Monthly Archives: August 2018

Supreme Court recently asked the Election Commission to allow Army personnel to vote like ordinary citizens at the place of their voting. File photo
Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, March 8

After the Supreme Court recently asked the Election Commission to allow Army personnel to vote like ordinary citizens at the place of their voting, the process of enrolment of nearly 7,000 jawans and officers posted at the Kapurthala Brigade started today.
The Kapurthala District Election staff today organised a camp for Kapurthala Military Station at the shopping complex of the new cantonment here. All armed personnel and their dependents posted here were provided Form No. 6 so that they could enrol themselves as general voters. The camp will continue for another day. Earlier, 15 lakh Army personnel used to exercise their franchise though postal ballots, which often used to get misplaced or reached late.

Lt Col HS Sangha (retd), an ex-serviceman who hails from Kala Sanghian village in Kapurthala and was a part of the camp, said, “While serving in the Army, we hardly got a chance to vote. But with the Supreme Court verdict coming in our favour last month and the ECI beginning to follow the directions, we hope that similar camps get started in 62 cantonments and nearly 149 military stations across the country”.
Col Sadhu Singh Ghuman (retd), an ex-serviceman based in Jalandhar, said, “While there are 15-16 units in Kapurthala, there will be nearly 63 units in Jalandhar, which is the corps headquarter. We are urging the BLOs to get nearly 17,000-18,000 Army personnel registered here. There will be a larger number of defence personnel posted at Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Pathankot too, where local electoral officers need to enrol them to get the SC orders implemented.”

7,000 to be covered

The process to enrol 7,000 jawans and officers posted at the Kapurthala Brigade in the voters’ list began
Recently, the SC has asked the Election Commission to allow Army personnel to vote like ordinary citizens at the place of their voting
Earlier, 15 lakh Army personnel used to exercise their franchise though postal ballots, which often used to get misplaced or reached late

New Delhi, March 6

Amid heightened Indo-Pak tension, sources in the security establishment on Wednesday said Pakistan has mobilised additional troops and military equipment from its frontier with Afghanistan to forward positions in several sensitive sectors along the LoC in Kashmir.

The Indian Army on Wednesday also issued a stern warning to Pakistan against targeting civilians along the LoC, saying any further provocation or misadventure by it will have “dire consequences”.

Official sources said the warning came after Pakistan targeted forward posts in Nowshera sector with 155 mm artillery guns which was retaliated by the Indian Army with Bofors guns.

Sources said the military officials of the two armies spoke over the hotline on Tuesday during which India had asked Pakistani side not to target civilian population along the LoC.

“Post our warning to the Pakistan Army not to target civilian areas, the overall situation along the Line of Control remains relatively calm,” the Army said in a statement while reiterating the warning on Wednesday about attacks on civilians.

According to the statement, the Pakistan Army resorted to intense and unprovoked firing with heavy caliber weapons in selected areas of Krishna Ghati and Sunderbani, targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy guns.

“The same was effectively retaliated by the Indian Army. There have been no casualties on the Indian side,” it said.

A strict vigil is being maintained along the LoC and the international border and any further “provocation or misadventure by Pakistan will be responded in a befitting manner with dire consequences,” the statement added.

Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan on February 26.

Sources also post-Balakot strike, Pakistani side has mobilised additional troops and military equipment from its borders with Afghanistan to forward positions in several sensitive sectors along the LoC.

Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on February 27. However, the IAF thwarted their plans.

The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. — PTI

Photo for representational purpose only. AFP

New Delhi, March 7

The Editors Guild of India on Thursday “unequivocally” condemned Attorney General’s remarks before the Supreme Court pertaining to the documents based on which the media had reported on the Rafale deal, saying any attempt to use the Official Secrets Act against the media is as “reprehensible” as asking journalists to disclose their sources.

The Guild, in a statement, also denounced “threats” against the media in the matter and urged the government to refrain from initiating any action that might undermine the media’s freedom and independence.

“The Editors Guild of India unequivocally condemns the Attorney General’s comments before the Supreme Court pertaining to documents based on which the media, including The Hindu, had reported on the Rafale deal,” the statement said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal on Wednesday sought dismissal of a petition for a review of the apex court’s earlier judgment on allegations over the Rafale deal on the ground that the fresh petition had relied on documents that were “stolen” from the defence ministry and that investigations were going on to find out if it was a crime and violative of the Official Secrets Act, it said.

“Although the Attorney General later clarified that the investigation and contemplated action would not be initiated against journalists or lawyers who used these documents, the Guild is perturbed over such threats,” the statement said.

These will intimidate the media in general and curb its freedom to report and comment on the Rafale deal in particular, the Guild said.

“Any attempt to use the Official Secrets Act against the media is as reprehensible as asking the journalists to disclose their sources,” it said.

