Monthly Archives: August 2018

Majid Jahangir & Suhail A Shah
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Anantnag, Oct 19

Security forces killed five militants in two operations in north Kashmir even as nine Army men, including a Major, were injured in an IED blast in south Kashmir.

Three unidentified militants were killed in a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control in Baramulla district. The operation began on Thursday morning when the Army noticed suspected movement close to the LoC near Tourna in the Boniyar sector, around 100 km from Srinagar.

“Challenged, the terrorists opened fire and the ensuing gunfight continued till late last evening. Three bodies were recovered from the dense forest area this morning,” a defence official said. “Four AK rifles, some haversacks and warlike stores have also been recovered.”

The combing operation was still underway in the area, he added.

The identity and affiliation of the slain militants could not be established immediately.

In a separate incident, two Pakistani militants affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed at Kralhar on the outskirts of Baramulla town.

Baramulla SSP Imtiyaz Husain said the militants, operating under code names Faizan and Wahab, were travelling in a Scorpio vehicle towards Baramulla when they were signalled to stop at a check-point. “Both terrorists were killed in a brief gunfight while a policeman suffered minor injuries,” Husain said. “The Scorpio driver has been arrested and the vehicle impounded.”

During searches, an AK rifle, an AK magazine, a UBGL, two Chinese pistols and some ammunition were seized.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said when the security men asked for the card from one person, he took out a pistol and fired at police and CRPF men.

“He was killed in retaliatory action while the second one fled while firing. He was chased and killed later,” Dilbag said.

A news portal quoted Jaish-e-Mohammad spokesman as having said that the two militants killed in Baramulla shootout were on a “special mission”. He, however, did not reveal the mission details.

In another incident, nine Army men, including a Major, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The massive blast occurred around 9.15 pm on Thursday at Trichal village on the outskirts of Pulwama town.

“A Casper vehicle of the 55 Rashtriya Rifles hit a landmine. The blast was followed by intense firing by militants,” a senior police officer said. A Major and eight soldiers sustained injuries in the blast. Militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Villagers alleged Army personnel went berserk after the blast and thrashed locals, injuring 15 civilians, seven of them women. They alleged their houses were also vandalised.

The DGP said the police were yet to receive any formal complaint in that regard. “If there is any such complaint, we will look into it,” he said.

Defence spokesperson Rajesh Kalia said the facts were being ascertained regarding the incident.

Pregnant woman killed in militant attack

A pregnant woman was killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after militants targeted an Army camp on Friday evening, officials said. Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli said the militants fired two UBGL grenades and also opened fire at the camp at Shadimarg, Pulwama. “Firdousa, daughter of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh of Qasbayar, Shadimarg, received a bullet injury in the exchange of fire. She was taken to Rajpora hospital, from there she was referred to District Hospital, Pulwama, where she succumbed,” he said. The doctors  said the slain woman was five months pregnant. TNS

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 15

For the second time in less than a month, the police have been caught off guard while militants stole rifles from under their nose.

On Sunday night, militants stole two carbines of the two personal security officers (PSOs) deployed at the residence of retired Senior Superintendent of Police Sheikh Ghulam Mohammad in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The two PSOs were not present at the house and had kept the weapons in a locked box.

While the pictures of the two carbines surfaced on the social media, claiming that the Jaish-e-Mohammed had looted the weapons, the police said they were investigating which group was involved in the incident.

“So far, the claim is on the social media. We are looking into it (Jaish claim) and all other angles,” said Vidhi Kumar Birdhi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, central Kashmir.

“We have found that the back door entry to the residence of the retired officer was open which has raised our suspicions. We will also be questioning the private employees working at the house,” the DIG said, adding that strict action would be taken against the policemen for “dereliction of duty”.

Apart from the two Personal Security Officers, there were four policemen to guard the residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police at Gopalpora, Chadoora. Of them, two were absent.

“As the militant barged into the house, they were looking for the weapons of the two police guards present there. When the policemen told the militants that they had no arms, they were thrashed. The militants found a locked box in which the two Personal Security Officers had kept their weapons and decamped with them,” a police officer said. “After the militants fled, they fired gunshots from a distance,” he said.

This is the second time that militants have managed to steal weapons in central Kashmir inless than a month.

On September 28, Special Police Officer Adil Bashir fled with seven rifles and a pistol from Peoples Democratic Party MLA Aijaz Mir’s government residence in Srinagar.

This year, militants have stolen 18 weapons in Srinagar and neighbouring Budgam district.

