Sanjha Morcha

Maj Gen Gautam Chauhan becomes first to head Army’s human rights cell Post of Additional Directorate General Human rights was created under reforms approved by Defence Minister last year

Maj Gen Gautam Chauhan becomes first to head Army’s human rights cell

For the first time, the Indian Army has appointed a major general rank officer to look into the human rights issue and suggest means to better the track record of the force.

Major General Gautam Chauhan took charge as Additional Director General Human Rights on Thursday and will function under the Indian Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General SK Saini.

Before taking charge of the force’s first special human rights cell at the Army Headquarters, which will be the nodal body to look into any rights violations, Major General Chauhan was serving as Brigadier Operations Logistics at Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).  He was the nodal man for Covid 19 related issues for tri-services.The infantry officer from Gorkha Rifles, Major General Chauhan has also headed brigades in the North East region. He has also served in Directorate of the Military Operations (MO).

The appointment is seen as Indian Army’s commitment toward human rights. The post of Additional Directorate General Human rights was created under reforms approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of the re-organisation of Army Headquarters last year.

The human rights unit was created with a motive to ensure the Army’s compliance with human rights conventions and values. It will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports.

“To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation,” the defence ministry had stated.

 The human right cell will also have an Indian Police Service officer who will facilitate necessary coordination with other organisations and the home ministry on the human rights issues at hand.

The decision to have an Indian Police Service officer on board caused heartburn in a few sections of the Army and is being seen as inviting unnecessary interference by an outsider. Army headquarters stated that had having a police officer on board is critical when it comes to coordinating with different ministries and civil agencies, especially the police.

For last several years, the force has often been charged with human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North East. But the Indian army has maintained that its human rights record is above board.  — IANS


Kerala party unit ‘shocked’ over BJP MLA supporting resolution against farm laws ‘There are no two opinions on the farm Acts among Kerala BJP leaders’

Kerala party unit 'shocked' over BJP MLA supporting resolution against farm laws

Farmers protesting at Delhi borders. Reuters photo.

Thiruvananthapuram, December 31

Even as the BJP’s Kerala leadership on Thursday maintained they will talk to lone party MLA O Rajagopal over his support to a state government resolution passed by the Assembly against the three farm laws, sources said the party was “shocked” by the development.

BJP state chief K Surendran told the media: “I have not seen Rajagopal’s press conference, nor do I know what he has said. I will speak to him and let you know.”

Also read: Kerala Assembly unanimously passes resolution against central farm laws

Asked of two opinions within the BJP existed over the farm laws, he retorted: “What are you saying? There are no two opinions on the farm Acts among Kerala BJP leaders.”

BJP State General Secretary MT Ramesh told the media in Alappuzha: “Rajagopal is a senior leader and I did not think that he will support the resolution. He had earlier come out against the state government for bringing in a resolution against the farm Acts. I don’t know what happened. Let me check and revert back.”

While both senior leaders were guarded in their response, highly placed party sources told IANS that the party is “totally surprised”.

A senior leader said: “The party is literally in a shock. We don’t know what to do in this situation. The BJP will take a decision on this development.”

Rajagopal was Minister of State in Railways, Defence and Parliamentary Affairs in the Vajpayee government at the Centre. He is the first BJP leader to enter the Kerala Assembly.

Rajagopal had earlier courted controversy during the voting of Speaker’s post by supporting Left nominee Sreeramakrishnan. He had then said that he had supported the Speaker because his name had Lord Rama and Lord Sreekrishna in it.

 RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is currently in Thiruvananthapuram to attend a Sangh meeting. The position taken by the veteran BJP leader in the Assembly will be deliberated upon in the highest echelons of the BJP and the RSS, the sources said.

–IANS


Rajasthan-Haryana border: Cops use water cannon, tear gas as farmers break through barricades

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Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, December 31

A group of protesting farmers camping at the Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-48) for the past 18 days, on Thursday, removed two-layer barricading at Shahjahanpur-Khera border in Rajasthan to move towards the national capital.

The police initially used tear gas shells to stop them but later let them go while sensing the gravity of the situation.

The farmers were, thereafter, stopped by the Rewari police near Bhudla village, about 12 km away from the border, whereas other thousands of farmers were, as usual, staying at the border till filing of the news report.