“The Guild denounces these threats and urges the government to refrain from initiating any action that might undermine the media’s freedom and independence,” the statement said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favourtism. The government has denied the charges. PTI

Raj Kadyan

Every Army battalion appoints a duty officer of the week (DOW) with a charter of duties. Our battalion was in the process of being raised. With only a few officers posted, the DOW turn came every four or five weeks.

Our Second-in-Command (2IC), a bachelor with obsession for punctiliousness, came down with measles and was hospitalised. As DOW, I went to see him. Being outside visiting hours, I sought permission from the duty nurse. Seeing two stars on her shoulder, I executed a parade-ground salute. The loud clatter of my regulation 13-nail boots on the concrete sent panicked birds scurrying out of trees. Amused, she looked up enquiringly. I told her I had come to see Major MDC. ‘You can’t, he is in the segregation ward.’ Not meeting the 2IC would invite trouble. ‘Please, sister,’ I pleaded, ‘he is my 2IC and I have to see him.’ My entreaty worked. ‘Okay, at your own risk,’ she said.

Opening the door of the 2IC’s quarantined room, I faced a barrage of questions.  ‘How did you come in this ward?’ ‘I took permission from the duty nurse, Sir,’ I said, self-protectively. ‘Who is the nurse on duty?’ ‘I don’t know, Sir.’ Nameplates were not in vogue then. ‘That fair, good-looking, tall girl?’ I nodded. ‘The one whose little finger is as long as the ring finger?’ ‘I didn’t notice, Sir,’ I said, curiously surprised. ‘She has shown dereliction by violating orders. I will sort her out,’ he said threateningly.

Wishing him speedy recovery, I made my exit. Feeling guilty, I decided to warn the nurse, but she smiled uncaringly. I furtively looked at her finger oddity. The 2IC’s observation was spot-on. I wondered if he was showing more interest in the nurse than a patient should.

Being the Intelligence Officer, I shared office space with the Adjutant, a senior Major. He was friendly and loved tittle-tattle. I gave him the sub-cheese of the hospital visit. Before I could clarify that it was a mere hunch, he had walked into the CO’s office. Standing by the door, I could overhear: ‘I don’t think the 2IC is coming back in a hurry, Sir,’ the Adjutant began and added liberal embellishment to my report. The CO’s concluding remark, ‘High time Minoo settled down’, made me sweat.

The 2IC was back shortly and the CO asked him when to expect the good news. I don’t know how the 2IC reacted but I was marched up to him the next morning. The proceedings were brief. ‘Do you know spreading rumours is an offence?’ ‘Yes, Sir,’ I said. ‘Being your first time, I’m letting you off lightly. You will remain DOW for the next eight weeks. Dismissed.’

At lunch in the mess the 2IC was a different man. He ordered me a drink. ‘Thank you for visiting me despite the risk,’ he said. ‘My pleasure, Sir.’ ‘You got the poor nurse in trouble, though. She got a mouthful from me. You need to atone by taking her out for coffee.’ ‘I will, Sir.’ We clinked glasses.

Like a true military professional he punished the fault, not the person.

Indian Air Force officials show sections of an exploded AMRAAM missile, said to be fired by Pakistan Air Force F-16s, at an IAF, Army and Navy joint press conference at South Block in New Delhi, on February 28, 2019. PTI

Washington, March 6

The US is “very closely” following the reports which have claimed that Pakistan misused American-made F-16 fighter jets against India in the recent aerial confrontation between the air forces of the two countries, a top State Department official has said.

The Indian Air Force on Thursday displayed parts of an AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile as evidence to “conclusively” prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir after India’s anti-terror operation in Balakot.

Pakistan has said that no F-16 fighter jets were used.

The US State Department has said that America is seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential misuse of American-made F-16 fighter jets by it against India in violation of the end-user agreement.

“We’ve seen those reports and we’re following that issue very closely,” US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters at his biweekly news conference on Tuesday.

He was responding to questions that Pakistan has violated the end-user agreement on F-16 that it procured from the United States.

“I can’t confirm anything, but as a matter of policy, we don’t publicly comment on the contents of bilateral agreements that we have in this regard involving US defence technologies nor the communications that we have with other countries about that.

“So, we’re taking a look and we’re going to continue to take a look. I’m going to leave it at that,” Palladino said.

AMRAAM missiles allow a fighter pilot to target an enemy aircraft that is beyond visual range, in day or night, and in all-weather conditions. They have an autonomous guidance capability, which allows the pilot to manoeuvre immediately after the missile’s launch.

Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.

India launched a counter-terror operation in Balakot on February 26.

The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 and captured its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was handed over to India on Friday. PTI

Tribune News Service

Moga, March 28

Thousands of people paid tributes to Rifleman Karamjit Singh, 24, on his bhog ceremony held at Janer, his native village, in Dharamkot subdivision of the district on Thursday.

Karamjit of 18 JAK RIF Regiment was seriously injured in an unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on March 18. He later succumbed to the injuries.

