Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service

Rajouri, May 5

The Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked shelling on Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts this morning. The Commanding Officer (CO) of an Army unit deployed in Mankot sector of Poonch district and four soldiers were injured in the shelling, said sources.

Col AP Singh and soldiers DK Yadav, PT Arjun, M Singh and K Singh received splinter injuries and were taken to the Army hospital at Rajouri.

An Army porter was also injured in the Rattal area of Keri sector in Rajouri and was shifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur.

Since the Balakot airstrikes in February, the Pakistan army has violated the ceasefire 517 times.

Hyderabad: As many as 18 military officers at the ‘Colonel’ rank have refused to undergo the prestigious Higher Command Course (HC) and the Higher Defence Management Course (HMDC) despite being selected on the basis of their performance as commanders and their 18 years’ service in the Indian Army.

The coveted HDMC is held in Secunderabad, while the HC is conducted in Mhow (Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Indore). These courses are undertaken by Colonels prior to being promoted to the Brigadier rank but do not guarantee the promotion. So far, 18 officers have expressed their unwillingness to participate in the courses, which means that they don’t desire to be promoted. Alarmingly, the number of officers opting out of the programmes this year happens to be the highest in over a decade.It has been independently learnt that of the 18 Colonels, two belong to the Army Air Defence (AD) while two belong to The Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers.

The HC and HDMC are both 11-month-long courses during which, officers are exposed to warfare simulation, the latest technology, and more. However, after the completion of the course, officers have to sign a 5-year bond with the Indian Army, thereby committing to serving the forces until the completion of the bond period.

Additionally, after completion of the course, officers are posted in the forward lines, otherwise known as ‘high-pressure appointments’, which demand tremendous amounts of time and dedication. Several officers have been reported to be suffering from health issues following these appointments.

“The reason for this could be the elimination of the ‘structured marking system’ in 2017. As per the policy, the HC and HMDC assessments involved the addition of certain points for the promotion of officials to the Brigadier rank. However, the system was scrapped in 2017. And 178 officers apply for the 150 vacant Brigadier positions every year, which implies that promotion isn’t guaranteed,” said an officer on the condition of anonymity.

A highly placed source told the Deccan Chronicle, “Why should one want to put their effort and achievements to waste when the Armed Forces are constantly being demeaned by the ever conspiring ‘babus’ of the Ministry of Defence? It wouldn’t be very surprising if the mid-level officers chose a well-paying corporate job instead.”

It may be further noted that a high number of Colonels seek retirement after 20-21 years of service. “Most such officers are between 43 and 47 years of age and while some choose to stay, a large number retires. Promotion from the rank of a Major to the Lt Colonel rank is rather rapid, so pretty much everyone makes it to the Lt Colonel rank. However, promotions upward of the Lt Colonel rank are a challenging affair. Many miss out on the promotion board. Some choose to retire and seek opportunities in the outside world. With the high growth in the economy and the rising demand for highly qualified officers, many opt to take up corporate jobs.

In addition to the above, there could be several other personal reasons for officers seeking premature release after the completion of 20 years of service.

Jerusalem, April 30

Israel on Tuesday honoured Lt. Gen. (retd) Jack Farj Rafael (JFR) Jacob, who negotiated the historic surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka after the 1971 Bangladesh’s liberation war, with a plaque on the Wall of Honour at the Ammunition Hill here.

Lt. Gen. Jacob, who died in 2016 at the age of 92, was one of the most prominent members of India’s relatively small Jewish community, serving as a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and later as a Governor of two Indian states-Goa and Punjab.

The Wall of Honour at the Ammunition Hill pays tributes to the heroism and courage of Jewish soldiers who fought in the defence of their countries they lived in “implementing values of bravery, loyalty, commitment and dedication to a mission, leadership, creativity, camaraderie and sanctity of life”.

“The Wall has plaques honouring more than 340 people comprising privates, high ranking army officers, women, front line fighters and humble members of supporting units who embodied these virtues”, a senior official at the Ammunition Hill told PTI.

Ammunition Hill was a fortified Jordanian military post in the northern part of Jordanian ruled East Jerusalem. It was the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Six Day War in which 21 Israeli soldiers were killed. It is now a national memorial site where young soldiers and officers are inducted into the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and salute the flag.

The 90-feet high structure with a flag was incidentally donated by an Indian Jew, Sam Marshall, who also initiated the move to honour Lt. Gen. Jacob at the Ammunition Hill Wall of Honour, in association with India-born Jewish Judge, Abe Sofaer of the US, who was the personal legal adviser to former US Secretary of State George Shultz.

“It is a wonderful tribute that you are giving to a very fine human being. His beloved India gave him the accolades reserved for people serving the nation with distinction,” Lt. Gen. Jacob’s close friend, Marshall, told the gathering at a ceremony to unveil the plaque reminiscing the funeral ceremony Government of India arranged for its famous son where then President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also present.

Narrating an incident from 2009 when Marshall, along with Lt. Gen. Jacob, met former Israeli President Shimon Peres, who offered the legendary warrior to immigrate to Israel, he said that prompt came Jacob’s reply, “I am a son of India, I would die on Indian soil, I served my country and my beloved country.”   “He was not only a military strategist and a legendary General but a fine man who cared for fellow human beings. He was very active in charity work with Mother Teresa,” said Marshall, who has been bringing Indian contingents to the Jewish Macabbiah games (commonly referred to as the Jewish Olympics).

