Russia again pummelled Ukraine with a barrage of cruise and other missiles on Thursday, hitting targets from east to west as the war ‘s one-year anniversary nears.
One of the strikes killed a 79-year-old woman and injured at least seven other people, Ukrainian authorities said.
Russian forces used a variety of missile types, firing 36 in a two-hour overnight burst, Ukraine’s military chief, Valery Zaluzhnyy, said.
Ukrainian air defence batteries shot down 16 of them, he said — a lower rate of success than against some previous waves. Ukrainian authorities said targets in the north, west, south, east and center of the country were struck. — AP
IN 1965, I had applied for a Vespa scooter from the Army canteen. The allotment letter came in December 1972, just when I was leaving for Staff College, Wellington. I chose the Madras regional canteen depot as the nodal point and conveyed it to the authorities concerned.
The Delhi-Madras train arrived at its destination in the morning and there was a day-long wait to board the connecting Nilgiri Express. We visited the canteen depot. Leaving the wife and our toddler son in the taxi, I went to the manager’s office. Since he had a visitor, I said, ‘Sorry for barging in, but I have a metered taxi waiting outside.’ I handed over the allotment letter.
‘Have you brought the bank draft?’ the manager asked.
‘No,’ I said, ‘but we are carrying cash.’ He expressed his inability to accept cash. There was finality in his tone as he handed back the letter.
I asked whether there was a bank nearby. He told me that there was one, but it would take 24 hours to issue a draft. ‘You can come back tomorrow,’ he said.
I told him that my train was leaving in the evening. This prompted the visitor to intervene. ‘I am a retired Wing Commander. If it is ok, you can leave the letter and cash with me and I will do the needful,’ he said.
I thanked him. ‘I will just get the money; it is with my wife.’
As I walked out, I harboured negative thoughts about the unhelpful manager. I had barely re-entered his office when he suddenly said, ‘Ok, I will make an exception and accept cash from you.’ This was a pleasant surprise.
As the other man rose to leave, I thanked him again for his offer. ‘Do you know him?’ the manager asked me sternly after the man had left.
‘No, I don’t. But he is a retired defence officer.’
‘Just because he says so? How can you be so gullible?’ The manager was genuinely upset. ‘He is a conman. When I realised that you were falling into his trap, I felt sorry for you.’ Letting out a phew, I thanked him and handed him the money. He counted it and issued a receipt.
I have always wondered why people undergo penance in search of God. God lives among us. Unfortunately, so does the devil. We just have to take our luck.
In confusion, I did not even ask the manager’s name. I only recall that he had an extra finger on his right hand. But every time I visit a canteen, the do-gooder automatically comes in my prayers. Stay blessed, my friend. You and your ilk are surely the saviours of humanity.
Two senior most stalwarts of Corps of Signals living in Chandigarh, wishing each other Happy Corps Day. Maj Gen MS DHILLON, Age 102 yrs of age, in the wheelchair. Commissioned 11-4-1943, Retd 30-11-1977, as CSO E Comd. In the Car LT GEN SURJIT SINGH BRAR, Commissioned 12-7-1948, IMA 3rd Course, Retd 30-11-1986 as Comdt IMA.
The government has approved three major appointments in the Army. Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar is the new Vice Chief of Army Staff, and the Central and South Western commands – one facing China and the other Pakistan – have got new commanders.
Lt General Kumar replaces Lt Gen BS Raju, who has been appointed as the Jaipur-headquartered South Western Command chief.
Lt Gen BS Raju, Lt Gen NSR Subramani to head South Western, Central Commands
Lt Gen NSR Subramani has been posted as the Central Command chief in Lucknow. He is at present serving as the Chief of Staff at the headquarters of the Northern Command in Udhampur.
The appointments will come into effect on March 1.
Lt General Kumar, an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, was commissioned into 1 Assam Regiment in June 1985. He has commanded 59 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Infantry Brigade and an Infantry Division along the Line of Control
Lt General Kumar has also commanded the highly active White Knight Corps. He has held the posts of Additional Director General Military Intelligence and Director General Military Intelligence at the Army Headquarters.
