Monthly Archives: August 2018

Our Correspondent

Payal, July 11

Guardians of Governance (GOG) in Payal subdivision have announced to support the administration in their fight against drug menace.Besides identifying and persuading drug addicts to undergo de-addiction programme at government centres, the volunteers will also provide information about anti-social elements involved in drug trafficking.Announcement to associate with the crusade launched against drug abuse was made in response to an appeal made by the Payal circle police during a meeting held under the supervision of DSP Rachhpal Singh Dhindsa.Payal DSP Rachhpal Singh Dhindsa said the Guardians of Governance (GOG) led by Col Surjit Singh Ghaloti, in-charge, Payal segment, and supervisor Captain Shingara Singh had announced that volunteers of the segment would work to implement the government’s programme in curbing drug menace in the region.He said the beat officers supervised by Payal SHO Gurmel Singh had convened meetings with office-bearers and activists of various organisations led by Col Surjit Singh Ghaloti, Captain Shingara Singh, Captain Bhupinder Singh Bilaspur, Captain Gian Singh Bhikhi Khatra and Havaldar Shingara Singh Jagera to seek cooperation in the success of Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) scheme and rehabilitation of drug addicts in their respective areas.Showing satisfaction over the outcome of meetings with GOGs, DSP Dhindsa said the volunteers were overwhelmed after being entrusted responsibility on acting as vital constituents of the task force against drug menace.“As GOGs figure is the highest among other segments in society, we hope to achieve the desired target of making the circle drug-free soon,” said Dhindsa, adding that a majority of GOGs had already started working to identify and rehabilitate drug addicts.

Chandigarh: The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has started seven new Volvo buses from five cities of Punjab to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Transport Minister Aruna Chaudhary said this here on Sunday. These cities are Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur. Earlier, the PRTC Volvo buses just used to drop passengers at the airport. Now, these can pick up passengers as well. The service began on Jly 1. tns

Gorakhpur, July 8

The UP Police have booked a former cook of the Indian Air Force officers’ mess under the Official Secrets Act for possessing confidential information, including take-off schedule of the IAF’s fighter planes.A native of Banka district in Bihar, Shashikant Jha was initially detained by the IAF and later handed over to the police on being found in possession of sensitive information about the IAF, said Inspector Pradeep Shukla of Shahpur police station on Sunday. “The Air Force officials had detained Jha on Saturday after finding on him information pertaining to take-off schedule of fighter planes inside the Air Force station campus,” he said.The police have booked him under the OSA and recovered documents, including a map of the IAF station in Gorakhpur, and other secret information, Shukla said. The police learnt that Jha worked at IAF officers’ mess till September 2017. He used to note down secret information while hearing officers’ conversation. — PTI

New Delhi, July 2The CBI has arrested Rakesh Kumar Garg, Chief Engineer (Naval Works), Military Engineer Services (MES), Naval Base, Kochi, and five others in an alleged bribery case.Around Rs 1.21 crore was recovered from accused during the trap. It was alleged that the accused Chief Engineer was demanding and collecting illegal gratification from contractors for issuing various civil contracts. It was also alleged that the accused was receiving bribe through his conduit and others using hawala and direct payment mode.Searches were conducted at 20 places, including Delhi, Kochi (Kerala), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kolkata, Hisar and Rohtak (Haryana) on various premises of the accused and others leading to further recovery of around Rs 3.97 crore and 6 kg gold biscuits.Incriminating documents seized during the searches are being scrutinised.The FIR said that Garg, who was head of the office at Kochi, allegedly demanded bribe of 1 per cent of the contract amount from contractors for issuing various civil contracts. — TNS

