Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, December 26

Daughter Guneet Kaur lit the pyre of father Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt in Jalandhar on Monday.

Lt Col Singh died on Saturday after being in coma for eight years.

Lt Col Karanbir Singh, a Sena medal winner, had been in coma after being injured in an encounter with the terrorists in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir in 2015.

For all these years, his family, including his father Col Jagtar Singh Natt, wife Navpreet Kaur and daughters Guneet and Ashmeet (aged 19 and 10) had been taking turns attending to him in room number 13 of the Officers’ Ward at the Military Hospital.

Lt Col Natt had joined the Short Service Commission in the Guards Regiment in 1998. In 2012, he was relieved after completing 14 years of service. He did LLB and MBA and took up a civil job. But he insisted on going back to the armed forces and joined the 160 TA unit.

Was speaking after the commissioning of stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal

PTI

Mumbai, December 26

The Indian government has taken serious cognisance of the recent attacks on merchant navy ships MV Chem Pluto and MV Sai Baba, and it will take strict action against those behind the attacks by finding them even from the “depths of seas”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

Speaking after the commissioning of stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal, Singh said India had intensified patrolling of the seas after the recent attacks on merchant navy ships.

“The Indian government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto and attack on MV Saibaba in the Red Sea seriously. We will find those who executed the recent attacks on merchant navy ships even from the depths of the seas and take strict action against them,” Singh said.

MV Chem Pluto with 21 Indian crew members was struck by a drone about 217 nautical miles from Porbandar on Saturday following which both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard deployed a number of assets to provide assistance to the ship.

A Gabon-flagged commercial crude oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. Indian officials later clarified that the commercial oil tanker was not an Indian-flagged vessel.

Meanwhile, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said four destroyers had been deployed to counter piracy and drone attacks on merchant ships.

He said P-8I aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, helicopters and Coast Guard ships had been deployed jointly to counter the threats of piracy and drone attacks. 

ਸਰਵੰਸਦਾਨੀ, ਪੀਰ, ਫਕੀਰ, ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਪਿਤਾ,
ਦੁਸ਼ਟ ਦਮਨ, ਕਲਗੀਵਾਲੇ, ਦਸ਼ਮਤ ਪਿਤਾ,ਸਹਿਨ ਸ਼ਾ। ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੇ

Officer got injured in J&K counter-insurgency op

Tribune News Service

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, December 24

Having remained in a comatose stage for over eight years after a bullet hit his lower jaw in a counter-insurgency operation in Kupwara, Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt breathed his last early this morning at the Military Hospital, Jalandhar.

For all these years, his family, including his father Col Jagtar Singh Natt, his wife Navpreet Kaur and his daughters Guneet and Ashmeet (aged 19 and 10 years) had been taking turns to attend to him in room number 13 of the Officers’ Ward at the Military Hospital.

Navpreet said, “He used to look at our faces and we felt as if he wanted to say something. But he never responded. While my elder daughter had idea about what had happened, but Ashmeet, who was just 1.5 years when this incident occurred, kept asking me all these years as to when her dad will finally get up. It was around four years ago that I told her everything. We felt as if my husband got martyred every single day in these eight years.”

Juggling between her home and the hospital daily, Navpreet said she just had two things on mind. “I wanted to give full care to my husband, preparing homemade juices, soup and liquid meals and taking them to the hospital for feeding through pipe. I also had to ensure that my daughters never got neglected. Thankfully, my elder daughter has got enrolled at Sri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi,” she said.

Recalling the unfateful day, Col Jagtar Singh Natt said, “It was November 2015 that my son got hit by bullets fired by a terrorist who had been hiding inside an abandoned hut in the dense forest in Kupwara. My son, too, fired back and killed the ultra, thus saving three of his men. He was airlifted to the Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi. However, he suffered hypoxia and cardiac arrest. He remained there for 1.5 years and was later referred to the Military Hospital in Jalandhar.”

He said, “Leaving my house in Batala with my younger brother, we all came here and settled in Jalandhar, so that we could take care of him. The Army provided us accommodation.”