He was cremated at his native village on March 19 with state honours.

Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans, who attended the bhog ceremony, handed over two cheques for Rs 2.5 lakh each (Rs 5 lakh total) to the martyr’s father Avtar Singh and mother Kulwant Kaur on the behalf of Punjab government.

Karamjit had joined the Army in 2015. Karamjit’s father Avtar Singh is also an ex-serviceman.

None of the local MLAs or any other senior politician of the area attended the bhog ceremony.

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 15

Two years after he kidnapped and murdered an Airman, chopping his body into 100 parts and stuffing these into polythene bags, a Bathinda court today awarded the death sentence to IAF Sergeant Sailesh Kumar.

“To be hanged by the neck till he is dead,” Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kanwaljit Singh Bajwa pronounced the sentence. Sergeant Kumar’s wife Anuradha Patel, eight months’ pregnant at the time of the murder, was sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for destruction of evidence.

The ASJ observed the accused, a member of the armed forces, should have shown courage in some other field, “in place of butchery”. He said: “It would be a mockery of justice and the conscience of society would be shocked, if death penalty was not awarded to him as his act was abhorrent and dastardly.

“This is surely a case which falls within the category of rarest of rare cases.”

According to the prosecution, the victim’s wife told the police that Vipin left house at the Bhissiana Airbase on February 8, 2017, but did not return. She and her father-in-law embarked upon a search. On February 21, they overheard two youngsters saying stench was emanating from the Sergeant’s residential quarters and informed the police.

Evidence regarding the motive behind the murder was, however, not placed before the court.

CRIME MOST FOUL

Sergeant Sailesh Kumar kidnapped and murdered an Airman, chopped his body and stuffed parts into bags

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 9

To improve connectivity along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC), two strategically important bridges were dedicated to the nation by the Border Roads Organisations (BRO) onFriday.

These include a 331-m-long Bein bridge at Samba and 121-m-long Dhok bridge in Akhnoor.

The Bein bridge, constructed on the Parole-Rajpura road near the IB, was e-inaugurated from New Delhi by the MoS in the PMO Jitendra Singh along with Director-General BRO Lt Gen Harpal Singh, while the Dhok bridge, constructed on the Akhnoor-Pallanwala road, was inaugurated by MP from Jammu-Poonch Jugal Kishore along with Chief Engineer, Project Sampark, Brig YK Ahuja.

The Bein bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore and was completed six months ahead of the scheduled time. This strategically important bridge will facilitate smooth connectivity and improve the socio-economic development of border villages in the Samba region.

The Dhok bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 7.28 crore and was completed 11 months before its scheduled time. This strategically important bridge will facilitate smooth connectivity and improve the socio-economic development of nearby border villages in the Pallanwala region. This is the third bridge being completed in the last one year on the same road and two more bridges are on the verge of completion.

Terming the construction of the Bein bridge a great achievement by the BRO, Jitendra Singh, through video conferencing, said the roads and bridges were the lifeline of any nation and played a vital role in the socio-economic development of far-flung regions. He praised the BRO personnel for working away from their families in most hostile and difficult areas.

The event was attended by a gathering of local dignitaries, civil administration and public of all age groups from local villages.

Have strategic importance

• Two strategically important bridges were dedicated to the nation by the Border Roads Organisations on Friday
• These include a 331-m-long Bein bridge at Samba and 121-m-long Dhok bridge in Akhnoor

In a letter to Sunil Arora, Admiral Ramdas expressed concerns on ‘recent instances’ of parties using armed forces’ for political gains.

New Delhi: Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (retired) has asked immediate intervention of the Election Commission in stopping political parties from using the Pulwama attack, Balakot air strike and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s operations to influence the electorate.

In an open letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Admiral Ramdas expressed concerns on “recent instances” of parties using armed forces’ heroics for political gains.

“With elections due in a few weeks from now, it is particularly important that there should not be any misuse of these recent events by any political party to send triumphalist or jingoistic messages which can influence the electorate,” he said.

In his two-page letter, the former Navy chief said the armed forces have always prided themselves on belonging to a structure, an ethos and an environment which have been both apolitical and secular.

“And it is in this context that as a responsible citizen and a proud veteran of the Indian Armed Forces, I share our collective sense of dismay and deep concern at how some political parties are brazenly pushing their agenda using images, uniforms and other examples, showing pictures of the armed forces with political figures, in public spaces, in media, election rallies and so on,” he said.

The former Navy chief said it was completely unacceptable since it has the potential to destroy the very foundations and value system of the armed forces, drawn from the vision, the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

He said he could not circulate the open letter for more signatures “although many veterans are duly agitated by these attempts to compromise the integrity and secular nature of the Indian Armed Forces”.

“We, therefore, urge the Election Commission to immediately intervene and send a strong message to the political parties that there should be no misuse of the photographs as indeed any other material/reports or other information pertaining to the armed forces for electioneering in any way,” he said.