Monthly Archives: August 2018

Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Haryana Government has significantly enhanced the ex gratia compensation for families of armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel who die in the line of duty or suffer permanent disability while serving…

Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service

Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Haryana Government has significantly enhanced the ex gratia compensation for families of armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel who die in the line of duty or suffer permanent disability while serving in operational areas or during war, terrorist or militant attacks, border skirmishes, or United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

• As per a notification issued by the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, the next of kin of a battle casualty will now receive Rs 1 crore as an ex gratia — double the earlier amount of Rs 50 lakh
• This revision is effective from February 23, 2024Advertisement
• Soldiers suffering from a disability of 70% or above will be granted Rs 35 lakh. Those with disabilities between 50% and 69% will receive Rs 25 lakh, and personnel with disabilities ranging from 20% to 49% will be entitled to Rs 15 lakhNew guidelines

As per a notification issued by the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, the next of kin (NoK) of a battle casualty will now receive Rs 1 crore as an ex gratia — double the earlier amount of Rs 50 lakh. This revision is effective from February 23, 2024. The last revision to the amount was made in 2016.

The state has also revised the slabs for disability related ex gratia, now covering a wider range of permanently disabled personnel. Soldiers suffering from a disability of 70% or above will be granted Rs 35 lakh. Those with disabilities between 50% and 69% will receive Rs 25 lakh, and personnel with disabilities ranging from 20% to 49% will be entitled to Rs 15 lakh.

The notification specifies that the “disability element should be of a permanent percentage fixed by the initial Medical Board.” Review Medical Board reports will not alter the ex gratia payment amount, even if the disability percentage is later changed.

Previously, only those with 75% and above disability were eligible for Rs 35 lakh, while the 50-74% and 25-49% categories received Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh respectively. The last revision in disability benefits was made in 2017.

Only soldiers who had Haryana domicile at the time of joining the forces are eligible under this scheme.

The notification also outlines how the ex gratia amount will be divided among the martyr’s family. The spouse will receive 35%, regardless of remarriage. Children will get 35%, and parents 30%, irrespective of dependency. In case of an unmarried martyr, parents will receive 100% —split equally between mother and father. If the deceased had no children, the widow and parents will share the amount equally.

The Administrative Secretary of the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department is the competent authority to sanction the grant, with powers delegated to the respective Deputy Commissioner-cum-president of the District Sainik Welfare Office.

Attempts to reach ACS Vijayendra Kumar for comment were unsuccessful.

Bapora is already known as the native village of former Army Chief General VK Singh

Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service

Vyomika Singh’s family members at their residence in Bapora village in Bhiwani district. Tribune Photo

With the entire nation celebrating the success of the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor, the people of Bapora village in Bhiwani district have even more reason to rejoice. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force who has drawn attention at the national and international level by being part of the Indian Force’s media handling team, is the ‘bahu’ of Bapora in Haryana’s Bhiwani district.

She and Colonel Sophia Qureshi were part of the Indian Force’s team which regularly briefs media on Operation Sindoor. Singh is married to Dinesh Sabharwal, a native of Bapora village in Bhiwani district, which also happens to be the ancestral village of former Army Chief General VK Singh (retired) — who is serving as Governor of Mizoram now.

Dinesh Sabharwal is also the Group Captain in the IAF. His father Prem Singh Sabharwal had also retired as the District Excise and Taxation Controller.

“Vyomika is a bahu (daughter-in-law) of the village, and her success brings honour not only to her family but to the entire village. Her father-in-law’s family still resides in the village, while Vyomika lives with her husband in Gurugram,” informed the villagers.

A villager said that the entire village was elated after hearing about the success of Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Air Force crossed into enemy territory to eliminate nine terrorist camps in Pakistan. “The operation symbolised a moment of national pride. The success of Operation Sindoor provided a sense of justice for the nation,” he said.

86-year-old Ramdei, who is grandmother-in-law of Vyomika Singh, expressed pride, saying, “May every household be blessed with such a brave daughter-in-law. She has proven that our girls are no less courageous than boys.”

Bapora village has a strong tradition of military service — nearly ten family members of Vyomika, including her husband Dinesh Sabharwal have served in the armed forces.

The possible purpose of such large scale intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence

During the intervening night of May 8 and 9, Pakistan carried out strikes by drones on India at 36 locations along the western borders from Leh in the north to Sir Creek in Gujarat, using 300-400 unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Revealing this at a media briefing related on the ongoing military engagement between India and Pakistan, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said preliminary examination of downed drones showed that Turkey’s Asisguard Songar drones were employed for the attacks.