Lt Col Natt was a Sena Medal awardee. He had joined the Short Service Commission in the Guards Regiment in 1998. In 2012, he was relieved after completing 14 years of service. He did LLB and MBA and took up a civil job. But he insisted on going back to the armed forces and joined 160 TA unit when life took a tragic turn.

f the police and administration also took part in the ceremony before the bodies were dispatched to their hometowns. The ceremony took place at Rajouri.

The Army also announced the names of the soldiers who laid their lives. The soldiers who died include Naik Birender Singh from Chamoli in Uttarakhand, Rifleman Gautam Kumar from Pauri Gharwal in Uttarakhand, Naik Karan Kumar from Kanpur in UP and Rifleman Chandan Kumar from Nawada in Bihar.

Lt General Upendra Dwivedi General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) also laid wreath and interacted with the family members of the soldiers.

General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Vikas Kundal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri Amritpal Singh and other officers also paid floral tributes. The mortal remains were late dispatched to their hometowns. The soldiers of 48 Rashtriya Rifles were killed in an ambush by terrorists at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bafliaz in Poonch.

Meanwhile, the search operation continued even after fourth day of the incident in the forest areas of Rajouri and Poonch. Despite unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), dog squads and security forces personnel, there is no sign of ultras in the area. Sources informed that the security forces may change their strategy to locate the terrorists.

The mobile internet remained suspended even on Sunday to stop rumour mongering in wake of alleged custodial death of three civilians of the area who were picked up by Army for questioning.

Col NS Ahuja (retd)

IT was 1969; my wife and I were recently married. As a young captain with just seven years in service, I found myself in the presence of a living legend — Gen Sam Manekshaw, who later became Field Marshal. Our encounter with him was at a mess party. The atmosphere buzzed with the camaraderie of fellow officers and their spouses. Then, like a gust of wind, in came the flamboyant Manekshaw, full of energy and moving briskly through the crowd to interact with as many officers and their ladies as possible.

His social graces were exceptional, and he had a witty remark for everyone. The party was infused with an air of awe as he regaled us with captivating anecdotes from his illustrious career. In our group, he spent a good five minutes, weaving tales that left us entertained and inspired.

Fast-forward to the brink of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, just before the storm of conflict was unleashed. As the Army Chief, Gen Manekshaw addressed troops and officers, delivering a pep talk that resonated with conviction and valour. He urged us to march into battle, fight gallantly, teach a lesson to our adversaries and return victorious with chests adorned with well-deserved medals. His words were a potent elixir, fuelling our spirits with unwavering determination.

He epitomised the quintessential fauji leader — forthright, courageous and possessing unquestionable integrity. His Gorkha roots shaped his character, and he stood tall as a man of guts, someone who led by example and walked the talk. India’s resounding victory in the 1971 war, which saw the capture of over 93,000 PoWs in a fortnight, is a classic case study of exemplary military leadership.

After retirement, he embraced a life of tranquillity but was often beckoned to share his wealth of experience for motivation and inspiration. His legacy echoed in military circles, a testament to a lifetime dedicated to the service of the nation.

With the release of the movie Sam Bahadur, the legend of Field Marshal Manekshaw is witnessing a renaissance. The celluloid narrative charts his remarkable journey, capturing the essence of a man who transcended the ordinary and etched his name in the annals of military history. It is a befitting tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who served under his command. His legacy, burnished by the silver screen, continues to inspire new generations, ensuring that the tale of Sam Bahadur would endure as a timeless ode to valour and leadership.

Srinagar, December 24

The killing of a retired police officer in Baramulla district has sparked widespread condemnation from political parties and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The retired senior superintendent of police, Mohammad Shafi Mir (72), was shot dead by terrorists while he was giving “azaan”– the call for prayer — from a mosque early Sunday.

L-G Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences, denouncing the “barbaric act” and vowing that the “cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared”. Sinha, deeply pained by the terrorist attack, conveyed his sympathy to Mir’s bereaved family.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti took to X to express her concerns, highlighting multiple instances of violence and calling on the government to address the ground realities rather than maintaining a false narrative.

Additionally, Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari condemned the killing, expressing heartfelt condolences to Mir’s family. He denounced the act as cowardly and urged society to unite against such killings, emphasising that killers should be condemned regardless of their faith.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the CPM “strongly” condemned the brutal killing of three civilians in Poonch while they were in custody of the Army. “There has to be a speedy investigation and punishment meted out to those responsible”, the CPM said. Several targeted killings have recently occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, including the shooting of a police constable earlier this month and the killing of a police inspector in October.

