just fight an “intense war for 10 days” in February is there any truth in Rawat’s assertion made four months later? As per established practice, the Indian military should hold enough reserves to fight for 40 days. With emergency purchases being made to undertake just 10 days of “intense fighting” what was the reality?
The fact is that while India’s military equipment is ageing rapidly, replacements are just not keeping pace. The majority of its infantry soldiers still use the outdated Indian Small Arms System, or INSAS, rifle, considered to be unreliable because of frequent jamming and an outdated design. There were reports last year that the government had cleared the purchase of 185,000 modern assault rifles, but no tenders have been issued so far.
Similarly, the Army’s artillery wing has not been modernised since the Bofors gun was inducted in the 1980s. In 1999, after the Kargil War, the Army drew up ambitious plans to induct nearly 3,500 new artillery guns of various capacities and capabilities in the next “15 to 20 years” under the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan. The first two light artillery guns landed in India only this month. Reality, clearly, is much harsher than an assertion.
All this means that structurally, the Army is in no better position than where it was during the Kargil war when India had to make emergency purchases of artillery shells from Israel. After the war, a committee was set up to recommend major restructuring by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. But most of the key restructuring recommendations, like appointing a Chief of Defence Staff, joint theatre commands, an integrated Ministry of Defence, are yet to be implemented.
Credit: PTI
A depleted force
The Air Force is in no better shape. It is authorised to have 42 combat squadrons as per the 11th plan, and is officially down to 33. Some senior Air Force officers say that the actual squadron strength may be less than that. This is so because the bulk of the Air Force fleet at present comprises the ageing MiG-21 aircraft, which are nearly 230 in number, and are slated to be eased out in the next 10 years. These aircraft continue to be deployed despite having crossed their maximum years of service due to India’s inability to replace them. In 2015, India decided to cancel a contract for 126 French Rafale aircraft, and instead decided to buy just 36. With the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft failing to find favour with the Indian Air Force, it continues to stare at a massive shortfall of aircraft.
As far as India’s naval defences are concerned, the Indian Navy, which is authorised over 190 sea-going vessels, is also struggling to maintain force levels. Its ambitious Project 75 submarine programme – under which six Scorpene-class submarines are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai – is almost five years behind schedule, and the submarines are nowhere near completion. In sharp contrast, the Chinese navy has already established a major presence in the neighbourhood, and is reported to have fielded nearly 12 naval vessels in the Indian Ocean according to Indian intelligence estimates.
India’s Special Forces are in no better shape. As the nature of warfare changes, the Special Forces are playing a leading role in all conflicts. Several recommendations, including by the Naresh Chandra Task Force set up by the previous Manmohan Singh-led government, have been made in the past to set up a joint Special Forces Command. But it has been stymied due to lack of consensus among the three services. All this is affecting India’s ability to operate in modern conflicts.
Rawat may believe that the Indian military is ready, but the facts on ground are a stark reminder that reality is very different from populist claims.
Northern Command celebrates 46th Raising Day in Udhampur
The Northern Command of the Army today celebrated its 46th Raising Day at the command headquarters in Udhampur.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Lt Gen D Anbu paid floral tributes to the martyrs, who have fallen in the line of duty serving the nation, at Dhruva war memorial on behalf of all ranks.Giving details, the PRO, Northern Command, said the Northern Command was raised on June 17, 1972, and has the unique responsibility of guarding the nation’s borders with both Pakistan and China. “The Dhruva Command has lived up to the faith reposed by the nation, be it combating Pakistan-sponsored terrorism or the Kargil intrusion in 1999. Deployed in extremely inhospitable and hazardous environment, which includes Siachen, the troops of the command continue to serve with utmost zeal and enthusiasm, drawing inspiration from the saga of bravery and sacrifice of their predecessors.”On the momentous occasion, the Army Commander, extended his good wishes to all ranks and their families and complimented the rank and file of the command for demonstrating extraordinary endurance, steadfastness, selflessness and an exemplary sense of duty during counter-terrorist operations.He also lauded the efforts of the troops in guarding the Northern Frontiers in the most inhospitable weather and the toughest terrain conditions. The Army Commander exhorted them to continue maintaining the exalted standards and strive for excellence through professionalism, dedication and devotion to duty.On this day, the troops of the Dhruva Command rededicated themselves to the service of the nation and reaffirmed their resolve to work for a safe and secure environment in the state of J&K.