Army to restore India-Pakistan war hero Brigadier Usman’s ‘vandalised’ grave in Delhi

The damaged grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman near Jamia Millia Islamia Metro Station in Delhi, on 28 December 2020 | Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

The damaged grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman near Jamia Millia Islamia Metro Station in Delhi, on 28 December 2020 | Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: The India Army is set to restore the grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the highest ranking officer to die in action during the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48, ThePrint has learnt.

The grave was allegedly damaged by miscreants in the area.

The white marble grave is located in south Delhi’s Batla House Qabristan, near Jamia Millia Islamia, in the cemetery’s ‘VIP section’ that also houses the graves of other eminent figures such as writer Qurratulain Hyder and scholar Mujeeb Rizvi.

The Army wrote to Jamia Millia Islamia Tuesday seeking permission to carry out repairs on the grave. “The university wanted a letter from the Army for the record and it has been sent. We will carry out the repairs,” a senior officer told ThePrint.

The officer said a wreath is laid by the regiment concerned on Brigadier Usman’s grave on his death anniversary every year.

“This year the wreath laying did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic. Otherwise, it is done every year and the troops also clean up the area around the grave.”

Army sources had told ThePrint Monday the matter, which is a “protocol and emotional issue” for the force, was being looked into at the highest level.

Also read: 49 years later, lessons that remain to be learnt from 1971 India-Pakistan War


‘Officers visited late war hero’s regiment after three years’

Army sources also told ThePrint that an officer visited the university and met the authorities to discuss the matter. Though the university owns the graveyard property and is responsible for its maintenance, restoration or repair of graves is done by families of the deceased.

A professor from the university, who is associated with graveyard maintenance, said officers from the late war hero’s regiment had come to investigate the grave Tuesday.

Mir Ferozuddin, the grandnephew of Brigadier Usman, who is based in Saudi Arabia, told ThePrint it was “inspiring and positive” to see how the grave’s vandalism was highlighted and swift action taken for its repairs.

The life story of the war hero, who died on 3 July 1948, is set to be adapted into a biopic by director Sanjay Khan, starring his son Zayed Khan in the titular role.


Also read: Crashed PIA plane’s pilot ignored 3 warnings from ATC to lower altitude


Missiles, drones, defence shield — India has a series of military trials planned for 2021

File image of a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile | ANI

ile image of a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile | ANI

New Delhi: India has a series of military tests and trials planned for 2021, including that of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield, an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for submarines, and drones, besides a number of missiles, including a BrahMos with an 800-km range.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said one of the key systems to go under trial in the coming year would be the AIP, which is aimed for integration with India’s fleet of six Scorpene submarines during refit.

The trials for the indigenous AIP, which will allow conventional submarines to stay under water for a longer duration, is to begin in the first quarter of the new year, the sources added.

Another important trial that will take off is the one for phase 2 of the BMD, which aims to secure the country from all kinds of incoming missiles, including nuclear, and flying objects, through a multi-tier defence system. Phase 1 of the programme was completed last year.

Also on the agenda is the full-fledged trial of the indigenous Rustom 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2021, after much delay.

Capable of carrying the synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness systems, depending on mission objectives, the UAV is a medium-altitude long-endurance system.

The current stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh has brought to light India’s dire need for indigenous drone systems against a country that has become one of the world’s largest exporters of armed UAVs.

The early part of 2021 will also witness fresh trials of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) Nirbhay, which has a range of 800-1,000 km.

The maiden trial of the 800-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, meanwhile, is scheduled for mid-2021. The 400-km variant of this missile was successfully tested earlier this year.

Even as developmental trials take place, the services will continue with their firing exercises and re-validation of the missiles in their arsenal, the sources said.


Also Read: Ballistic missile submarine Arighat in final stages of trials, to be commissioned early 2021


Many trials in 2020 after Covid lull 

The year gone by also witnessed a number of key tests.

The coronavirus pandemic led to a lull, but the pace picked up after September. Among the major tests in 2020 was that of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on 7 September.

India is only the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to have the technology. The successful trial paved the way for India to develop missiles that can travel at six times the speed of sound.

