Jammu, August 13
Reacting to the all-party meeting on Kashmir held in Delhi on Friday, Gurdev Singh, president, Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee, welcomed the statement of the Prime Minister and unanimously supported by all parties in the meeting to declare Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as the fourth region of J&K.In a statement issued here today, Gurdev Singh urged upon the Centre to transform these assertions into a reality to finish the Kashmir dispute. He said the displaced persons from PoK were the worst sufferers and victims of the dispute between India and Pakistan. — TNS
Army holds medical camp in Tral
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, August 13
The Army organised a medical camp for local residents in south Kashmir’s Tral.A defence spokesman said the medical camp was organised at Kahlil village, 5 km from Tral town.“In a collaborative effort with the civil administration, a team of Army and civil doctors provided quality medical treatment to the poor and needy persons of Kahlil and nearby villages of the Tral area. Many patients were also referred to SDH, Tral, for further specialised treatment. They were also educated about various diseases, basic health, hygiene, sanitation and drug abuse,” the spokesman said.
Lt Gen Chand visits Hisar cantonment
HISAR: Lt Gen Sarath Chand, general officer commanding in chief, Sapta Shakti Command, visited the army cantonment here on Saturday. The army commander complimented the division on the professionalism exhibited during the recent exercises—Shatrujeet and Meghprahar. During the visit, the army commander interacted with officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks and sensitised them on the security related issues. The officer stressed on operational readiness, mental robustness and directive style of command.
Army organises weapons and band exhibition in Kapurthala
KAPURTHALA: As part of Independence Day celebrations, the Ghurki Brigade, under the aegis of Goldren Arrow Division, exhibited a wide array of weapons and equipment at the Kapurthala military station on Saturday. Deputy commissioner Jaskiran Singh inaugurated he function at the Army Public School here.
HT PHOTODeputy commissioner Jaskiran Singh and SSP Rajinder Singh with army officials during an exhibition of weapons in Kapurthala on Saturday
The event was aimed at exhibiting military capabilities of the elite arm to visitors.
Army officials said tanks, guns and other weaponry were put on display.
The show received an overwhelming response from the civilians, especially youths and students.
Visitors were enthralled by the impressive display by the army bands conducted by the units of the station.
Deputy commissioner Jaskiran Singh, with senior superintendent of police, Rajinder Singh, visited the venue and army officials informed them about displayed weapons and their use.
The DC thanked Brigadier Rajesh Panicker, station commander, Kapurthala military station, for organizing the event, which helped in strengthening the bond between locals and the army.
XI Corps’ initiatives for veteran fraternity
THE STEPS TAKEN BY GENERAL JS CHEEMA AND HIS FORMATION, XI CORPS, TO RESOLVE VETERANS’ PROBLEMS ARE INDEED GROUND-BREAKING
From page 1 I’ve always thought that serving personnel are best suited to serve the cause of veterans. Apart from in-depth knowledge of their requirements there’s also deep empathy for their former comrades. Punjab’s bulwark, XI Corps has done sterling work in this regard. Under Adhikar exservicemen project were helped to realise their pension arrears in 2006 after bottlenecks had been singled out and remedial action taken. Communication, stimulus and appreciation aided in achieving objectives. I was impressed by two innovative ideas. The efficiency of pension disbursing offices was increased by refining their operating milieu and reaching out to them through seminars. Instead of lamenting the inefficiency of bank clerks in calculating arrears the trouble was taken to suitably train them. Individual pension variances of 1,107 pensioners amounting to `88.6 crore were resolved.
PHOTO: XI CORPSTriple Olympian and war hero Colonel Haripal Kaushik, VrC, being honoured by General JS Cheema, GOC, XI Corps, on the occasion of the Sikh Regimental Centre’s biennial reunion at Jalandhar on August 6.
Similar novel efforts have been made by XI Corps in respect of the arrears of OROP and the 6th Pay Commission. The results are there for all to see. A total of `508.61 crore has been disbursed by various disbursing offices and banks in clearance of the backlog to 3,11,007 veterans, war widows and veterans’ widows in the last four months. Under Sahuliyat project, placement nodes at Jalandhar and Ludhiana have provided employment to 1,276 entitled persons including 35 widows in the last two years. Special widows’ conclaves with a total presence of 1,026 women were held during this period in Amritsar, Ferozepur and Jagraon. Relevant authorities were in attendance resulting in resolution of 524 cases relating to family pensions. I can go on and on in similar vein. As General JS Cheema, commanding XI Corps moves to his new assignment overseeing the development and modernisation of infantry (he’s from the Sikh regiment) he’ll have the satisfaction of having done some path-breaking work to ameliorate veterans’ condition. Efforts have achieved real results.
SRC HOCKEY TEAM REUNION
The Sikh Regimental Centre has been one of the most significant teams in Indian hockey. To take only one decade, 1970-80 of it’s over sixty-five year history; it had during this period won no less than 54 national tournaments, been runner-up in 62 and in others mostly reached the semi-finals. The Nehru Gold Cup, Delhi 1973, 1976, Beighton Cup, Calcutta 1972, 1974, Murugappa Gold Cup, Chennai 1974, and 1976 are just some of the championships won by the team. The veterans of the SRC mostly settled in Punjab get together biennially to relive heady memories of their playing days and inspire the current team.
On August 6, the SRC veterans met at Jalandhar. The event started with the honouring of undoubtedly their greatest player, Colonel Haripal Kaushik. He played the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics as the Indian centre-forward. In between his resolute defence of Tongpeng La against the Chinese won him the Vir Chakra in 1962. Present were Modan Singh, passing whose indomitable defence wasn’t a piece of cake for even the most aggressive forward and Brigadier Harinder Chimni, centre-forward of the 1975 World Cup winning team. WESTERN COMMAND GETS NEW CoS
General Iqroop Ghumman is the new chief of staff at headquarters Western Command. A June 1981 NDA/IMA graduate the general served with 17 guards, at that time an anti-tank battalion equipped with the Milan anti-tank guided missile (now a tracked reconnaissance unit).
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