Meeting of ESM today at Pathankot to discuss OROP 2 Anomalies and road map to eradicate them.Approx 250 attended
Brig Prahalad Singh chairman Sanjha Morcha conducts ESM meeting at Pathankot
Meeting of ESM today at Pathankot to discuss OROP 2 Anomalies and road map to eradicate them.Approx 250 attended
Chandigarh, February 4
Tributes were paid to Flt Lt Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon, IAF’s sole Param Vir Chakra recipient, as his coursemates got together for a reunion here today.
Also read: Courage over Srinagar: Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon
For the veterans of the 97th Pilot’s and 36th Navigator’s Courses that were commissioned in 1967, it was a memorable trip down memory lane as they got together with their wives and relived the old days in uniform.
Flt Lt Sekhon was posthumously decorated with the nation’s highest gallantry award for taking on four intruding Pakistani Sabre jets over Srinagar in the 1971 war.
The course had 168 pilots and 27 navigators along with three foreign officers, two from Yemen and one from Nigeria. Two course members made it to the highest level of the IAF, becoming Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, while another veteran, Air Vice Marshal JS Grewal, commanded No. 102 Squadron, the only unit to have operated the trisonic Mig-25 Foxbat high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that had a top speed of over Mach 3.https://3eb90c99d5e70bcf664b909bdd014aea.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Among the attendees was Kuruvilla who had become a prisoner of war during the 1971 war and had escaped from Pakistan after a trying ordeal.
Shyam Sunder came all the way from Auckland in New Zealand despite undergoing medical treatment, while another couple, Kauls, came from Gandhinagar with the lady in a wheelchair.
Commemorative Postage Stamp in honour of our revered Gen KS Thimayya , Padma Bhushan , DSO was unveiled by Gen RP Kalita in presence of host of dignitaries incl Kumaon Regt veterans and serving Offrs. COs and ex COs of both 4 and 8 KUMAON were present to pay their tributes.
Lt Gen RC Tiwari and Lt Gen VPS Kaushik were also present to grace the occasion. Sharing a few selected photos of the solemn occasion.
Compliments to the COR for enabling the commemoration.
New Delhi, February 7
Hours after the announcement made by the Prime Minister’s Office, India has dispatched the first batch of earthquake relief material to Turkiye aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft.
The shipment consisted of an expert National Disaster Response Force search and rescue team, including both male and female personnel, highly-skilled dog squads, an array of medical supplies, advanced drilling equipment, and other crucial tools required for the aid efforts.
“India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities in action. The 1st batch of earthquake relief material leaves for Turkiye, along with NDRF Search and Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.
He also instructed officials to offer all possible assistance in coping with the aftermath of the earthquake, killing at least 4,000 people.
“Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” Modi said in a tweet.
Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel expressed his gratitude towards the Indian government’s offer of assistance and said that “a friend in need is indeed a friend”
He also mentioned a Turkish proverb, “Dost kara gunde belli olur”, which means “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
Srinagar, February 7
The Army on Tuesday said it was ready to give a befitting response to any Chinese aggression in Ladakh, maintaining that the integrity of the country was being ensured through physical patrolling and technical means.
Addressing the Northern Command Investiture Ceremony here, General officer Commanding in Chief Lt General Upendra Dwivedi also said that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has brought forth many lessons such as employment of disrutpive and dual use technologies.
“On the LAC, our response to Chinese attempts to unilaterally change the status quo was a swift, undaunted and synergised action by the Indian Armed Forces.Any adverse aggressive designs or attempts will definitely be met with appropriate posturing of Forces and a strong intent with complete synergy among the three services,” he said.
He said measures to resolve the Line of Actual Control (LAC) situation at diplomatic and operational levels are also simultaneously underway.
“I assure you that the LAC in Eastern Ladakh is being dominated by physical patrolling and through technical means and our territorial integrity is being ensured,” he added.
Lt Gen Dwivedi said the Northern Command is in a high state of readiness and morale, to face constantly evolving threats and challenges.
“The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh poses many challenges in terrain and operational dynamics, especially from different adversaries along the Northern and Western borders. We are committed to defending India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while upholding the democratic traditions of the Nation.
“We are maintaining a constant vigil, monitoring all developments and will take all necessary steps to protect our national interests,” he said.
The Army commander noted that cyber and space have emerged as new domains of warfare.
“Information warfare, cyber and space have emerged as new domains of warfare. Gray zone warfare in both the kinetic and non-kinetic domains is a challenge and we have adapted well to the ambiguities associated with strategies,” he said.
“It is essential that we equip ourselves, progressively factor and consider these peculiarities to facilitate better and more effective war fighting,” he added.
He said the Army is prepared to meet any challenges in the future and will always work for the betterment of the people of the region.