Accused in Army man’s wife molestation case surrenders
A youth who was accused of molestation by the wife of an Army soldier surrendered at the Rajouri police station today.The accused, Nadeem Ahmed, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, was booked by the police on a complaint of the victim on Tuesday. The victim had also alleged inaction by the police in dealing with her complaint and to express her resentment, she uploaded a video on the social media which went viral on Wednesday.Taking strong notice of the viral video, the state police chief directed the SSP, Rajouri, to take cognisance of her allegations and take stern action against the accused.The victim, mother of two children, had alleged that Nadeem Ahmed had been forcing her to adopt Islam and tie the knot with him for the past three years.On June 9, Nadeem allegedly intercepted the victim’s vehicle near the Jamola bridge and tried to outrage her modesty.“Well before the video went viral, the police acted swiftly on the complaint of the victim and registered a case against the accused under Sections 323, 341, 354 and 506 of the RPC. The allegations of the victim against the police are totally baseless,” said SSP Yougal Manhas. “The accused, who was absconding, surrendered before the police today,” he said.
Victim had alleged inaction by police
The accused, Nadeem Ahmed, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, was booked by the police on a complaint of the victim on Tuesday. The victim had also alleged inaction by the police in dealing with her complaint and to express her resentment, she uploaded a video on the social media which went viral on Wednesday
The victim, mother of two children, had alleged that Nadeem Ahmed had been forcing her to adopt Islam and tie the knot with him for the past three years
On June 9, Nadeem allegedly intercepted the victim’s vehicle near the Jamola bridge and tried to outrage her modesty
The Military Engineering Services (MES) will outsource officers at the level of assistant engineer and junior engineer to overcome the staff shortage being faced while executing various construction projects.Averring that the workload of MES has increased multi-fold without proportionate increase in staff, a new policy issued by the Army Headquarters this month states that the huge spike in sanction of works necessitates engaging or employing consultants as planners and supervisors for the project duration.“These requirements are dynamic and based on actual workload of projects, which keep fluctuating. This would lead to holding of staff on required basis, thus relieving government burden of bench strength holdings till start of new project and long-term permanent accretion in such cases,” the policy adds.Stating that outsourcing would supplement dynamic requirements, as required, and act as a stop-gap arrangement where deficiency exists, the policy stresses that outsourcing would not be permitted for sensitive defence installations or classified projects. Further, only Indian nationals would be engaged and police verification would be required for all outsourced staff. They would be bound by the Official Secrets Act and confidentiality clauses.The shortage of civilian staff in MES is serious. According to a report tabled by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence earlier this year, the present manpower holding of the MES is just 61,722 against the requirement of 1,96,493, accounting for a deficiency of over 48%.The supervisory staff is deficient by 37%, industrial staff by 41% and other basic staff by 64%. Staff shortage has cropped up over a period of time. Reduction in manpower due to annual direct recruitment plan, where two-third of yearly wastage vacancies were deducted from 2001-09, prolonged recruitment process and poor intake are among reasons cited for this.
Brigadier YS Ahlawat said it was quite possible that with the kind of materials the militants were carrying. ANI
Srinagar, June 11
The Army on Sunday said the five militants killed in a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector on Friday belonged to a ‘fidayeen’ squad and were planning a suicide attack.
“So far, in the search operations, huge quantity of arms and ammunitions have been recovered, which includes five AK 47 rifles, two UBGLs, large quantity of explosives, combat dresses, incendiary material, eatables with Pakistani markings and uniquely body-fitted IEDs with timer mechanisms.
“All this indicates that this was a fidayeen group which was infiltrated into the sector with the sinister plans of carrying out a gruesome attack on an Army camp or a civil installation around Uri,” Brigadier Y S Ahlawat said.