This was followed by a test-firing of the nuclear-capable ‘Shaurya’ missile on 3 October, and the supersonic missile-assisted release of a torpedo on 5 October.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also successfully conducted three flight tests of its indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Dhruvastra from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha, in July. This is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Meanwhile, the indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Uttam, has completed 100 hours of testing with additional 25 hours on Tejas aircraft for air-to-air mode and its sub-parameters.

On 9 October, the new-generation Anti-Radiation Missile (RUDRAM) was successfully tested on a radiation target located off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.

The year 2020 also saw the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) achieve a major milestone on 13 November, with a direct hit onto a Banshee pilotless target aircraft at medium range and medium altitude.


Also Read: How Army’s artillery modernisation plan, stuck in a rut after Bofors, is picking up pace

 


IAF’s 1965 war hero and ace test pilot passes away He was battling cancer, died in Bangalore at 85

LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 on Twitter: "A Legendary & Gallant #IndianBrave AVM  Ajit Singh Lamba, #VirChakra (1965 War) passed away earlier today 30  December 2020 at Bengaluru #LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the finest Air  Warrior and

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 30

Air Vice Marshal Ajit Singh Lamba, who was decorated with the Vir Chakra for gallantry in teh1965 Indo-Pak war and an aviator who continued to fly even when he was in his eighties, passed away at Bangalore on Wednesday after battling cancer. He was 85.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in April 1955, he served with No.7 Squadron during the 1965 war. As a Hunter pilot, he flew 15 operational sorties, of which 11 were in close support of the army in the Kasur and Lahore sectors. On several of these missions he led formations of Hunter aircraft and showed great skill and determination in seeking out enemy targets and pressing home his attacks in spite of intensive ground fire and the presence of enemy interceptor aircraft, his citation states. In spite of heavy opposition, he successfully destroyed several enemy tanks and vehicles. His achievement in the destruction of enemy guns and armour near Harbanspura railway station was especially noteworthy because of the heavy defences surrounding these locations, the citation adds.

A graduate of the Test Pilot Course at Farnborough in the UK and later the National Defence College, he commanded No.22 Squadron, the Swifts, from July 1972 to January 1975

After two tenures at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore as Chief Test Pilot, he was posted as the Air Officer Commanding, 9 Wing at Halwara from January 1981 to January 1984. He served as Commandant ASTE from August 1986 till his retirement in 1991.

Having spent about 60 yeasr in the cockpit, including 36 during his service with the IAF, Lamba had flown over 100 different types of aircraft, logging about 7500 hours. He continued to fly even after retirement and also took part in flying displays during various editions of the Aero India as well as various expeditions.

A Legendary & Gallant #IndianBrave AVM Ajit Singh Lamba, #VirChakra (1965 War) passed away earlier today 30 December 2020 at Bengaluru
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the finest Air Warrior and Test Pilot of #IndianAirForce, he kept his Flying status active till the very end 🏵

A veteran of #IndoPakWar1965, AVM Lamba was awarded #VirChakra for air combat missions over Pakistan during the war.
As a Test Pilot, his feats including flying over 100 different types of aircraft, including aerobatic displays #AeroIndia from 1996
Blue Skies forever Sir! 🏵

ANOTHER 1965 HERO GONE

AVM AJIT SINGH LAMBA VIR CHAKRA

A Legendary & Gallant #IndianBrave AVM Ajit Singh Lamba, #VirChakra (1965 War) passed away earlier today 30 December 2020 at Bengaluru
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the finest Air Warrior and Test Pilot of #IndianAirForce, he kept his Flying status active till the very end 🏵

A veteran of #IndoPakWar1965, AVM Lamba was awarded #VirChakra for air combat missions over Pakistan during the war.
As a Test Pilot, his feats including flying over 100 different types of aircraft, including aerobatic displays #AeroIndia from 1996
Blue Skies forever Sir! 🏵


New ITBP pups named after flashpoints along LAC in Ladakh

New ITBP pups named after flashpoints along LAC in Ladakh

The pup-naming ceremony under way at Bhanu near Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 30

As a token of respect and gratitude to personnel guarding the treacherous border in Ladakh, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) has named its newborn pups in its K-9 establishment after sensitive locations and posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Junking the traditional western names for K-9s, the ITBP has, for the first time in any Central Armed Police Force history, given local names to its K-9 warriors.

