Monthly Archives: August 2018

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25

In an important move, the ‘Made in India’ Arjun Mark-2 tank project is set to  see the light of the day. Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr S Christopher in an interview to The Tribune said,  “We have had a meeting with the Vice-Chief of the Indian Army where it was agreed on accepting Mark-2. Modalities are  being worked out”. Once done, the acceptance of necessity (AON) for 118 will be revived, he added. The AON is decided by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by the Defence Minister. A total of 93 modifications have been done on the first version of Arjun —  124 were inducted — in 2010-2011. On being asked if the Army was okay with the weight of the tank, the DRDO boss said: “The weight (the tank is almost 58 tonnes) has been accepted; that is a major change”. Most modern European tanks are of the same weight, and tank-transporters   (specialised trucks) for Arjun are available. The DRDO has promised to set up a system to maintain the Arjun Mark-2 within India. It will be an annual maintenance contract with the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) as a possible agency, Dr Christopher said. On the trials, he said,  “These have done 4,000 kms of run, the upgrades will be tested.” On artillery guns, Dr Christopher  said the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), of which the Army has agreed to accept 40 pieces to start with, will get a more powerful engine to enable rapid movement. The guns designed by DRDO have been made by two private companies under the transfer of technology. The DRDO is keen to get a slice of the 1,580 towed guns the Army is looking to buy. “Both companies (Tata Power SED and Bharat Forge) are gearing up produce more. We need an order for 200-300 guns to tie up logistics,” he said.Talking about the next version of the Tejas, called ‘Mark1-A’, Dr Christopher said: “The design other than the AESA radar and the jammer pod is complete.”  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is looking to import the AESA radar even as DRDO made a radar that will be tested next month. The IAF is looking at 83 ‘Mark1-A’, with 59 improvements over the existing Tejas.The Indian Air Force  has projected a need for 324 fighter jets over 15 years and has officially indicated that it needs the ‘Tejas Mark 2’ (medium combat aircraft). It will carry a more powerful engine and weigh almost 20 per cent heavier than Tejas.

A statue of Bhagat Singh erected atop a residence at his ancestral village, Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr ahead of his martyrdom day. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Khatkar Kalan, March 21An increasing following for Bhagat Singh as the youth icon is evident from the fact that the residents of his ancestral village have started installing his statues atop their houses here.Two houses from this village have got erected nicely painted statues of the martyr and one can see residents passing by these houses bowing before their revered hero as they move ahead to their destinations.Satnam Singh, a farmer whose house falls on the back of the museum at Khatkar Kalan, says, “I got the statue installed last week. I got it made and tastefully painted from an artisan in an adjoining village. I have brought up my children telling them the heroic deeds of Bhagat Singh for the country begin their day. We had his portrait in the living room of our house, too, but my family insisted that we could put up his statue too.”The statue of the freedom fighter atop the house of Bhag Singh is even more depictive. Here he has a pistol in one hand and the Tricolour in the other. Sarpanch Sukhwinder Singh of the village said, “There are about 430 families in the village and all have appreciated the move.”

In Leh today. Sitharaman to discuss border security

Leh, March 10

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is arriving in Leh on a day-long visit tomorrow.She is scheduled to attend the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s International Women’s Day function at Leh town. She will hand over the ‘Deep Lakshmi Baton’ to the next year’s host.She is also expected to meet the representatives of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. She will also interact with local farmers and women self-help groups. Sitharaman is also expected to review the security situation on the Indo-China border with the top Army officers. — OC

Army men at the Sunjuwan military station. File photo

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, March 5

The alleged mastermind of the “Sunjuwan attack” and operational commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the Kashmir valley, Mufti Waqas, was today shot dead in a brief encounter with security forces in the Lethpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.Waqas had taken over the reins of the Jaish following the killing of Noor Muhammad Tantray, alias Noor Trali, in December last year.The security forces are describing Waqas as a category A++ militant, directly involved in the planning of the fidayeen attack on the Army base camp in Sunjuwan, Jammu. Nine people, including five Army men, three militants and a civilian, were killed in the February 10 attack on the Army camp.According to police reports, there were specific inputs regarding the presence of militants in a residential house in the Hatiwara area of Lethpora in Pulwama district. “A joint team of the police, Army and the CRPF was dispatched to the area. As the cordon was being laid, a militant barged out of the house firing indiscriminately to shield himself,” a senior police officer said. He said the fire was duly retaliated, briefly, before the militant was gunned down. “The militant was later identified as Mufti Waqas of the JeM,” the police officer said. Waqas was the mastermind of several attacks and was active in south Kashmir since mid-2016, the officer added. Sources in the police, meanwhile, maintained that two more militants who were probably with Waqas managed to escape. Following the encounter, as the security forces were returning to the base, heavy stone-throwing erupted in the Lethpora area along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Dozens of youths came on to the streets and engaged the security forces in a pitched battle. There were no reports of any injuries during the clashes. The traffic on the national highway was halted for a while though.