Stating that the Indian Armed Forces shot down many of the drones using kinetic and non-kinetic measures, they added that the possible purpose of such large scale intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence.

Developed by an Ankara-based firm, Asisguard, Songar is a low-altitude, quadrotor, unmanned combat aerial vehicle that was developed for the Turkish Armed Forces and has been in use since 2020 for battlefield operations as well as internal security duties.

Consisting of a quadrotor that can be armed and a ground-control station, it can be operated in autonomous and manual-flight modes and can simultaneously transmit telemetry data and images. Its features include route-planning and navigation based on GPS and autonomous return-to-base operation in an emergency.

The company’s website states that Songar Armed Drone System is the first armed drone in the Turkish Armed Forces’ and is meant to be used in any kind of day and night military and security operations.

Songar has an operational range of about 10 kms and a maximum take-off weight of 45 kg. According to reports, the system is low-cost and can be modified according to requirements at hand, is easy to use, It is also light weight and easy to carry by troops.

Besides carrying daytime and infrared cameras, it can be equipped with different types of weapons that can be triggered remotely. These include machine guns, grenade launchers and mini missiles that can be used to target personnel, bunkers, light vehicles and buildings up to a range of two kms.

Barrel rotation up to 45 degrees, close air support capability for critical military installations, ability to perform 35 minutes of duty without payload, rapid response to known threats, multi-layered firing safety measures and gimbaled automatic firing system are among its other listed features.

Songar has been integrated into both ground vehicles and standalone UAV operations. It has also been mounted on a 4×4 armored vehicle to support close-range combat and surveillance missions.

Pakistan and Turkey have close bilateral relations encompassing cultural, economic, diplomatic and military domains and are both members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey is a major supplier of military equipment to Pakistan and has been supporting it in the international arena.

Lahore Police said that the explosions occurred within moments of each other. The blasts were so loud that people who were several kilometres away heard its sound and rushed to streets in confusion and fear.

Lahore [Pakistan], May 8 (ANI): Three explosions were heard in quick succession in Walton Road of Pakistan’s Lahore on Thursday, prompting residents to rush out of their homes in fear, ARY News reported, citing police. The blasts happened in the vicinity of Gulberg, which is one of Lahore’s most upscale and sensitive districts.

Lahore Police said that the explosions occurred within moments of each other. The blasts were so loud that people who were several kilometres away heard its sound and rushed to streets in confusion and fear.

Emergency response teams, including Rescue and Firefighting units, have reached the site of the incident. Furthermore, the police have cordoned off the area, ARY News reported.

According to officials, investigations were being made to determine the nature and source of the explosions. The authorities have sealed the area and unrelated people have been restricted from entering the area as bomb disposal and intelligence teams start their preliminary assessment, ARY News reported.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has temporarily suspended flight operations at airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot, local media outlet Aaj News reported.

The Chandigarh administration sounded an air raid siren appealing to people to remain indoors after receiving a warning from the Air Force station of a possible attack. The administration in Ambala, which has a key IAFbase, ordered a complete blackout…

The Chandigarh administration sounded an air raid siren appealing to people to remain indoors after receiving a warning from the Air Force station of a possible attack. The administration in Ambala, which has a key IAFbase, ordered a complete blackout during night hours.

Amid the escalation of tensions with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said the services at the Kartarpur Sahib corridor had been suspended until further notice. The 4.7-km-long corridor connects Indian border in Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in…

Amid the escalation of tensions with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said the services at the Kartarpur Sahib corridor had been suspended until further notice. The 4.7-km-long corridor connects Indian border in Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Pakistan early claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones

Multiple blasts were heard in Srinagar city early Saturday morning, hours after the Indian military thwarted drone attacks by Pakistan on several installations, including the airport, late last night.

According to officials, the blasts were heard near vital installations, including the airport.

As soon as the blasts were heard, sirens went off in the city.Advertisement

Power has also been snapped in the city and most other parts of the valley, the officials said. PTI inputs

Area has been sanitised by security forces, say officials

In a morning update today, official sources said drones had been sighted at some locations near the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan through the night.

These suspected armed drones are posing potential threats to civilian and military targets, they said.

Officials said, “Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in severe injuries to members of a local family. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces.”

They said the Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems.

“Citizens, especially in border areas, are advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential,” government sources said.

