Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 11

The project of the state’s first NCC Academy in Araipura village in Gharaunda block is in a limbo even as the deadline of three years has lapsed. Lack of budget is said to be the reason behind the delay in the completion of the project.

Revised budget sent for approval

We have sent a revised budget to the Education Department for approval, but we are still waiting for it. Sandeep Goel, Superintending Engineer PWD (B&R)

We are hopeful

We are in touch with the department concerned.We are hopeful the budget will be released soon and the work will be completed at the earliest. Anish Yadav, Deputy Commissioner

The foundation stone of this project was laid by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in July 2018 and the deadline for the project was February 2020. The project is aimed at providing training to 700 cadets at a time.

The PWD (B&R) authorities said they had sent a revised estimate to the Higher Education Department in August 2021 for approval, but no approval had been accorded so far. Due to the changes in the drawing and the layout plan, the project cost has increased to Rs 86 crore from Rs 56.95 crore estimated earlier.

So far, slabs of the first and the second floor have been completed in the boys’ hostel, and around 90 per cent of the slab work has been completed on the third floor. The structure and brick work has been completed on the ground floor and the first floor of the girls’ hostel. Similarly, the slab work of the mess block, except the hall, has been completed. The administrative block is still pending, said the officials.

Sources also claimed that a meeting was held recently, in which some other options such as transferring the project to another agency was also discussed.“We have sent a revised budget to the Education Department for approval, but still we are waiting for it,” said Sandeep Goel, Superintending Engineer PWD (B&R).

Anish Yadav, DC, said the budget which was allocated earlier was utilised on the building. For the remaining budget, they were in touch with the department concerned. “We are hopeful the budget will be released soon and the work will be completed at the earliest,” said the DC. This academy will be a centre of excellence as the cadets of the state will get training in the camp here like the academies in Gwalior and Nagpur, the DC said.

Tribune News Service

Ravinder Saini

Rewari, February 12

The state’s second Sainik School here has finally got its campus in Gothra village after 14 years when its first batch started in a government building at Sector 4 in Rewari in 2009. Around 500 students are at present enrolled in the school.

Haryana’s first Sainik School was established in Kunjpura (Karnal) in 1961.

All offices of the school have been shifted to the new campus, while classes and hostel facilities will also start here within a week. At present, the campus does not have the facility of a girls’ hostel, swimming pool, volleyball and basketball court, hockey and football grounds, whereas the number of residential staff quarters is also much lesser than the employees.

“Around 50 per cent construction work of the school is still pending. Twenty-five residential quarters have been constructed, which will fulfil the requirement of merely the one-third staff and the remaining ones will have to reside in rented accommodation in nearby areas. At present, the students reside in makeshift rooms in Rao Tularam Stadium here, as the building in Sector 4 does not have a hostel facility,” said a school employee.

Col Soumyabrata Dhar, principal, Sainik School, said, “The shifting of the school to its own campus is good for the students who will now be able to avail good hostel and classroom facilities. A total of 16 girls are also studying in the school and a portion of the boys’ hostel has been separated for them. As far as inadequate residential quarters are concerned, a bus facility will be made available to ferry the employees residing in rental accommodations in Rewari city,” said the principal.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Rewari Chiranjeev Rao has raised objection to the shifting of Sainik School to the new campus despite not making available all facilities needed to run the school.

50% work yet to be completed

• A total of 16 girls are also studying in the school and a portion of the boys’ hostel has been separated for them
• Sports facilities like swimming pool, hockey, football grounds and volleyball courts yet to be developed
• School has been running from a govt building at Sector 4 in Rewari since 2009

Tribune News Service

Bengaluru, February 13

India does not want to remain an assembly workshop, but it is looking to manufacture cutting-edge products to attain “atmanirbharta” (self-reliance), said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing 70 Indian and foreign Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at Aero India-2023 here on Monday.

He said government’s endeavour was to design, develop and manufacture cutting-edge products using critical technologies in the country.

“India does not want to remain just an assembly workshop. It is looking to engage with friendly countries in defence and security based on shared expertise and capabilities,” said the minister.

The government was looking to harness the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and capability of private sector partners in the area of defence production, adding that “it is a key driver of the Indian economy”.

The 2023-24 Budget has provisions for the Technology Development Fund and the Innovations for Defence Excellence. The minister said the reforms would enable Indian defence products to compete with established global defence and aerospace companies.

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 13

After a gap of three days, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) today restored the Manali-Leh highway to traffic between Manali and Keylong via Atal Tunnel. However, the administration has allowed movement of only 4×4 vehicles on this route for the residents of Lahaul valley.