Lt Gen BS Raju was commissioned into the 11th Battalion of the Jat Regiment in December 1984. He later commanded his battalion during ‘Operation Parakram’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also holds the distinction of commanding the Uri Brigade along the Line of Control and Chinar Corps in the Kashmir valley
Lt General Subramani was commissioned into 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in 1985. He commanded 16 Garhwal Rifles in a counter-insurgency area in Assam. He commanded an Infantry Brigade in Samba in J&K, and also the 17 Mountain Division during the India-China standoff in 2020. He commanded 2 Corps at Ambala.
THE theme of the 14th edition of Aero India, ‘The runway to a billion opportunities’, seeks to showcase India’s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. At the inauguration of Asia’s biggest military airshow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the quest for self-reliance. Once the biggest importer of weapons, the country now exports to 75 countries. The defence exports have increased six times in the last five years and crossed $1.5 billion. His message to the private sector was to not miss the opportunity. The five-day event aims to promote the export of indigenous air platforms. Companies from 98 countries are taking part.
As the country scouts for military planes and helicopters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid out the roadmap before the top honchos of aerospace majors. India does not want to remain an assembly workshop for military platforms, he conveyed; it wants to manufacture cutting-edge products. Pressing global manufacturers to produce more locally, he spoke of creating symbiotic relationships — ‘we want to build with you, launch with you, create with you and develop with you.’ He has already indicated bringing more weapons and systems under an import ban. During the last 30 months, the import of 411 military items has been barred to give a push to Make in India.
The import substitution plans are laudable for the thrust on indigenisation, but there are concerns that these tend to sidestep the fact that enormous amounts of investment and years of research are needed for developing world-class weapon systems. Just recently, the Ministry of Defence came out with sobering information. As many as 23 of the 55 ‘mission mode’ projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation are running behind schedule. These high-priority programmes are based on the specific operational requirements put forth by the forces. Delays could affect their operational efficiency. Big ideas need well-thought-out plans.
Militant killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Kupwara
A militant was killed after the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Based on a specific input, a joint team of the Army and the police intercepted an infiltrating group in Saidpora area of Tangdhar late on Wednesday evening, officials said. “A terrorist was killed while another sustained grievous injuries,” they said. The injured returned to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A defence spokesperson said Pakistan’s attempt to destabilise peace and tranquility in Kashmir had been prevented. “Higher moral ascendancy over the enemy along the LoC has been maintained,” the officials said.
According to the Army, “Alert troops deployed in an anti-infiltration grid detected the movement of three terrorists near the LoC while they were approaching the fence. On being challenged near the post, an intense firefight ensued between the terrorists and the troops, resulting in successful elimination of one terrorist and grievous injuries to the other.”
The injured terrorist managed to flee to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along with the third terrorist, taking advantage of darkness, the Army said.
A thorough joint search operation was launched along with the police, resulting in recovery of the body of a terrorist, an AK series rifle, a light automatic weapon, six magazines, two grenades and large quantities of war-like stores, the Army said.
“Continued infiltration bids along the Line of Control are an uncanny reminder of Pakistan’s efforts to orchestrate terrorism in Kashmir and disrupt peace and harmony, while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding,” the Army added.
In Srinagar, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Qamarwari area after a gunshot-like sound was heard, the police said. The sound created panic in the area as passersby scurried for safety. “There is no damage or injury to anyone. A cordon-and-search operation has been launched,” the Srinagar police mentioned in a tweet.
Search operation in Srinagar locality
Security forces carried out a cordon-and-search operation in Qamarwari area of Srinagar after a gunshot-like sound was heard, the police said.
The sound created panic as passersby scurried for safety. “There is no damage or injury. A search has been launched,” the police tweeted. pti
3 terrorists part of Intruding group
The infiltrating group comprised three terrorists. Two of them managed to escape into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, said the Army.
An AK series rifle, a light automatic weapon, six magazines, two grenades and large quantities of war-like stores have been seized.
WHEN we were invited for dinner by Captain Hathiram and his wife, whom we had not yet met after my posting to Armoured Static Workshop, Ahmednagar, in 1971, my wife and I had hardly expected an elderly Parsi couple to welcome us while sitting on a swing. Seeing Mrs Hathiram in a skirt was a culture shock for a young Captain from a small town, though my wife felt fine, having studied at Baring Union Christian College, Batala. The Hathirams lived in an old-style British bungalow. Their aesthetically decorated house and table manners left an indelible impression on us. The couple was humility personified.