Pakistan early Saturday claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones. The Pakistani military has claimed that the blasts occurred at three air force installations, including the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. Videos circulating in Pakistani media and social media reportedly show the Nur Khan Air Base on fire following a huge explosion.

Woman killed in Poonch

May 10, 2025 7:39 am

A woman identified as Rashida Bi from Mendhar in Poonch killed in Pakiatan shelling at 7 am today

ADC Rajouri Raj Kumar Thappa killed in Pakistan Army strikes

May 10, 2025 7:22 am

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thappa, has been killed during Pakistan Army strikes in response of Indian non-stop aggression.

Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they…— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1921015452454605262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 10, 2025

Smoke seen from Dibber area, Udhampur

May 10, 2025 7:11 amPakistani drone fragments recovered in Punjab’s Jalandhar

As Pakistan attacked multiple locations in India, parts of a drone were recovered after a blast in Kanganiwal village in rural Jalandhar of Punjab on Saturday. Surjeet Kaur, a local whose house was affected due to a Pakistani drone attack, said, “A red coloured flash came above our house and there was a huge explosion. We got scared. Everything was dark. We came out of our houses after a short while and saw that the water tank above our houses and our neighbours’ houses had exploded. There was a blackout at that time, and all the lights were off.” In an immediate response to Pakistan’s attack on 26 Indian locations on Saturday, India launched retaliatory strikes, sources told ANI.

Pakistani artillery shelling in Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch

May 10, 2025 6:58 am

Many civilian areas have been hit by Pakistani artillery shelling in Rajouri town, Poonch town and Jammu. Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa critically injured in shelling near his home. Taken to hospital

Explosion-like sounds heard in Punjab’s Pathankot   

May 10, 2025 6:51 am

Explosion-like sounds were heard in Pathankot district of Punjab early Saturday morning, amid the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan. The blast sounds were heard around 5 am. There was no official word in this regard.

ADDC Rajouri critically injured

May 10, 2025 6:47 am

Heavy artillery shelling reaching Rajouri town. Many houses and structures damaged. ADDC Rajouri critically injured.

Blasts in Srinagar

May 10, 2025 6:31 am

Multiple blasts were heard in Srinagar city early Saturday morning, hours after the Indian military thwarted drone attacks by Pakistan at several places here late last night. According to officials, the blasts were heard near vital installations, including the airport. As soon as the blasts were heard, sirens went off in the city. Power has also been snapped in the city and most other parts of the valley, the officials said.

Pakistan claims India targeted three airbases with missiles

May 10, 2025 6:30 am

Pakistan early Saturday claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones. Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad at around 4 am that Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) airbases of Pakistan Air Force were targeted. “But all assets of the Air Force remain safe,” he claimed. India has fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets, he claimed. He added that several missiles were intercepted by Pakistan’s air defence system. He said this is a “sinister act of India pushing the region into lethal war and Pakistan will respond to this aggression. India should wait for our response”. Chaudhry did not take any questions and ended the presser abruptly.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh exposed Pakistan’s airspace tactics, saying that Islamabad deliberately kept its civil airspace open after launching a ‘failed unprovoked drone’ and missile attack on Wednesday, effectively using civil airliners as shields.

New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI): Wing Commander Vyomika Singh exposed Pakistan’s airspace tactics, saying that Islamabad deliberately kept its civil airspace open after launching a “failed unprovoked drone” and missile attack on Wednesday, effectively using civil airliners as shields.

Adressing the special briefing on Operation Sindoor on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response.”

She further emphasised that this decision endangered unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights operating near the India-Pakistan border.

“This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan,” she said.

During the briefing the Wing Commander showed the data of the application flight radar 24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector.

Singh pointed out that while India’s airspace was closed due to the heightened alert, Pakistan allowed civil airlines to continue flying, including those on the Karachi-Lahore route.

“As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore…Indian Air force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response thus ensuring safety of international civil carriers,” she said.

Further, she also higlighted that, in response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an Air Defence radar on Thursday.

Citing Pakistan’s attack on Indian Army on the night of May 7 and 8, she stated, “Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the line of control using heavy-calibre artillery guns and armed drones… which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian army personnel. Pakistan army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory fire.”

Meawhile, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that, in a major escalation along India’s western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, “On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations.”

She added, “The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones…”

Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI.

The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities.

Pakistan’s attempted retaliation came in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.

The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI.

The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military’s attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)