The BRO had yesterday restored the Tandi-Udaipur road for traffic movement but it was blocked again today following a massive landslide near Nag temple, four km ahead from Tandi towards Udaipur.

The BRO has engaged its workforce and machinery to clear the debris from the road to restore it to traffic.

In Lahaul and Spiti, the work for the restoration of power supply is going on at a snail’s pace. The workforce of the HP State Electricity Board is facing difficulty in speeding up the restoration work due to heavy snow on the ground. Of the total 119 disrupted electricity transformers, only 11 have been restored so far. As a result, a huge part of Lahaul valley is reeling under darkness.

Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and Spiti Sumit Khimta said that people have been advised to avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas of the district in the next few days.

Tribune News Service

Mukesh Ranjan

New Delhi, February 13

In line with the Centre’s ‘one territory, one force’ policy and also a part of its efforts to demilitarise J&K, the CRPF is likely to get independent area of responsibility in some parts of the Valley in the coming days, sources in the government said.

They said, currently the CRPF personnel in J&K have shared operational responsibility with Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and the police irrespective of area of concern.

The sources, however, contended that a final decision in this regard would be taken after enlisting views of security stakeholders and thorough assessment of the situation. The proposed changes are expected to take place in a phased manner, they added.

A source, who has the knowledge of the plan, said the CRPF had been indicated to identify an area in the Kashmir valley, where it could take the responsibility of counter-terror operations independently.

Considered as the primary security force to assist the local administration in dealing with issues of internal security, the source said the force has now enough exposure to handle the situation independently and it has performed successful counter-terror operations in J&K and anti-naxal security measures in different parts of the country.

Some of the CRPF battalions will be sent in those areas, which are manned by the RR in a phased manner so that they take over the responsibility of strengthening the internal security grid in Valley, he said, adding that the restructuring in the deployment did not mean that the Army’s wing would be completely removed from J&K.

It is also learnt from the sources that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been planning to push for more specialised counter-terror operations by Quick Action Team with the latest technology and equipment.

PTI

Islamabad, February 13

Pakistan and the US are set to hold defence talks in Washington on Monday to enhance coordination on strategic issues and explore various options for ramping up bilateral military and security ties, the foreign office here has announced.

The talks, that will last from Monday to Thursday, would be the second round of the Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue after the first round was held in Pakistan in January 2021, it said in a statement.

‘Relations improving’

• The talks would be the second round of the Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue
• The first round was held in Pakistan in January 2021
• The agenda of the talks includes expanding coordination on strategic issues between nations
• Ties between two nations had improved, an official said

The Pakistani team, headed by the Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lt Gen Mohammed Saeed, reached the US capital on Sunday afternoon. The delegation includes two major generals, two brigadiers and a civilian representative, Additional Secretary for Americas Muhammad Mudassir Tipu from the foreign ministry.

They will interact with their counterparts at the US Defence Department, which is also known as the Pentagon. The CGS heads the second most influential office in the Pakistan Army after the Chief of Army Staff. He is the administrative head of both intelligence and operational forces. “Pakistan’s inter-agency delegation, led by the chief of general staff, will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Staff Headquarters and three services headquarters. The US multi-agency team will be represented by the office of the Undersecretary of Defence,” the foreign office said.

“Issues of bilateral defence and security cooperation will be discussed during the defence dialogue,” the ministry said. Ties between the two countries have improved recently and the defence talks are kind of its manifestation, it added.

The agenda of the four-day talks includes expanding coordination on strategic issues between the two defence establishments, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The newspaper also reported that US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet in an interview with the paper emphasised the need to assist Islamabad in fighting terrorists, who had recently killed over 80 people inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines compound.

Chollet, who conducts diplomatic assignments for the US Secretary of State, is due in Islamabad the coming week for talks, the report said.

Tribune News Service

Mukesh Ranjan

New Delhi, February 13

In what has set alarm bells ringing for security agencies, the ISIS has asked the cadres of Popular Front of India (PFI), banned recently under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), to join the global terror outfit under its ‘black flag’.

