The Border Security Force (BSF) has suspended a jawan on charges of molesting a local woman at a grocery store in restive Manipur last week, an official said on Tuesday.
A CCTV captured video of head constable Satish Prasad, donning his combat uniform and carrying an INSAS rifle, abusing the woman, was also shared widely on social media.
A BSF officer said the incident was reported on July 20 in Imphal West district and after the paramilitary force received a complaint, the allegation was checked and subsequently the trooper was suspended the same day.
A Court of Inquiry proceeding has been initiated against the head constable who belongs to the number 100 battalion of the force that was sent to the state as an ad-hoc unit for security duties in the wake of the ethnic violence in the northeastern state, the officer said.
The BSF has zero tolerance for such acts and a fair investigation will be conducted in this incident, he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil War at an event organised on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum in Amritsar on Wednesday. Photo Credit: Twitter/@BhagwantMann
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Amritsar, July 26
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਾਂਭ-ਸੰਭਾਲ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਹੈ…ਅੱਜ ਤੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਇਹ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਵਾਂਗੇ ਕਿ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਜਵਾਨ ਐਕਸੀਡੈਂਟ ‘ਚ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦਾ ਐਕਸ਼ ਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ੀਆ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਵਾਂਗੇ…ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋਏ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ‘ਚ ਵੀ ਵਾਧਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਦੁਗਣਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ..
Punjab government will start an ex-gratia grant of Rs 25 lakh for Armed Forces personnel in cases of “physical casualty” during service, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Wednesday.
Mann also said that ex-gratia grant to physically disabled soldiers and financial assistance to non-pensioner ex-servicemen of World War I and II would also be doubled.
The chief minister made the announcement after paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil War at an event organised on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum.
“Ex-gratia is given to soldiers who die in a battle or clash. But if any soldier dies during his duty because of an avalanche, in any accident or heart attack, brain hemorrhage, in such cases ex-gratia was not given,” Mann said, adding that his government will now start giving ex-gratia in these “physical casualty” cases.
This initiative was taken as even in these circumstances, soldiers sacrifice their lives during the call of duty, he said.
Mann said ex-gratia for physically disabled soldiers have also been increased by the state government.
Soldiers with 76 per cent to 100 per cent disability will now get Rs 40 lakh ex-gratia instead of Rs 20 lakh, soldiers with 51 per cent to 75 per cent disability will now get Rs 20 lakh instead of existing Rs 10 lakh and those with 25 per cent to 50 per cent disability will now get Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia instead of Rs 5 lakh, a statement by the Punjab government said.
Monthly financial assistance of non-pensioner ex-servicemen to World War I and II or their widows has also been increased from the existing Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, according to the statement.
Mann said the state government is “duty-bound to secure the interests of these brave soldiers”.
“The countrymen will forever remain indebted to these national heroes for their bravery and selfless service to the nation,” he said.
Mann also said that his government had previously raised the compensation for the families of soldiers killed in action to Rs 1 crore.
Mann also said he had organised a charity show in support of the Army during the Kagil War in Patiala. Many artistes — Mann himself was an artiste then — had participated in it to express their solidarity, he said.
New Delhi, July 26
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India would not hesitate to cross the Line of Control (LOC) to safeguard own interests. He went on to blame the “lack of political will” for not having done it earlier.
The minister was at the Kargil War Memorial, Drass, Ladakh, to mark the 24th anniversary of Vijay Diwas.
Rajnath said, “To safeguard our interests, we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC. Earlier, the governments lacked the political will, which has now been provided by our government, led by Narendra Modi.”
He said that In 1999, during the Kargil conflict the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had decided against crossing the LoC to evict Pakistani troops who had occupied peaks along the 168-km Himalayan ridgeline that forms the Mushkoh-Drass-Kargil-Batalik-Turtuk axis along the LoC. India lost 559 soldiers in a daring effort to climb peaks which are in excess of 15,000 feet to evict the Pakistani troops.
Rajnath called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well, if ever the need arises. “People should be mentally prepared, so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the armed forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian; in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier,” he said.
Rajnath described ‘Operation Vijay’ – the name for the military operations on Kargil — as an episode that displayed India’s grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances. “The victory was a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success,” he added.
“Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land,” the minister said. India, he said, had sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military would not back down at any cost if the nation’s interests are harmed.
He said the government is fully committed to safeguarding national interests, no matter the challenge. “No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the armed forces to eliminate the nation’s enemies. India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed to international laws,” he added.
Earlier, the minister laid a wreath and paid homage to the soldiers who displayed unparalleled bravery during ‘Operation Vijay’.
Rajnath interacted with soldiers and extended gratitude while recalling all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. “The armed forces, have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers,” he said.
Rajnath recalled several soldiers, including Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Vikram Batra and Captain Manoj Pandey and Vir Chakra awardees Lieutenant Colonel R Vishwanathan, Captain Jintu Gogoi, Captain Vijayant Thapar and Naib Subedar Mangej Singh.