A++ militant 

• Mufti Waqas had taken over the reins of the Jaish following the killing of Noor Muhammad Tantray, alias Noor Trali, in December last year.
• The security forces are describing Waqas as a category A++ militant, directly involved in the planning of the fidayeen attack on the Army base camp in Sunjuwan, Jammu.
• Waqas was the mastermind of several attacks and was active in south Kashmir since mid-2016

New Delhi, March 22

The government has removed the cap it had imposed last year on educational expenses paid to children of martyrs or those disabled in military action.In July 2017, the educational expenses paid to such children were capped at Rs 10,000 per month, impacting some 3,200 students studying in schools, colleges and professional institutions. The fee in professional colleges is about Rs 10 lakh per annum and there was no way for the affected students to pay up after the cap. The scheme applies equally to children of officers and jawans. The move resulted in a meager saving of less than Rs 4 crore per annum. The Tribune was the first to report on the  decision, following which the Ministry of Defence agreed to review the matter and referred it to the Ministry of Finance. The scheme was announced on December 18, 1971. — TNS

Nasreen Kouser (11), who was injured in cross-border shelling in Balakote sector of Poonch, being airlifted to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, on Sunday. PTI

Amir Karim Tantray & Shyam Sood

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Rajouri, March 18

Five members of a family were killed as the Pakistan army shelled civilian areas in Balakote sector of Poonch district on Sunday morning.Two girls — Nasreen Kouser (11) and her younger sister Mahreen Kouser (5) —were seriously injured in the incident. They were shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, after being airlifted by the Air Force from Rajouri.Those killed were identified as Muhammad Ramzan (35), his wife Malika Bi (32) and sons Abdul Rehman (14), Muhammad Rizwan (12) and Razzaq Ramzan (7) — all resident of Devta Sargloon village. The family was having breakfast in the verandah of their house when a shell landed there.The incident occurred around 8 am. Five of them were killed on the spot while two injured girls were shifted to Rajouri district hospital, from where they were airlifted to Jammu at noon.Five soldiers have also been injured in Pakistani shelling in Balakote sector. They have been identified as sepoy G Vishnak, Subedar Deshbandhu, Rifleman B Rai, Naik Jatinder Verma and Sepoy Rahul Pandey. Jammu-based PRO (Defence) Lt Col Devender Anand said the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked firing from 7.45 am to 11.30 am along the Line of Control (LoC) using small arms, 81mm and 120mm mortars.“Pakistan continues in its cowardly design of targeting civilians, their homes and livestock in villages close to the LoC. The deliberate provocation has resulted in loss of five civilian lives,” the PRO said. The Army retaliated strongly, effectively and proportionately to the dastardly act, he added. Earlier in the day, DGP Shesh Paul Vaid wrote on his Twitter page: “Due to shelling from across (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch, five members of a family died and two are injured who are being shifted to hospital.”Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed anguish over the loss of lives and stressed the need for peace “if we want to save people of the state”.The Pakistan army has violated the ceasefire agreement 777 times along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir till March 4 this year. The 63-day tally is half the figure for 2017, when it violated the agreement 1,411 times.Since January 1, 10 Indian soldiers have been killed along the LoC whereas a BSF jawan also fell to the enemy bullet in Tangdhar sector on February 20

J&K govt to take care of injured sisters

• The Jammu and Kashmir Government said it would take full care of the two injured sisters whose entire family, including parents and brothers, were killed in Pakistan shelling. “The government will take full care of the two girls (Nasreen and Mahreen), who have no one left to look after them in the family,” minister Naeem Akhtar said after meeting the two. PTI

C-17 Globemaster at Tuting airfield in Arunachal Pradesh. — ANI

New Delhi, March 13

The Indian Air Force’s largest transport aircraft — C-17 Globemaster — on Tuesday landed at Arunachal Pradesh’s Tuting airfield which is close to the Chinese border.The landing of the US-manufactured aircraft is seen as part of the IAF’s move to strengthen its overall operations in the strategically-key border state.”The C17 Globemaster carried out a historic landing at Tuting Advanced Landing Ground. The mission was executed flawlessly owing to its superlative performance and excellent flying skills of pilots,” said an IAF spokesperson.Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area. – PTI