18 rifles stolen this year

• On Sunday night, militants stole two carbines of the two personal security officers deployed at the residence of retired SSP Sheikh Ghulam Mohammad in central Kashmir’s Budgam district
• On September 28, Special Police Officer Adil Bashir fled with seven rifles and a pistol from PDP MLA Aijaz Mir’s government residence in Srinagar
• This year, militants have stolen 18 weapons in Srinagar and neighbouring Budgam district

The Pentagon has announced that it is grounding its complete fleet of F-35s following preliminary investigations of a recent crash, pointing to the possibility of a widespread problem with the advanced fighter’s fuel tubes, The Marine Corps Time has reported.

On 28 September, single-seat Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II with Marine Corps training squadron VMFAT-501 crashed on a small island just miles from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The pilot, a US Marine, however, escaped unhurt and was ejected safely.

“The US Services and international partners have temporarily suspended F-35 flight operations while the enterprise conducts a fleet-wide inspection of a fuel tube within the engine on all F-35 aircraft,” the F-35 Joint Program Office announced in a statement released on Thursday morning.

The global fleet of F-35s — including Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy variants — will stay on the ground to enable inspectors to examine the airplanes’ engines.

Close to 320 jets would undergo inspections over the next 48 hours to check fuel tubes in engines that are made by Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United TechnologiesCorp.

The F-35 joint strike fighter is reportedly the most expensive program in the Pentagon’s history. The aircraft program is projected to cost about $1 trillion to develop, produce, field and sustain over its lifetime.

The F-35B has a single Pratt & Whitney engine and a lift fan made by Rolls-Royce that allows it to take off and land vertically.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said, “We are actively partnering with the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office, our global customers and Pratt & Whitney to support the resolution of this issue and limit disruption to the fleet.”

The US military has so far purchased 245 aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The Air Force has 156, the Marine Corps has 61 and the Navy has 28.

Britain, Italy, Australia, Israel and Norway are also flying the planes.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 9

Two women officers of the Army will ride motorbikes to compete in the 20th edition of the Raid De Himalaya, considered one of the 10 toughest high-altitude cross-country rallies of the world.

Maj K Renuka and Capt Prabhakaran Santheni will ride the Royal Enfield Himalayan at the Raid in the Moto Adventure category. Major Renuka is from the Armed Service Corps and Capt Santheni from the Army Nurse Corps (AMC). Capt Santheni is currently working at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi.

The Raid De Himalaya will begin tomorrow from Kargil. For the first time, the Army has also fielded a women’s team in Raid Xtreme (4X4), an extreme endurance event of marathon proportions. Maj Euthica of the ASC will drive a Maruti Gypsy at the Raid with navigator Capt Tejal Parashare, also of the ASC.

More than 200 competitors will race to Sankoo, the bowl-shaped valley known as Ladakh’s Gulmarg (valley of flowers). The Raid will also go to Umba La, a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.496 metres, and to Drass, called the gateway to Ladakh, in Kargil.

Maj Renuka is an experienced motorcyclist. In June 2018, she participated in the Himalayan Odyssey Women’s Edition, a motorcycle trip from Delhi to Khardung La and Leh. “Serving the Army is a huge empowerment for women. We are professional soldiers. For adventure, we go for trekking, mountaineering, scuba diving, white water rafting, cycling, run marathons,” said Maj Renuka, who has been a biker for close to 20 years now. She hails from Kovilpatti in Tamil Nadu.

Capt Santheni had to compete at the trials held by the Army at Agra in August when competitors for the Raid were selected. “I am in the Army, so willpower is not a problem. We have been preparing ourselves physically for competing in high-altitude areas and I am truly excited about the Raid,” said Capt Santheni, a Keralite from Chennai.

“It is for the first time this year that women officers are riding motorcycles and also competing in Moto Xtreme 4X4. This is a positive message for gender equality,” president, Himalayan Motorsport, Vijay Parmar said.

200 will race to Ladakh 

• More than 200 competitors will race to Sankoo, the bowl-shaped valley known as Ladakh’s Gulmarg
• The Raid will also go to Umba La, a high mountain pass at 4.496 metres, and to Drass in the Kargil sector

China has always been saying its airports in Tibet are coming up for regional connectivity and not for offensive operations, Air Chief BS Marshal Dhanoa said

 Chinese JH7 fighter-bomber jet takes off from an airfield (File)

New Delhi, October 27

Separatism in Jammu and Kashmir is more out of convenience rather than conviction and the children of separatists are enjoying while those of common people are suffering, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said terrorism in the Valley was mercenary in nature and was not driven by any conviction, ideology or motivation.