5th Model United Nations concludes with decorum, fanfare

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 28

“Talks and terror cannot go together and investing in young people, who carry the future of the country on their shoulder, will help maintain a fine balance that differentiates between war and peace, violence and non-violence.”These were the concluding words of former Chief of the Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, on the closing day of the Model United Nations (MUN) at Strawberry Fields High School in Sector 26, here on Saturday.As he awarded young students, who had shown exemplary leadership and excellence during the four-day MUN hosted by Strawberry Fields High School for the fifth year in a row, an audience of around 500 students and teachers gave him a resounding applause, echoing his sentiment and expectations from the citizens of tomorrow.The 5th MUN concluded with befitting decorum and fanfare. The school campus was abuzz with student delegates in the final exchanges of deliberations and resolutions.The ambient environs, state-of-the-art facilities of the school that served as committee rooms for three full days of discussions, deliberations, sharing of views and counter-views was as close as it could get to a simulated setting of the UN Headquarters.The school’s Newton Hall was filled to capacity, eager to interact as General Bikram Singh explained that the two most important requirements for success were moral and physical courage.Emphasising the virtue of integrity, the former Army Chief opined that the need of the hour was that the youth must imbibe technical and conceptual skills keeping up the spirit of enquiry. Reminding students of the Kargil victory which was possible due to the ‘never say die’ attitude of the Indian Army, he responded to a question on revoking of AFSPA as it impinged on human rights, he explained it was a last resort to aiding civil authority.According to General Singh, if a volatile situation could not be handled by the police, the custodians of law, then, the Army was obligated to step in.He made it clear that they were usually called back soon, but if the crisis did not resolve in a given time period, the area was declared to be ‘disturbed’ and the Army took on greater power, could issue search warrants, arrest offenders and even use firearms if necessary.He explained that the Army had legal cover during such times. He was of the opinion that since India had such ‘hostile, disputed and porous borders’, this was necessary and must carry on ‘untampered and undiluted’.The General shared his views on national power and the relationship that India and Pakistan share today. He was of the view that there needed to be an interface on several fronts, namely economic, information, military, political and diplomatic.Speaking on the occasion, Atul Khanna, Director, Durga Das Foundation, said: “Sensitising young people to present day realities and future concerns is important. It is their energy, optimism, maturity and diplomacy that will make the world of tomorrow more livable, more equal and more just. The MUN is an excellent way of bringing about that awareness and sense of responsibility.”

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 28

Incessant rain in most parts of Uttarakhand threw normal life out of gear on Saturday. All schools remained shut in Dehradun as the district administration had declared a holiday on Saturday.According to the state disaster management authority, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway (NH-108) had remained blocked since morning due to debris falling in Maneri and Naytala. While the Rishikesh- Yamunotri (NH-94) national highway was also blocked at Ojri, Sayanchatti, Dabarkot and Ranachatti. The district authorities said JCB machines were being utilised for removing debris. There may be no respite from rain on Sunday as the Met Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain, which is likely to occur in Dehradun, Nainital, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Haridwar and Pauri in the next 72 hours. On Friday, Rishikesh recorded 132mm of rain, Mussoorie recorded 99 mm, Haridwar 96 mm, Dehradun 98.8 mm, Uttarkashi 65 mm, Tehri 60 mm and Mukteshwar 19 mm.  In Dehradun, 45 roads were blocked, most of these are in Tyuni in Chakrata. In Tyuni, shopkeepers had been asked to remain vigilant as the water level in the Tons river had swollen. In Haridwar, waterlogging occurred at several places in Pathri village. A bridge that connects Sidcul and Haridwar has developed cracks due to the seasonal rivulet flowing underneath. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh had instructed the Disaster Management Department to remain alert keeping in view the continuous rain and Met Department predicting further rainfall in the region. Immediate response system (IRS) has also been made fully active.

The India army has downplayed reports about heightened activity by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Doklam plateau and attributed this more to the rotation of troops and winter stocking than a desire by China to strengthen its presence in a region where armies of the two countries were locked in an uneasy 73-day standoff last year.

The PLA, the Indian army (out of Doklam, or Doka La as India calls it) and the Royal Bhutanese Army (at Chela Post) are stocking their posts for winter. When there’s a changeover for troops, the strength of the posts is temporarily doubled with outgoing troops briefing their incoming counterparts.

The army’s explanation comes after US Congresswoman Ann Wagner said during a US Congressional hearing on Wednesday that the Chinese PLA had resumed activities in Doklam.

The army officers cited above added that, specifically, the PLA battalion guarding the Batang La-Meru La-Sincha La axis, which is part of the Doklam plateau, is being rotated with supporting logistics activity.

“As in the past year, the PLA plans to stay put in Doklam area this winter; the other two armies (India and Bhutan) are also stocking up for normal heavy snows in this mountainous region,” said one of the officers.

The Chinese PLA has around 700 troopers in the Doklam area with a back-up of heavy vehicles and large prefabricated barracks.

The Torsa Nullah, which meets Amu Chu in Chinese territory, divides the plateau in such a way that 60% is under Chinese control and the remaining with India.

Contrary to the reports, the PLA has no surface-to-air missiles or S-300 systems placed in the area as they would be sitting ducks in times of hostility with the Indian Army sitting on the dominating heights of Doklam plateau, the officers said. The Chinese do have surface-to-air missiles, but these are stationed deep within Chinese territory, in Yadong, the officers added. The Royal Bhutan Army also has a significant number of troopers at Chela Post to monitor Chinese movement despite Beijing putting pressure on Thimpu to resolve the border dispute between the two countries.

Although the Chinese PLA had been sending patrols to meet Bhutanese troops after crossing the Torsa Nullah gorge on Doklam since the previous decade, the 2017 stand-off occurred as the PLA tried to carve out a road to reach Jhampheri ridge at the point close to Indian positions in Doklam and where the Torsa Nullah was crossable on all-terrain military vehicles.

