Jammu, January 15

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) died on Tuesday apparently after suffering a massive heart attack while performing his duty near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The JCO was on duty at a post in Sonawali Gali in Mankote sector when he suddenly fell unconscious on Tuesday morning, they said.

The officer was shifted to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said, adding that the body was handed over to his unit after legal formalities. PTI

After successfully leading ‘Operation All Out’ against militants in Kashmir, general officer commanding 15 Corps Lt. Gen A.K. Bhatt will hand over command to Lt. Gen. KVS Dhillon.

Bhatt is credited for presiding over one of the most successful anti-militancy operations in a decade during which 248 militants were killed and five others surrendered. He had taken over the command of 15 Corps, also called Chinar Corps, in February 2018.

Army sources in 15 Corps told THE WEEK that Bhatt will be placed as a military secretary in army headquarters in Delhi. The new posting is seen as an acknowledgment of his excellent leadership in combating militancy in Kashmir, especially in the restive south Kashmir.

Under his command, the army also observed NICO (non-initiation of combat operations) against militants in the month of Ramzan in 2018. He also supervised the killing of 17 most wanted commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and Lashkar-e-Toiba, including those from Pakistan.

Sources told THE WEEK that Dhillon’s name has been cleared by the authorities concerned for the posting. He has served in Kashmir before in different capacities. He has commanded 7 Sector RR (Rashtriya Rifles) which is the lead anti-militancy force of the army in Kashmir and northeast.

According to sources, Dhillon’s appointment was made in view of his grasp of Kashmir situation and leadership qualities. His appointment comes ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly polls and the proposed US withdrawal in Afghanistan.

Security agencies in Kashmir fear that the US withdrawal in Afghanistan could impact the situation in Kashmir. There is fear that militant groups could receive greater help from Pakistan and possibly the Taliban if the US pulls out of Afghanistan. Militant groups like Jaish could also rope in some of their contacts in Afghanistan for help in Kashmir. The army, however, is aware of the challenge as it has effectively thwarted repeated attempts by militants to intrude into Kashmir.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently told Rajya Sabha that the Centre was ready to hold assembly elections in the state after which the security forces, especially army, have increased vigil on the LoC.

The decision to handover 15 Corps’ command to Dhillon comes two months after the state administrative council, led by Governor Satya Pal Malik, cleared Dilbag Singh as the full-time police chief of J&K.

New Delhi, January 8

Upping the ante over HAL’s reported cash crunch, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid Rs 20,000 crore to France’s Dassault Aviation even though it had not delivered a single Rafale jet, but refused to pay the dues of the Indian aerospace major.

Gandhi’s attack comes a day after he accused the Modi government of weakening public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and destroying India’s strategic capability in order to benefit industrialist Anil Ambani.

“The PM pays 20,000 Cr. to Dassault before a single RAFALE is delivered but refuses to pay HAL 15,700 Cr. it is owed, forcing it to borrow 1,000 Cr to pay salaries,” Gandhi tweeted.

“Meanwhile, the RM (Raksha Mantri) spins lie after lie but cannot answer my questions,” he said.

Gandhi also shared a video of his statement outside Parliament on Monday following Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks in Parliament rejecting “doubts” raised by the Congress on her statement on HAL.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Monday, Gandhi had alleged: “The strategy of the government is—weaken HAL, do not give it money, destroy India’s strategic capability and give the ‘gift’ to Anil Ambani. That is the plan and that is what we are trying to thwart.”

The Congress and the BJP-led NDA government have been involved in a war of words after a media report claimed that HAL, grappling with low finances, was forced to borrow Rs 1,000 crore to pay salaries to its employees, for the first time in years.

There was another report that claimed “not a single rupee of the said Rs 1 lakh crore has come to HAL, since not a single order, as claimed, has been signed till now”.

The Congress has been targeting the government, alleging that it denied HAL an offset contract under the Rafale fighter jets deal with France, a charge the government has denied.

Ambani has also rejected all such allegations.