“The last two years have brought to the fore newer challenges in the wake of abrogation of Article 370, the Galwan conflict and multiple waves of COVID-19,” he said.
“These challenges have only served to strengthen our resolve to be steadfast and determined in our commitment,” he added.
On the steps taken for improving the life of soldiers and local residents of Ladakh, he said special clothing in seven layers and mountaineering equipment are being indigenised to increase the capability of soldiers in high altitude areas (HAA).
“The study of Intermittent Oxygen Inhalation, has been initiated with an aim to improve the overall health conditions in acclimatisation of combat soldiers, deployed for more than one year in HAA,” he said.
The Army commander said the Pan-India Project of Network for Spectrum has reached completion in the last one year and approximately 57 per cent of this project is rolled out in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“The Army has in conjunction with the Ministry of Communication identified 144 villages in remote areas of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir for installation of 4G/5G towers. Assistance in terms of sharing tower space and support infrastructure is being provided to telecom service providers, so that this critical facility reaches population residing in remote border villages,” he added.
Lt Gen Dwivedi also said that the Army was now working with the UT Government of Ladakh to facilitate tourism in border areas.
Vijay Mohan
Chandigarh, February 6
Four new sainik schools, which serve as feeder institutes for the armed forces, will come up in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, taking the total of such schools to eight.
Two sainik schools are expected to come up in Haryana and one each in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt informed Parliament on Monday. These are among 18 new schools that have so far been approved for setting up in different parts of the country.
At present, two sainik schools are located at Kunjpura near Karnal and Rewari in Haryana, one at Kaputhala in Punjab and one at Sujanpur Tira in Himachal Pradesh. Existing sainik schools are funded jointly by the central government and the state government as per laid down guidelines.
One new co-educational sainik school in partnership mode with civilian organisations has been approved and operational in Patiala district of Punjab, Bhatt said in response to a written question on sainik schools by Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha.
The central government had earlier approved an initiative to set up 100 new sainik schools across the country in a partnership mode with NGOs, trusts, private schools or state government schools, after they sign a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Sainik Schools Society.
At present, there are a total of 33 sainik schools existing under the erstwhile pattern in 24 states and union territories. These are exclusively run by the Sainik Schools Society under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence and do not have any association with civilian institutes as in the case of new sainik schools.
According to the minister’s reply, a proposal for establishment of a sainik school at Gurdaspur in Punjab on the erstwhile pattern of the schools, was forwarded by the state government to the Ministry of Defence.
It was decided by the Sainik Schools Society that before considering the proposal of the state government for opening of a new sainik school at Gurdaspur, under the erstwhile pattern, the state government should sign an MoA with the Society in respect of the existing sainik school in Kapurthala, which is already functional.
Conceived in 1961, sainik schools take in students at the level of Class-VI and prepare them mentally and physically for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA). Their alumni have attained the highest positions in the armed forces as well as the civil society.
The total strength of students in sainik schools is over 17,000. Admission of girl cadets was first stated on pilot basis in Sainik School, Chhingchhip, during the 2018-19 academic year as per a policy promulgated by the Society
After the success of pilot project, all existing sainik schools are now admitting girls up to 10 percent of vacancies in Class VI or 10 girls, whichever is higher. All new sainik schools will also be co-educational.
Found a wallet today while travelling from Delhi, IGI T2, containing cash and all imp Cards. Kindly circulate so that it reaches the owner. I can be approached on 9468081180. Warm regards SK Soni
ANI
Kupwara, February 6
Army soldiers today carried a pregnant woman on their shoulders for five kilometres in the snowbound Kupwara district of Kashmir Valley, saving both mother and baby.
According to the Army officials, Army received a distress call from her family members at 11 am from Badakhet village of Kalaroos block, requesting urgent medical evacuation.
Seeing the woman’s critical situation, the Army’s rescue and medical team carried the woman on their shoulders for nearly 5km through a snowbound stretch and incessant snowfall. Near the Sumo Bridge, the soldiers found an ambulance standing to receive the patient.
The woman reached the Primary Health Centre, Kalaroos safely and a healthy baby boy was born. The family and doctors expressed gratitude to the Army soldiers for their support and timely assistance. The mother and baby are doing fine, officials said.h
The family was in tears seeing the commitment and zeal of soldiers through laborious evacuation for 5 km. Any delay in evacuation would have endangered the lives of both mother and baby. The selfless act was widely appreciated by locals, and doctors and is a true testament to the strong ‘Awam Jawan Connect’ in Kupwara, they said.
Due to heavy rainfall, roads were slippery and completely blocked. Also since the roads were narrow, curved and dangerous, no private vehicles could reach the house, they said.