Drass (Ladakh), July 26
Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Wednesday said the dangers and challenges before the armed forces are likely to get more complex in the future and India needs to be ready to face them.
The Chief of Army Staff said the armed forces should prepare for the future keeping in mind the possible challenges.
“Dangers and challenges before us are likely to get complex in the future, we need to be ready,” General Pande told reporters at the Kargil War Memorial here on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas.
“We have been working on adaptive, resilient and responsive processes. Our Army will emerge as a technology-enabled and future-ready force to deal with security challenges,” he said.
The Army chief noted that the country will never forget the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war.
“Operation Vijay was a difficult and high-intensity military operation. It was a difficult terrain that was under the possession of the enemy. It was a challenge that our soldiers accomplished…I also want to commend the Air warriors for their contribution in achieving the final objective,” he said.
The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999.
The Kargil War saw soldiers of Indian Armed Forces fight in the most challenging terrain under harsh weather conditions leading to the defeat of the enemy in Drass, Kargil and Batalik Sectors.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India’s victory over Pakistan.
The Army chief also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial here to pay tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 war.
Chandigarh, July 26
Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi from Hyderabad had gone to the US to pursue a master’s degree.
Her mother has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking for help. She had gone to the US to pursue her MS from TRINE University in Detroit. The video was shared by the spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) Amjadullah Khan on
She was found in a bad condition, sitting in a corner looking pale and fragile.
In the video, she is heard saying her name is Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi and she belongs to Hyderabad in India. She says that she was taken to a hospital for treatment, but she fell weak after blood samples were taken for testing.
A man in the video offered her food and assured her help. He even asked her to return to India.
Moved by her video, netizens reacted stating that she must be brought back to Hyderabad at the earliest.
New Delhi, July 26
Despite all-out efforts by the security agencies to bring peace and normalcy to ethnic strife-hit Manipur, a fresh incident of violence was reported from the state today when a large mob torched nearly 30 empty houses and demolished several others in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh.
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Security officials said a 2,000-strong mob, comprising men and women, launched an attack on Moreh Bazar. They said the arson came hours after two buses used by the forces to transport personnel were set on fire by a mob in Kangpokpi district.
According to Manipur police officials, the incident had occurred at Sapormeina when the buses were coming from Dimapur last evening. Locals stopped the buses, bearing Manipur registration numbers, at Sapormeina and insisted that they would check if any member of another community was on board, they said, adding that some of them set the buses on fire.
Indicating that the mob that came out in Moreh today was backed by armed miscreants, the security officials said a combined team of the Assam Rifles, Moreh police, CDO and the BSF tried to push back the mob. In the process, the security forces resorted to firing into the air to disperse the mob and contain the arson. There was no report of casualty.
The police said the premises and the buildings attacked by the mob were the same that were targeted in previous attacks. The mob also targeted the forest office building at Moreh, they said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said construction of temporary houses at Sajiwa in Imphal and Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district was nearing completion. “Soon, families from relief camps will be able to move into these homes. The state government is taking all possible measures to rehabilitate the people affected by the recent violence, both in the hills and the valley,” Singh said in a Twitter post. The Chief Minister had last month said his government would build 3,000-4,000 pre-fabricated houses to accommodate people who had to flee from their houses because of the ethnic strife.
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 25
Office-bearers and activists of various social and trade organisations of the area today held protests, condemning the heinous acts of violence perpetrated against the people of Kuki community in Manipur.
Besides organising marches, the protesters also burnt effigies of the Union Government at some places. The protesters said the recent incident in which two Kuki women were paraded naked and gang raped has outraged the nation and Indians settled across the world.
“We denounce such culpable acts that violate the basic principles of humanity and dignity. Unfortunately our national leaders have been trying to shield the violators,” said All India Kisan Sabha leaders Baldev Singh Latala and Jagraj Singh Maherna.
The protesters urged the Centre and relevant authorities such as the NHRC, NCW and NCM to take suo moto cognizance of the matter, intervene and constitute a n inquiry commission to investigate the Manipur violence.
Hoshiarpur, July 25
At the call of the All-India State Government Employees’ Federation, the Women Employees’ Coordinating Committee, Punjab, Hoshiarpur unit held a protest rally at Shaheed Udham Singh Park against the parading incidents of women in Manipur.
Leaders said for the past three months, people of a particular community were being targeted in Manipur and the police had remained a silent spectator. They said in the regime of so called ‘double engine government’, the accused were being saved by ‘double protection’. Several prominent persons also spoke on the occasion.
Kargil Vijay Diwas will be celebrated across India on Wednesday, July 26. The day has been named after the success of Operation Vijay. On this day, India successfully reclaimed command of the high outposts which were treacherously occupied by Pakistani intruders during winter months. ADVERTISEMENT The Kargil War was fought for more than 60 days which ended on 26 July 1999 with a gallant victory
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