Parents veterans of counter-terrorist ops

A “naamkaran ceremony” was held at the ITBP’s National Training Centre for Dogs in Bhanu near Chandigarh where 17 malinois pups were born a couple of months ago to ITBP dogs — Gala, the father, and Olga and Oleshya, the mothers. The parents are veterans of many counter-terrorist operations and other high-profile security duties.

A “naamkaran ceremony” was held at the ITBP’s National Training Centre for Dogs in Bhanu near Chandigarh where 17 malinois pups were born a couple of months ago to ITBP dogs — Gala, the father, and Olga and Oleshya, the mothers. The parents are veterans of many counter-terrorist operations and other high-profile security duties.

The names of the pups are Ane-la, Galwan, Sasoma, Chip-chap, Saser, Srijap, Charding, Rezang, Daulat, Sultan-chusku, Imis, Rango, Yula, Mukhpri, Chung-Thung, Khardungi and Shyok.

“By giving these K-9 Indian names, that too from the areas guarded by the force, it is for the first time since Independence that the K-9 wing of the country will acknowledge its own legacy and ethos,” an ITBP officer said.

The force is planning to name the next batch of pups after other prominent names of the icy frontiers where the ITBP is deployed, covering the entire 3,488-km-long border with China from Karakoram to Jechap La.

The ITBP has also received requests from other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for these pups to be used for their security duties.

The ITBP was the first force to deploy malinois dogs in left-wing extremism-hit areas a decade ago, and now it has also started scientifically breeding K9s to meet its own demands and also provide pups to other CAPFs and state police forces as mandated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The 90,000-strong ITBP was raised in 1962 in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression and apart from its primary duty to guard the China border, it is also tasked with carrying out various internal security duties, including anti-Naxal operations.


3 militants killed in J&K encounter Families contest cops’ claim, say 2 of them were students

3 militants killed in J&K encounter

A security official takes position during encounter in Srinagar. PTI

Srinagar, December 30

The police today claimed to have killed three militants in an overnight encounter in the city’s Parimpora area, but families of the slain youths claimed they had no connection with militancy and that two of them were students.

The families from south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts staged a protest outside the police control room. They claimed those killed included a Class XI student, a university student and a carpenter.

A police spokesman said while one militant was killed in the early hours on Wednesday, two others were shot dead a few hours later. The militants opened fire on security forces during a cordon and search operation on Tuesday evening, he said.

The cordon was strengthened and there was an exchange of fire between the two sides. Firing went on throughout the night intermittently, the spokesman said.

The police have yet not disclosed the identity or age of the slain youths, but the protesting families claimed the youths were their kin and had no connection with militants or militancy.

The slain youths were Athar Mushtaq and Aijaz Maqbool, both students, and Zubair Ahmad, a carpenter, said the families, but did not disclose how old they were.

“My brother left for university at 11 am yesterday (Tuesday) as he had to fill some form there. He called me at 3.01 pm to say that he might have to stay at the university. Today, we got a call that he has been killed. He was not a militant,” Maqbool’s sister told reporters.

Maqbool is the son of a policeman posted in Ganderbal district, she said.

A relative of Mushtaq also made a similar claim and said he was just a teenager studying in Class XI.

Police officials did not respond to queries about the claims made by the families. However, an Army official said the slain youths were “hardcore terrorists” who used a lot of ammunition and grenades against the security forces during the encounter.

“We made several appeals to the youths to surrender. One of them was about to leave the building, but his colleagues fired and hurled grenades at security forces and pulled him back yesterday. In the morning, we again made appeals to them to surrender but then we realised that they were not going to surrender,” the official said.

“The quantity of ammunition they used makes it clear they were planning to carry out a major terror strike in the area,” the Army official added. — PTI


Undeterred by bitter cold, more leave for Delhi

Undeterred by bitter cold, more leave for Delhi

Farmers and their family members on their way to Delhi on a tractor-trailer in Patiala on Wednesday. Photo: Rajesh Sachar

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 30

It’s a foggy Wednesday morning and a re-purposed trailer, with almost dozen elderly men sitting cross-legged and singing morning hymns, slowly passes through Patiala. Following it are more such Delhi-bound vehicles, with the agitation flags flying on the front and the rear, and hundreds of young and the old shouting: “Nawa saal, Dilli naal.”