According to Indian Army officers, if the PLA had been allowed to cross the nullah at that place, the Indian positions would have been rendered vulnerable.

ndian Army Recruitment 2018: The Indian Army on Saturday began the application process to fill 14 vacancies for the Short Service Commission (SSC). The unmarried male and female candidates within the age limit of 21 to 27 years can apply for the post via the official website @ joinindianamy.nic.in.

The Indian Army on Saturday began the application process to fill 14 vacancies for the Short Service Commission (SSC). The unmarried male and female candidates within the age limit of 21 to 27 years can apply for the post via the official website @ joinindianamy.nic.in. The interested applicants can apply for the post on or before August 16, 2018. As per the notification, there are total seven seats for both the male and female candidates. The candidates having a background in law can also apply for the posts of Judge Advocate General (JAG) entry Scheme 22nd Course April 2019. The selected candidates will be first kept on a probation period for six months.

Here we have listed the steps you need to follow to apply for the Indian Army Recruitment 2018:

• First of all, visit the official website of Indian Army’s official website- joinindianarmy.nic.in.
• After the website gets displayed on your screen, click the ‘APPLY/LOGIN’ button popping on the screen.
• The candidate then has to fill the application form available at the website.
• In the application form, fill all your details including your name, address, e-mail, mobile number, category and educational qualification.
• After filling the form, make the payment and confirm your registration.
• Download a copy of the registration and take a printout for the future reference.

Also Read: SSC GD Constable Recruitment 2018-2019: Notification, Age Limit, Eligibility, Syllabus and How to apply for 54,953 posts

Indian Army Recruitment 2018 Eligibility Criteria:

The applicants should have an LLB Degree with at least 55% marks from a college or University recognised by the Bar Council of India. The applicants can go through the official notification to go through the other details of the exam including syllabus, exam pattern and exam dates etc.

According to the News18, the shortlisted candidates will be selected on the basis of the Service Selection Board Interview.

Also Read: UPSC Prelims Result 2018: Civil Services prelims result declared @ upsc.gov.in

Here is the list of Selection Centers:

• Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
• Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
• Bangalore (Karnataka)
• Kapurthala (Punjab)

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Kriyad Yogesh Bhankhariya (30) reportedly had alcohol dependency and mental issues for which he was initially treated in the psychiatric ward of the Army Base Hospital.

The Delhi High Court Friday ordered that the Indian Air Force (IAF) allow one of its non-commissioned officers, who it had allegedly confined to a mental ward for 77 days, to go home with his father. Kriyad Yogesh Bhankhariya (30) reportedlady h alcohol dependency and mental issues for which he was initially treated in the psychiatric ward of the Army Base Hospital. In June, he was shifted to the medical centre at Tughlakabad Air Force Station.

His father Yogesh Kumar (54), through counsel Md Azam Ansari, claimed Kriyad, a corporal, was illegally and forcibly confined at the psychiatric ward without his consent and prior intimation. The father also told the court that his son stopped drinking heavily in 2008, and was only a social drinker.

The IAF, represented by the Centre’s standing counsel Ripudaman Bhardwaj, claimed that the decision was taken for Kriyad’s well-being. The IAF’s counsel also contended that the man should give an undertaking that he will not drink and create ruckus during duty hours.
Responding to the IAF’s stand, a bench of Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Vinod Goel said, “It is a great danger and the person may lose his life if kept beyond the mandatory time limit for any treatment, which is 28 days in the present case.”

“It cannot be a casual approach in this kind of treatment,” it said, adding that “the man has already undergone treatment and it seems, after talking to him, that he is fine”.

“Let him go home straight with his father,” the bench said, telling Kriyad that “we expect that you do not let us down in any manner and join your duty”.

It also directed authorities and the IAF that the man be allowed to visit the doctor on appointment before July 17.
Speaking to The Indian Express later, Yogesh said he had spent many sleepless nights in his son’s absence, and that he is “fine” now. He also alleged Kriyad was force-fed medication.

The court also said the newly enacted Mental Healthcare Act, which came into force on July 2018, made it clear that a person could not be forced to undergo treatment without his consent, adding that the IAF “cannot ignore the laws of the country”.

Terming the conduct of the IAF “irresponsible”, the bench wondered how many such cases were yet to be highlighted. “This practice should be stopped immediately and the Mental Healthcare Act should be applied to all its (IAF’s) centres,” said the bench.

It also asked the IAF for Kriyad’s treatment record, and a report on the protocol for dealing with issues of stress and substance abuse in the force, on the next date of hearing, August 17.