Speaking to reporters at Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Brigadier Ahlawat said it was quite possible that with the kind of materials the militants were carrying, they could have executed a fidayeen-type attack similar to the 2016 attack in Uri.
He said the alertness and resilience of Army troops has not only resulted in the elimination of this group, but has also ensured peace and tranquillity which this group wanted to vitiate specially during the holy month of Ramzaan.
“This is the fifth infiltration bid that has been successfully eliminated by the army in the last three days.
The Army continues with its resolve to keep a strong vigil along the LoC and foil all such nefarious designs of Pakistan-abetted terrorists,” he said. PTI
Major killed in mishap
Srinagar: A Major was killed when the Gypsy he was travelling in overturned in Kupwara district on Sunday. The accident occurred near Sadhna Top in the Kralpora area of Kupwara, resulting in the death of Major SR Samal, a police official said. The deceased belonged to 310 Field Regiment, he said. — PTI
It was a proud moment for the faculty and cadets of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, as six cadets of the first batch were commissioned as officers today. The passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, was reviewed by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat.The new commissioned officers had joined the AFPI in 2011 and completed their two years of training in 2013. Thereafter they have undergone three years of training at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, followed by one year at the IMA.The six are Lt Danish Chadha, Lt Abhay Singh Rana, Lt Sahil Manhas, Lt Ajaypal Singh Waraich, Lt Rajat Sarangal and Lt Vishavdeep Singh Nandha. Out of these six, four held senior cadet appointments at the academy. Lt Nandha was selected to be the standard bearer to carry the academy colours during the parade. —TNS
China may set up military base in Pak US report says Beijing has ability to launch precision strikes at 10,000 km or more
China could set up a military base in Pakistan and it has capabilities to launch precision strikes at distances of 10,000 km or more with its road-mobile nuclear missiles, warns a report of the US Department of Defence released today by the Pentagon in the US.Titled “Annual report to the Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2017”, it says: “China, most likely, will seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan.”(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The US report said Pakistan had a precedent for hosting foreign militaries. It did not specify what kind of base could China have in Pakistan — a seaport or a land-based port. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the provision of making a huge port at Gawadar — some 100 miles west of Karachi. Chinese submarines have used the Pakistan Navy’s facilities at Karachi to dock and refuel.In another India-related aspect, the report says the focus areas of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) include China’s borders with India and North Korea, East China Sea, the South China Sea. India has un-demarcated 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) which is deemed to be the boundary with China.In February 2016, Beijing started construction of first overseas military base at Djibouti on the north-eastern African Coast. The report hinted at how China was also supplying submarines to India’s neighbours. “Last year, China signed an agreement with Pakistan for the sale of eight submarines. The first four will be built in China, with the remaining four in Pakistan,” the 106-page report said. It listed Bangladesh and Burma — both India’s neighbours — as the other customers of China.The US report talks about China’s military reforms started in February 2016, saying: “These seek to enhance the PLA’s ability to conduct joint operations; improve its ability to fight short-duration and high-intensity regional conflicts at greater distances from the Chinese mainland.”The PLA, which is biggest standing Army in the world, established five regionally based joint theaters, replacing the decades-old ground force-dominated seven military regions (MR). “PLA reforms appear to have oriented each new theatre command towards a specific set of contingencies,” said the report. India faces the PLA’s Western theatre and also the Tibet Area command.The PLA Navy places a high priority on the modernisation of its submarine force. It currently possesses five nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), and 54 diesel-powered attack submarines (SS). By 2020, this force is likely to grow to anywhere between 69 and 78 submarines.
India to UNHRC: Pak fuelling J&K unrest
At the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday, India said the cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan has been the primary source of unrest in Jammu and Kashmir
Rajiv K Chander, India’s permanent representative at the UN, said: “The central problem in J&K is cross-border terrorism, and Pakistan’s use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. This fact needs due recognition by one and all. We firmly believe that a policy of zero tolerance to terrorism is as much an international obligation as it is a commitment to our own people.” tns
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