When I was posted at HQ Technical Group, Delhi Cantonment, my boss was Maj Gen P Minas. He was meticulous in his personal and professional habits and would give detailed instructions that left nothing to the imagination of those executing them. He taught me the habit of reading long minutes and notes word for word. And, of course, the habit of listening: he would spend so much time just listening to the problems of others. He had only two pairs of uniform and his shining black shoes were conspicuous by the cobbler’s repair work.
One morning, I received an urgent message from his PA and rushed to meet him. He was sitting on a sofa and was engrossed in reconstructing the broken arm of a porcelain doll. After I saluted, he explained how the toy had to be got repaired from a particular civilian employee of 505 Army Base Workshop that overhauled Army tanks.
In 1982, as a Lt Col, I was posted as an instructor at an Army training establishment in Secunderabad. One morning, a local daily carried the photograph of MK Rustomji, a celebrated management expert who had arrived from Bombay in the city to deliver a lecture. He was staying in a guest house. That was the time when the Dhirubhai Ambani miracle was being discussed in management schools. I was excited at the prospect of Rustomji coming to my institution.
Consumed by the thought of meeting the great man, I drove my scooter to the guest house. I gave a slip with my name written on it to the caretaker. He hesitated for a moment, but then knocked at the door. A handsome old man wearing a multi-coloured dressing gown emerged out of the room. He held my hand after I saluted him. He not only spent two hours with me, but also wrote my name with a shaky hand in a set of three of his books.
Indeed, compassion, humility and frugality make the Parsi community worth emulating.
Online registration for Agniveers’ online entrance exam opens
The Indian Army has announced modification to the recruitment procedure for troops under the Agniveer scheme. As per the modified recruitment procedure, computer-based online Common Entrance Exam (CEE) will be conducted before the recruitment rally.
Notifications for registration have been uploaded on Join Indian Army website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
Online registration for applications opened today and is open till March 15. Candidates can apply as per their age, educational qualification, physical criteria and other qualifications.
To be Held in April
The Common Entrance Exam is planned to be conducted at 175-180 examination centres all over India
It will be held between April 17 and April 30
The fee for online exam is Rs 500 per candidate
The recruitment will be carried out in three stages, said the Indian Army.
In the first stage, all candidates who have registered and applied online on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in website will undergo a computer-based online Common Entrance Exam (CEE).
In the second stage, shortlisted candidates will be called for a recruitment rally at a location decided by respective Army recruitment office where candidates who will undergo physical fitness test and physical measurement test.
In the third and final stage, the selected candidates will undergo medical tests.
The CEE is planned to be conducted at 175-180 examination centres all over India between April 17 and April 30. The fee for online exam is Rs 500 per candidate. The Army will bear half the cost and candidates are required to pay Rs 250 during online registration of application.
Sikhs in US told to shave or face strict action, slam correctional agency’s discriminatory beard policy
Members of the penal law enforcement agency in the US state of California are now required to shave their facial hair, regardless of any religious or medical reasons they may have for keeping it, media reports said, a move civil rights activists say was disproportionately targeting religious minorities like the Sikhs and Black Americans.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in an order on February 1 said staff members are required to shave facial hair, irrespective of any religious or medical reasons they may have for keeping it.
A CDCR official said the policy change was prompted to comply with the department’s Covid-19 safety measures.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the Sikh Coalition, the new policy would disproportionately target religious minorities like Sikh and Black Americans.
“They’ve rolled out this blanket, very over-broad policy, that all peace officers must shave to wear N-95s,” Harsimran Kaur, Sikh Coalition’s senior legal counsel, told NBC News.
“But we know that there are alternative respirators out there that bearded people can wear safely to do their jobs… We think there’s a way to keep bearded people safe and not trample on their civil rights,” Kaur said.
A US federal court on December 23 last year ruled that the Marines Corps, a part of the US Armed Forces, can’t restrict entry to Sikhs with a beard and a turban, according to The Washington Post.
The order came as a relief to three Sikh recruits who joined the elite fighting force for basic training.