“It is paid terrorism perpetrated, funded and sponsored by hostile powers which all of us know,” Singh said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

“There is no such issue as Kashmir issue. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of the Indian union very much like other states,” he said. Singh said if at all there was any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, it was to retrieve Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and restore the original culture and demographic character of the state, “which would be possible only by the return of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community”.

“Separatists stand exposed. Separatism in Kashmir is more out of convenience rather than conviction, which is not easily palatable but it is a fact,” Singh said at an event here last night.

He also came down heavily on mainstream politicians for practising what he described as “opportunistic separatism”.

Speaking at the event, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said for the last 50 years, the political leadership in the state had only made false promises to the people. “Be it the promise of freedom, freedom with Pakistan’s help or autonomy,” he said.

The Governor said the need of the hour was to tell people that armed struggle was not the solution. “The policy of healing touch is needed, but what is needed more is development and removing corruption and unemployment,” he added.

“I don’t have the mandate for a dialogue. It’s with the Prime Minister and with the political parties and other stakeholders,” he said.

Malik also said a litany of lies was being propagated about the situation in Kashmir, which in reality was not that bad.

“More people die in Bihar and UP than the number of casualties that take place in Kashmir,” he said. — PTI

On Hurriyat

The problem with Hurriyat is that they can’t even go to the toilet without Pakistan. They want to include Pakistan in everything. I have made it clear that we won’t have anything to do with Pakistan in Kashmir. —Satya Pal Malik, J&K Governor

On freedom model

The separatists’ freedom model is fake. It is a model that follows the pattern of getting the neighbours’ children to become jihadis and lodging your own children in safe havens. —Jitendra Singh, MOS, PMO

On stone-pelters

Stone-pelters are nothing but overground workers of terror outfits. I still say the same… if they can kill people with such acts, are they not becoming like terrorists?  —Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief

New Delhi, October 19

Pakistan on Friday accused India of destabilising South Asia through its purchase of S-400 ‘Triumph’ air defence missiles from Russia. During the annual strategic summit dialogue between PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin in Delhi this month, the two sides concluded the contract for the supply of the S-400 long range surface to air missile system to India at a cost of $5.4 billion.

“The Indian purchase of S-400 missile system is a part of their efforts to acquire a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System through multiple sources. This will further destabilise strategic stability in South Asia, besides leading to a renewed arms race,” said an official statement from Islamabad. — T

Due to freezing cold in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.17 Oct 2018 | 2:15 PM

MANDI: The administration of Lahaul Spiti has closed the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza roads for winter in view of public safety. Due to freezing temperature and recent snow in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.

Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 16

The administration of Lahaul Spiti has closed the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza roads for winter in view of public safety.

Due to freezing temperature and recent snow in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.

Ashwani Kumar Chaudhari, DC, said, “The Border Roads Organisation had informed us to stop vehicles on these routes in view of public safety. Due to high altitude, the Kunzum Pass and Bara-lacha La may receive heavy snow anytime which may put lives of commuters at risk.”

He said due to sudden snowfall on September 22, a large number of vehicles had been stuck on the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza road. It took weeks for the district administration to get them out.

The DC asked the police to stop visitors leaving for Leh or Kaza. He also urged the people to follow the instruction.

“However, the traffic between the Manali-Keylong road via Rohtang is normal,” said the DC.

New Delhi: Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday said the Russian Army is “very keen” on associating with the Indian Army, while stressing on the independence of Indian policymaking.

“Russians are very keen on associating with the Indian Army because we are very capable. We are capable of standing for what is right for us,” General Rawat said at the inaugural General K V Krishna Rao Memorial Lecture at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

“When Russians asked about the American sanctions, my reply was, ‘Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy. You can be rest assured. While we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy’,” he said.

General Rawat added, “I further told them, ‘While we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are signing the treaty on the purchase of the S-400 weapon system in spite of the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future and a $5.3 billion deal has been signed between the two countries.”

The Army chief also said that India is “looking forward to getting Kamov helicopters”. “We are also looking forward to getting other weapon systems, space-based systems and technologies to enhance our space capabilities.”

General Rawat, who recently undertook a six-day visit to Russia, met the top brass of the Russian Armed Forces and key military formations and establishments. The delegation also visited the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Military Academy, the Headquarters of Western Military District in St. Petersburg and General Staff Academy.