On the other hand, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has accused the Congress of not supporting HAL during its rule and asserted that the government is now strengthening the defence public sector undertaking. PTI

Privilege notice against Nirmala for ‘misleading’

New Delhi, January 7

The Congress today moved a privilege notice against Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for allegedly “misleading” the Lok Sabha during the debate on Rafale deal.

Congress’ KC Venugopal submitted a breach of privilege notice against Sitharaman that Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said was “under my consideration”.

Venugopal accused Sitharaman of misleading the House on two counts. “She told the House that Rs 1 lakh crore worth orders were given to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which is false… During her reply on Rafale deal on Friday, she also misled the House by claiming that the Supreme Court has approved the government’s stand on pricing of jets and purposefully avoided to inform the House that the court in fact has said that it will not go into pricing details of the jets,” said Venugopal. — IANS

New Delhi, January 2

The CBI has booked five Army personnel, including a colonel, for allegedly receiving bribes worth Rs 18 lakh from a supplier of rations for troops posted in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

This is the second case in the recent past when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against army officers for corruption in supplies.

In the latest case, the CBI has registered an FIR against Colonel Raman Dahda, Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Kumar, Subedar Devender Kumar, Havildar Abhay Singh, Subedar Sahuran Sahu and supplier K K Yangfo for criminal conspiracy.

Dahda was the then Commanding Officer of the 556 Army Supply Corps and Mahendra Kumar a platoon commander.

They have been also booked under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It is alleged that the officers received Rs 18 lakh in cash from civilian contractors in regard to procurement of fresh and dry rations for troops deployed in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The action was taken on the basis of a complaint from the Army.

It is alleged that Dahda misused his official position and received Rs 4.15 lakh from supplier Yangfo through two transactions in the account Dahda’s father.

According to the complaint, Mahender Kumar, who was responsible for quality check, misused his official position and took Rs 1 lakh as bribe.

Subedar Devender Kumar allegedly took a bribe of Rs 2.04 lakh, Havildar Abhay Kumar Rs 98,000 and Subedar Sahuran Saho Rs 7.65 lakh in three transactions from Yangfo.

Yangfo, a civilian contractor in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, supplied ration for the Army between 2015 and 2017.

The CBI carried out a preliminary inquiry which revealed that undue advantage was paid to an entire chain of officials and unit representatives involved in checking of quality and quantity of items being supplied by Yangfo.

Following the inquiry the agency has registered an FIR against the suspects.

The agency had registered a similar FIR against Lt Col Amit Sharma and Lt Col Sutikshan Rana, officers of the Army Service Corps, who allegedly received bribes worth Rs 82 lakh between 2012 and 2016 from a supplier of ration in Nagaland. – PTI

Our Correspondent

Anantnag, January 1

A Special Police Officer (SPO) was shot by militants in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Tuesday evening here.

After a violent 2018 that claimed more than 413 lives in the Kashmir valley, the SPO has become the first casualty of 2019.

The slain SPO has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Mir, a resident of Hajin-Payeen village in the Rajpora area of Pulwama district.

It is the same village where four Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed on Saturday. The police said the attack occurred at 7.30 pm.

“The militants barged into the house of the SPO and fired at him several times,” a police officer said.

Sameer was being taken to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Following the incident, security forces reached the spot. They have laid a cordon in the area to try and nab the assailants.

Army Chief arrives for two-day Valley visit 

Srinagar: The Chief of Army Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, on Tuesday arrived in the Kashmir valley on a two-day visit. He interacted with the troops and reviewed the prevailing security situation along the LoC and in the hinterland. Accompanied by Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Chinar Corps GOC Lt Gen AK Bhatt, the Army Chief visited the frontier district of Kupwara, where he interacted with the troops. TNS

Tribune News Service
Ambala, January 2

Air Commodore DS Joshi took over the command of Air Force Station, Ambala, as Air Officer Commanding (AOC). A ceremonial parade was held at the Air Force Station on Wednesday. He has taken over command from Air Commodore LK Chawla, Vayu Sena Medal.