Terror alert

• ISIS’ Afghanistan unit has made the appeal via its mouthpiece ‘Voice of Khorasan’
• It has asked the cadre of PFI, banned recently in India, to join it
• The mouthpiece alleged harassment of Muslims in India

The ISIS made the appeal through its mouthpiece ‘Voice of Khorasan’ in an article titled ‘Crackdown on Popular Front of India: Lessons for Indian Muslims’, said Indian Intelligence sources. The 45-page magazine was published by ISIS affiliate Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), the terror outfit operating in Afghanistan. The mouthpiece alleged that the recent police actions against SIMI and the PFI in India were aimed at “harassing innocent Muslims”.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in joint operations with the police of several states, recently arrested over 100 Popular Front of India members for allegedly indulging in anti-India activities and executing targeted killings of non-Muslims. The Maharashtra Police also filed a chargesheet against the PFI in court claiming the outfit was “conspiring to make India a Muslim nation by 2047”.

Officials in the security establishment said they had found that terror operatives were making desperate efforts to strengthen the Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) network in the country and, therefore, attempts were being made to brainwash Muslim youth and incite them to join the ISIS. The ISJK has now been eyeing the members of the banned PFI, they said.

“During the raids against the PFI, the NIA seized documents that showed that operatives of the banned outfit were in the know of mechanism to manufacture bombs and weapons,” a senior official said. It was also found that the PFI had created “hit squads” for targeted killing of non-Muslims, particularly those associated with the RSS and the BJP, he said, adding that cases of such murders were reported from a few southern states, including Kerala.

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THE EXPRESS INDIA NEWS ::

BRIGADIER HARBAKSH SINGH (IC 31)
COMMANDER 163 BRIGADE (1948)

In May 1948, Brigadier Harbaksh Singh, Commander 163 Brigade, was ordered to advance and capture Tithwal with a view to capturing the enemy’s base from where he operated towards the Handwara valley and to cut his advance from Muzzaffarabad to Gurais. The tribesmen were then adopting guerilla warfare to infiltrate the Kashmir Valley.

On the night of 16 May, Brigadier Harbaksh Singh, leading his troops on foot, made a rapid advance through a very difficult terrain, including the crossing of the 11,000-ft. Nastachur Pass, and completely surprised the enemy who broke and withdrew in confusion and panic in all directions. Tithwal was thus captured on 23 May. The success of the operations was to a very great extent due to his personal leadership.

During the subsequent consolidation at Tithwal, when the enemy concentrated a stronger force and brought heavy fire to bear with numerous counter-attacks, Brigadier Harbaksh Singh visited every position placing troops on the ground and was frequently under enemy fire. To keep himself in touch with Divisional HQ he made frequent trips on foot unmindful of the danger of being ambushed as the line of communication was still exposed to enemy infiltration.

During these operations, Brigadier Harbaksh Singh showed gallantry and courage of a very high order and his personal appearance in forward posts, without regard for personal safety, considerably cheered the defenders.

After the Kashmir operations, he went on to serve as the Deputy Commandant of the Indian Military Academy, at the western command headquarters, director of infantry at the Army headquarters, and in 1957 attended a course at the Imperial Defence College (now Royal College of Defence Studies) in the United Kingdom. In January 1959, he became the first foreign officer to go on attachment with German Army’s first division to be raised after their disbandment at the end of World War II.

He returned to India to take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 27 Infantry Division, and later as the GOC 5 Infantry Division. From July 1961 to October 1962, he was the Chief of Staff at the Western Command headquarters.

When the Chinese invaded NEFA and Ladakh, he was moved from Shimla to take over the command of IV Corps. He later he moved as the GOC XXXIII Corps.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965[edit]

In 1964, he was promoted to Army Commander and took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command whose area of responsibility spanned from Ladakh to Punjab. He led the Western Command successfully against the Pakistan Army along the entire border in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Around May 12, 1965, Brigade Commander, Vijey Ghai in Kargil convened a conference at HQ. The agenda was not revealed but it started with him reading out the contents of Lt. Gen Harbaksh Singh GOC-in-C Western Command, DO (demi official note) to the forces. The Army Commander had reviewed recent skirmishes in Rann of Kutch and commented that the Pakistanis were continuing with their belligerent attitude and spoke about cultivating a more aggressive spirit in out troops. He also remarked pointedly “has the martial blood in the veins of the Indian Army soldiers dried up” or words to the similar effect.^[19] The operations that followed including the Taking of Point 13620 and Black Rocks was a major boost for the Indian forces. Per the official account of the War,^[20] this was the first counter-offensive undertaken by Indian troops in years. Its success had a good effect on the morale of the troops in J&K and the Army as a whole. Politically it bolstered the image of the country. The outstanding leadership of Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh had played a key role in boosting the morale of a defeated army turning it into a striking force within just three years of the Chinese encounter.

After serving as the General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Army Command from 1964 to 1969, the General retired in September 1969. Captain Amarinder Singh (later Chief Minister of Punjab) of Patiala served him as his ADC.