India’s Ambassador to Israel, Pavan Kapoor, said, “Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob’s illustrious life will remain a source of inspiration for all Indians. It is my belief that by unveiling the wall plaque here today, the memory of this great soldier and fine man will usher even greater bonds of friendship between the peoples of India and Israel”.

“Ammunition Hill commemorates the memory of the fallen soldiers of Israel as well as Jews living in other countries, in whose defense they fought. It is, therefore, a great privilege for me to be here today to honour the memory of one such soldier who served his mother country India with great distinction,” he said.

Highlighting Lt. Gen. Jacob’s contribution beyond the achievements as a military man, Kapoor said that “he had a strong sense of history and a deep respect for heritage”.

“When he was appointed as the General officer Commanding–in–Chief of the Eastern Command, in Calcutta, he set about restoring several heritage sites at the Headquarters of Eastern Command – Fort William – to their former splendour. One of them was St Peter’s Church, which had stopped being a house of worship for some time. He had the Church ceremonially de-consecrated, and had its facade restored to its original glory. Today, it hosts the Command Library in it,” he said.

“Lt. Gen. Jacob dedicated his entire life in the service of India. Proud as he was of being an Indian, he was also immensely aware of his Jewish heritage,” he said.

Israel’s former Ambassador to India Danny Carmon said, “For me, it was a pilgrimage to go and meet Lt. Gen. Jacob each time at his residence, to get his blessings, to get his encouragement. He was so happy to see what was happening in Indo-Israel relations. He was so much Indian and so much Jewish that it is unbelievable. He was a real inspiration for all of us.

“He was a bridge between India and Israel and contributed immensely to the partnership that we see in the last few decades. He told me, ‘I was born in India, served India, I fought for India and I want to be buried in India’.”    Alon Wald, Director of Ammunition Hill, told PTI, that “the modest plaques for such giants of human beings is an inspiration to us all and adding one more significant name today is like adding an impressive strong link to the chain of values we stand for”.

The Wall of Honour at the Ammunition Hill has one more plaque honouring an Indian Jewish soldier, Lt. Gen. Joseph ‘Jerry’ Jhirad, who died in the 1965 war against Pakistan. – PTI

Col Manmohan SIngh father of Lt Gen Ranbir Singh contradicts surgical strikes due to name changed for Raids conducted earlier .Her himself had conducted Raids in J& K.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

The Army has handed “loss of seniority” by six months to Major Leetul Gogoi as punishment for “fraternising” with a local woman in Srinagar last year and for “being away from the place of duty while in an operational area”.

He will also be posted out of  Kashmir as his 30-month tenure with Rashtriya Rifles has ended. Maj Gogoi had hit the headlines after he tied a man in front of a jeep, purportedly as a shield against stone-pelters, during polling for the Srinagar Lok Sabha byelection on April 9, 2017.

The court martial proceedings against Maj Gogoi were completed in March and the punishment needed to be ratified by the Army headquarters, which has been done now, sources said. The punishment is classified as “severe reprimand”. The six-month loss of seniority will apply for life.

As this period will not be counted towards his service, he will now get lesser pension on retirement. He will not get the next rank of Lt Colonel as per schedule on completing 13 years in service. This will happen six months later and he will, in turn, become the juniormost officer in his batch.

Maj Gogoi was posted with the RR in March 2016 and posted out in October 2018. Since then, he had been attached with the Srinagar headquartered “Victor Force”, pending inquiry.

The Major was detained by the J&K Police on May 23 last year from a Srinagar hotel along with a local woman and another soldier. The detained woman was 19 years old and had gone with the officer of her own volition, Jammu and Kashmir Police had said. Hence, no police case was made out. However, the Army rules did not allow Maj Gogoi to be let off without punishment.

During the court martial proceedings, the woman expressed her unwillingness to depose. The court martial process against Maj Gogoi’s driver Sameer Malla, who was facing charges of unauthorised absence from the unit, has been completed. He has been given a “severe reprimand”.

Immediately after the incident came to light last year, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said exemplary punishment would be given to Maj Gogoi if he was found guilty of any offence.

Amritsar, May 5

The Akal Takht has taken note of the alleged discrimination meted out to Sikh youth hailing from hilly areas at the time of recruitment in the Army. It has sought intervention of the SGPC into the matter.

Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said turbaned Sikhs living in the foothills of Hoshiarpur, Mukerian, Tanda and Ropar had been subjected to discrimination in terms of relaxation in height criteria during recruitment in the defence services.

“We have received complaints that Sikhs who support turbans have not been given a special certificate of height relaxation by the authorities. Also, the certificate used to be issued under the name of ‘Dogra certificate’, which has now been changed to ‘Hindu Dogra certificate’. This is also objectionable. This discrimination needs urgent attention and the SGPC has been directed to carry out a probe and take action,” he said.

Meanwhile, Haryana Jannayak Janata Party’s state president and former MLA Nishan Singh appeared before the Akal Takht to seek an apology. He had equated the Dera Sirsa cult with Guru Gobind Singh in a video clip that went viral recently. Since he has submitted a written apology, he has been directed to hold ‘Akhand Path’ for atonement. —TNS