An alumnus of Sainik School Satara and National Defence Academy, Air Commodore DS Joshi was commissioned on January 16, 1990, in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force.

He is an experienced fighter pilot with more than 3,200 hours of accident-free flying on MiG-21 and Jaguar and has instructed on MIG-21, Kiran MKI/II and HPT-32 aircraft.

He is a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner (IRIE). He has been a Chief Flying Instructor at Air Force Academy and commanded an Air Defence Direction Centre in the Eastern sector.

Joshi is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College and College of Defence Management and has served as directing staff at both these institutions. He has been the Director, Air War Strategy Cell, at Air Headquarters.

Prior to current appointment, he was the Staff Officer-I to the Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters.

Hemangi Joshi took over as president of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (local) from Swapna  Chawla

Islamabad, January 2

The Pakistan Army claimed to have shot down an “Indian spy quadcopter” flying over the Pakistani side of the Line of Control in Bagh sector, a claim strongly rejected by the Indian Army.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations–the Pakistan Army’s media wing–released the picture of the drone in a tweet on Tuesday.

“Pakistan Army troops shot down Indian spy quadcopter in Bagh sector along Line of Control (LoC),” he said in the tweet.

Ghafoor said not even a quadcopter would be allowed to cross (the) LoC.

In New Delhi, the Indian Army sources strongly rejected the Pakistan Army’s claim of shooting down the “Indian spy quadcopter”, saying no such incident happened along the LoC.

According to the Pakistani defence officials, “four intruding Indian drones were shot down by Pakistani forces last year”. PTI

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 25

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat is among 19 senior Army officials who have been conferred the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), the highest military medal awarded in recognition of peacetime services not relating to gallantry. Fifteen Lieutenant Generals and three Major Generals have been awarded the PVSM.

Two senior officers Lt Gen Surinder Singh, Western Army Commander, and Lt Gen MM Naravane, Eastern Army Commander, will be accorded the PVSM.

Besides, President Ram Nath Kovind approved one Ashoka Chakra, which is the highest gallantry award in peacetime, two Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, nine Shaurya Chakras and 109 Sena medals for the Army personnel.

The Navy personnel will be decorated with seven Nao Sena medals and the IAF with two Vayu Sena medals for gallantry.

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani will be posthumously conferred with the Ashok Chakra. The Kirti Chakra will be awarded for separate acts of bravery to Major Tushar Gauba from the Jat Regiment and Sowar Vijay Kumar, 22 Rashtriya Rifles, the latter posthumously.

On May 24 last year, Major Gauba had eliminated three terrorists. Sowar Vijay Kumar was part of the operation. He got injured, but refused evacuation and killed two terrorists.

The Shaurya Chakra awardees include Capt Abhay Sharma, 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. He was the party commander tasked to undertake patrolling against enemy Border Action Team along LoC in Jammu district in April last. Besides shooting down the enemy, the team also destroyed three bunkers, recovered enemy weapon and ensured safe extrication.

Lt Col Vikrant Prasher of 10 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Major Amit Kumar Dimri from 14 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Imliakum Keitzar from 4th Gorkha Rifles, Major Rohit Lingwal of 9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Capt Abhinav Kumar Choudhary from 21 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Ayyub Ali from 9th battalion of Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Ajay Kumar, 42nd battalion of Rashtriya Rifles, and Sapper Mahesh HN, 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles also won the Shaurya Chakra.

In the IAF, both Vayu Sena medals for gallantry are for rescue efforts during floods. Wing Commander Bhuvanendran Nair Prasanth rescued 13 college girls stranded on a rooftop. Sergeant Amit Kumar Jha has been awarded for rescuing people during cyclonic storm “Ockhi” in Kerala.

In the Navy, Commander Vijay Verma, a helicopter pilot, is on the list for Nao Sena medal for gallantry. He had rescued two pregnant women during the floods. Another naval copter pilot Commander T Anup Kumar has been awarded for another daring rescue. Another copter pilot Lt Commander Manu Mishra saved a merchant vessel from spilling its cargo of toxic chemicals into the Bay of Bengal.

Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Lt Gen PM Hariz, whom Gen Rawat supereseded, were conferred the PVSM in 2017

Army Chief Rawat among 19 awarded PVSM, 2 Army men conferred Kirti Chakra

New Delhi, January 25

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat is among 19 senior Army officials who have been conferred the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the highest military medal awarded in recognition of peace-time services not relating to gallantry.

Almost all commanders who became Army Chief in the past four decades had been decorated with the award before their appointment to the top post, according to defence experts.

Fifteen lieutenant generals and three major generals have also been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM).

The defence ministry also announced Kirti Chakra—India’s second highest peacetime gallantry award—for Major Tushar Gauba from the Jat Regiment and Sowar Vijay Kumar ((posthumously)) from 22 Rashtriya Rifles.

Nine Army men have been awarded Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra.

Major Gauba has been given the award for displaying “unparallel bravery” while dealing with a group of terrorists along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir in May last year.

Army officials said he crawled up to 20 metres close to the terrorists under heavy firing and then lobbed a hand grenade. Showing utter disregard to his personal safety, he charged on the terrorists with his weapon.

“In close combat undeterred by the terrorists’ fire, he killed three militants. His act of unparallel bravery under heavy terrorist fire, tactical acumen and swift action resulted in elimination of three hardcore terrorists,” said an Army official.

About Vijay Kumar, Army officials said he was deployed in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir as part of “Operation Vijay Darsu” on August 2-3 last year.

During the operation, Kumar came under heavy fire from a group of heavily armed terrorists. However, despite being injured after killing one terrorist, he refused evacuation and went ahead to eliminate another in hand to hand combat.

He has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra for displaying “indomitable raw courage and exemplary bravery beyond the call of duty”.

The Shaurya Chakra awardees included Lieutenant Colonel Vikrant Prasher of 10 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Major Amit Kumar Dimri from 14 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Imliakum Keitzar from 4^th Gorkha Rifles, Major Rohit Lingwal of 9^th battalion, Parachute Regiment and Captain Abhay Sharma, first battalion, Parachute Regiment, according to the defence ministry.

Captain Abhinav Kumar Choudhary from 21 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Ayyub Ali from 9^th battalion of Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Ajay Kumar, 42^ndbattalion of Rashtriya Rifles and Sapper Mahesh HN, 44^th battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles also won the Shaurya Chakra.

Three lieutenant generals were chosen for Uttam Yudh Seva Medal while 32 army personnel have been conferred with Ati Vishisht Seva medal and nine with Yudh Seva medal.

According to the defence ministry, 103 Army personnel were awarded the Sena Medal (gallantry), 74 were given Vishisht Seva medal and 35 Army personnel were selected for Sena Medal (distinguished). PTI

Tiruchirappalli, January 20

To accelerate indigenous production of defence systems, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today inaugurated Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor that is expected to attract Rs 3,123.50 crore worth of investment.

Inaugurating the corridor, Sitharaman said the Centre had decided on two corridors — in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu — despite demands from states like Karnataka and Maharashtra.

She also spoke about the Defence Ministry’s initiatives to ensure that the Indian industry engages with the country’s armed forces to co-create best defence technologies. Sitharaman said the development of these specialised corridors will facilitate a well-planned and efficient industrial base.

Several public and private sector organisations announced investment projects worth about Rs 3,100 crore, said the Defence Ministry. Major players like Lockheed Martin, LMW and others announced their plans to set up units in the corridor.

The Ordinance Factory Board announced its plans to invest about Rs 2,305 crore. Among the investors are BEL (Rs 140.50 crore), BEML (Rs 40 crore), BDL (Rs 150 crore), MDL (Rs 15 crore), TVS (Rs 30 crore) and Data Patterns (Rs 75 crore). — IANS

Rs 3K-cr investment  

• Nirmala Sitharaman said UP too would have a defence corridor
• The aim, she said, was to facilitate well-planned and efficient industrial base
• TN corridor has attracted an investment of Rs 3,123.50 cr