When the elderly people elsewhere are keeping themselves safe from the cold wave, farmers — both, the young and the old — continue to leave Punjab to camp at the Singhu border to welcome the New Year.

Undeterred by the bone-chilling conditions, hundreds of farmers are leaving for Delhi to show solidarity with protesters at the Delhi border. “We are 13 relatives going to back our farmer brothers and celebrate the New Year with them. Our tractor has everything from a makeshift bedroom to a kitchen”, says 21-year old Manpreet Singh of Baran village.

Niranjan Singh of Sanaur has packed a week’s clothing and woollens for his two boys and wife as he is ready to see the first sunrise of 2021 at the Delhi border. “When I was young I celebrated New Year at various places, but this will be special. It will be like a pilgrimage for the entire family,” says the septuagenarian.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three farm laws. The protests have disrupted normal lives in Delhi-NCR as several borders linking Delhi to cities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are closed.

“I went there first on November 30 for three days and had to come back to take care of my ailing mother. As soon as my 83-year old mother got well, she ordered me to go to the border and return only when the agitation is over”, says Rajpura farmer Jasbir Singh. “If our mothers can be brave enough, there is no power that can stop us. I am going with four of my friends and we will do whatever work the farmers offer us. It will be our small contribution to this huge agitation,” he says.

The farmers insist they won’t settle for anything less than the withdrawal of the laws. “Amid thousands of protestors are a number of non-Sikh, non-Punjabi demonstrators from neighbouring Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerela and Maharashtra. The protest in itself has proved that we are all brothers divided by petty politics. Farmers from Bihar will soon join and this would be one of the biggest peaceful protests witnessed ever in the country. And we are ready”, says Amarjang Singh, who is willing to spend his entire next week at the Delhi border.

“After every 10 days, we return home and then again leave for Singhu. It is more of a festival for us where minds across the country discuss nothing but farming,” he says.


Farmers plough back govt fund for protests in Capital Had received Rs2,000 each under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme last week

Farmers plough back govt fund for protests in Capital

Langar being served at the Singhu border. Tribune photo

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, December 30

Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi transferred the first tranche of funds under the PM-Kisan Yojana directly to farmers’ accounts, little did he know that these very funds would be ploughed back to sustain the protests being held on the outskirts of New Delhi.

On December 24, Rs 2000 each was directly credited to the accounts of 9 crore farmers. This was the first part of the Rs 6,000 annual package to be given to farmers under the Union Government’s mega-outreach plan.

Don’t help, repeal laws

Earlier, whenever villagers would receive the PM-Kisan scheme grant, they would feel happy. Now they are livid. They do not need this compassion. All they need is repeal of the farm laws. — Sehaj Pal Singh Randhawa, law student

A majority of villagers who received this money were quick to transfer it to the accounts of those protesting along Delhi’s borders.

Satbir Singh Sultani, general secretary, Punjab Kirti Kissan Union, led the way by donating Rs 2,000 to the community kitchen at Singhu. “We have enough funds to sustain ourselves. But then every bit counts.”

Sultani said he had received reports that hundreds of villagers were donating money received under the Central Government scheme to ensure ration at the kitchens did not run out.

Septuagenarian Hardyal Singh of Dorangla village, located near the international border, said he had transferred the money to his son’s account who is protesting in New Delhi.

“On the one hand we are fighting a proxy war instigated by Pakistan, but on the other our own PM is waging a bigger war against us. We do not need his money. We have better ways to keep the agitation going,” he said.

Sehaj Pal Singh Randhawa, a law student hailing from Khunda village, near Dhariwal, said he had been part of the Delhi protest for the past 15 days and was amazed at the farmers’ resolve to go in for a protracted battle.

“Never had I seen such determination and fortitude among my farming brethren. Earlier, whenever villagers would receive grants from the PM-Kisan scheme, they would feel happy. Now they are livid. They do not need this compassion. All they need is a total repeal of the farm laws,” he said.