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 13

The Chandigarh international airport will remain closed for operations from May 12 to May 31 for the second phase of runway repair, airport officials announced today.Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) public relations officer (PRO) Deepesh Joshi said, “As per the NOTAM (notice to airmen), no civil and military flights will operate from Chandigarh from May 12 to May 31.”The Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying out runway resurfacing work at the airport and as per directions of the High Court, the runway had to remain shut for 15 days on two occasions. The first phase was completed between February 12 and February 26.Airport sources said the contractor working on the runway requested for four additional days of closure since during the first phase, the repair work was hampered by inclement weather.The sources said the IAF might increase the operation hours from dawn to dusk after the end of the second period of closure. The watch hours at the airport, currently from 5 am to 4 pm, are likely to change to 7.20 am to 5.30 pm when the summer schedule comes into effect from March 25.Airport officials said the available runway length, which had been reduced to 7,200 ft for the resurfacing work, would increase to 9,000 ft and in due course of time to 10,400 ft.Suneel Dutt, CEO, CHIAL, said, “The upgrade of the runway will attract several airlines to operate long-haul flights from Chandigarh to popular destinations such as the US, Canada, Europe and the UK. After the completion of civil works on the runway, lighting work for the night landing facility will start and it will be completed on time.”The Federation of Indian Airlines, a private airlines’ body, had earlier written to the authorities, raising apprehensions regarding the proposed closure in May, considering that it was the peak time for airlines and airports.Second phase of runway repairThe Indian Air Force is carrying out runway resurfacing work at the airport and as per directions of the High Court, the runway had to remain shut for 15 days on two occasions. The first phase was completed between February 12 and February 26. The work on the second phase will be undertaken now. 

PTI file phto

New Delhi, March 5

Indian and Chinese troops have “redeployed” themselves away from the face-off site in Doklam, and China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel there, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.“Troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the Doklam face-off site. The strength of both sides has been reduced,” she said replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“To maintain these troops during winters, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undertaken construction of some infrastructure, including sentry posts, trenches and helipads,” she said.Last week, junior Defence Minister Subhash Bhamre had said that the situation along the China border is “sensitive” and it has the potential to escalate.Sitharaman’s reply today came in response to a question on whether satellite images have revealed that China has constructed seven helipads in Doklam, besides deploying tanks and missiles in the area.On whether India has taken up the matter with China, she said issues relating to the border are regularly taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels and at border personnel meetings, flag meetings and meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area. In January, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation. — PTI

New Delhi: In a shocking lapse, the Ministry of Defence has admitted that it was unsure whether or not a private vendor has fled with the personal data of about 50 lakh ex-servicemen and noted that it “cannot comment whether a copy of the same has been retained by the company or not”.

After maintaining a stony silence for over three months, the ministry finally responded to the issue raised by the Right to Information activist Commodore (retd) Lokesh K. Batra on March 22 and admitted that the data pertained to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

Biometric data was contained in smart card

Responding to the questions raised by Batra about the maintenance of data on ex-servicemen at ECHS, its joint director (information technology) said that in the “system of Smart Card which was in vogue till May 2015, the biometric data (left & right thumb impression only) of the individual was stored in the Smart Card”.

The ECHS further stated that “the Smart Card was in the custody of the individual” and that “no biometric data was stored in the system”.

ECHS does not know if company retained copy of data

It was the remaining part of the reply, however, which ought to send alarm bells ringing as the data pertained to ex-servicemen of all ranks. The ECHS official admitted: “The other personal data as per the contract stipulation was handed over to the ECHS on termination of contract. ECHS cannot comment whether a copy of the same has been retained by the company or not.”

So, as Batra said, no one knows if a copy of the data has been made or was being misused. The matter, incidentally, moved at a sharp pace within the ministry only in the past week after the under secretary in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare urged the commanding officer (CO), ECHS on March 16 to take “necessary action” within three days on the issues raised by Commodore Batra.

In the letter, the official, Jitender Kumar, had noted in the subject line that the matter pertained to “ECHS Smart Card/CSD Canteen Card made through ‘private vendor’ and issues related to personal information and data safety with ‘private vendor’.”

Further pursuing the matter, another under secretary in the Ministry of Defence, A.K. Karn, wrote a letter to the managing director of ECHS on March 21, after the three-day period had lapsed, pointing out that the CO of ECHS was earlier requested to take necessary action in the matter within three days on the issues raised by Batra and to apprise the ministry accordingly.

He further requested that the report or status on the matter related to biometric and personal information of ECHS Smart Card held with the private vendor be furnished to the ministry by the same evening and that the matter “be accorded top priority”.

Incidentally, even after this order of the defence ministry, Batra, who had been waiting for a response on his query for the last three months, was not too hopeful of an early reply. He had commented on social media that “cover-up will start now”.

‘Private vendors should be properly monitored’

The noted RTI activist said that the defence ministry should at least follow the same procedure as the Unique Identity Authority of India of taking affidavits from the private vendors. “If the vendor were to say that data has been destroyed …. how and who will ensure the truth?”

Stating that “50 lakh ESMs data is not a small number”, Batra had questioned if the private vendor had run away with the personal data of the nearly five million ex-servicemen