Pained beyond words

Pained beyond words by the dastardly terrorist attack on retired police officer while he was giving a call for prayer in the mosque. Cowards responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared. — Manoj Sinha, J&K Lieutenant Governor

Newly elected body appears to be in ‘complete control of former office-bearers’, says Sports Ministry official

New Delhi, December 24

The Sports Ministry on Sunday suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) till further orders after the newly-elected body made a “hasty announcement” of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations.

Related News

• After suspending Wrestling Federation of India, Sports Ministry requests IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage affairs

Reacting to the development, WFI chief Sanjay Singh said, “We have not flouted rules, we will seek revocation of WFI suspension from government.”

“If suspension is not lifted, we can explore legal options to challenge it,” he told PTI.

The ministry also said the new body was working under the “complete control of former (WFI) office-bearers”, which was not in conformity with the National Sports Code.

The WFI elections were held on December 21 with former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s loyalist, Sanjay Singh, and his panel winning the polls by big margins.

“The new body has not followed the WFI constitution. The Federation stands suspended till further orders. WFI will not be taking care of day to day activities of wrestling. They need to follow the due process and the rules,” a Sports Ministry official told PTI.

Top wrestler Bajrang Punia, who along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, had led the agitation against Brij Bhushan had returned his Padma Shri award to the government on Friday in protest over Sanjay Singh, who is a Brij Bhushan loyalist, becoming WFI President.

This was a day after Sakshi Malik quit wrestling for the same reason.

The source further explained the reasons for WFI suspension.

“Sanjay Kumar Singh, newly elected president of WFI announced on December 21, the day he was elected as president, that U-15 and U-20 nationals for Wrestling will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year.

“This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI,” said the source.

“As per clause 3 (e) of preamble of constitution of WFI, object of the WFI, among others, is to arrange holding of Senior, Junior and Sub Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee,” said the source.

The source added that the new body had started functioning in the same premises (Brij Bhushan’s official bunglow) from where the previous office-bearers operated wherein allegedly sexual harassment of the players have been alleged.

“The newly elected body appears to be in complete control of former office-bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code.

“The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office-bearers. Which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and present (ly) the court is hearing the matter.

“The decisions made by the newly-elected executive body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) demonstrate a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI’s constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code,” the source said.

Several top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan and the case is being heard in the Delhi High Court.

The source added that all these actions by the new body are contrary to the established norms of fair and transparent governance.

“The actions smack of complete arbitrariness on part of the President, which is against the settled principles of good governance and devoid of transparency and due process. Adherence to governance norms is vital for ensuring fair play, transparency and accountability. These are crucial to build trust among athletes, stakeholders, and the public,” said the source.

The source added that the decision to hold the national championships should have been done in a procedural manner by informing the executive committee, which was not done.

“Such decisions (holding of the nationals) are to be taken by Executive Committee, before which agendas are required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI constitution under the Heading ‘Notices and Quorum for Meetings’,  minimum notice period for EC meeting is 15 clear days and quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives.

“Even for Emergency EC meeting, minimum notice period is 7 clear days with quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives.

“Further, in terms of the Article X (d) of Constitution of WFI, it is Secretary General of WFI, who has been made responsible for carrying out the general business of the Federation, keeping the minutes of the meetings, maintaining all the records of the Federation, calling the meetings of the General Council and the Executive Committee.

“It seems the Secretary-General has not been involved in the said meeting of EC, which was held without any notice or quorum,” the source added.

Newly-elected WFI secretary-general, Prem Chand Lochab, had written to Sanjay Singh a day after the elections that a “few states have objected to rescheduling and relocating of age group and junior Nationals”.

“In this regard, no regular meeting of the Executive Committee of WFI as per its Constitution has been conducted after the elections for newly elected Executive Council held on 21-12-2023.”       

“In view of the above, it is felt that the grievances of state federations are genuine and may be considered and the U20 and U15 National Wrestling Championships 2023 scheduled at Nandini Nagar, Gonda from December 28-30 may be postponed,” Lochab, the former Railway Sports Control Board secretary had written in his letter.