A Commanding Officer of the Army and around 30-40 other personnel have been booked after they allegedly stormed a police station, assaulted police personnel and damaged government property in Jammu’s Kishtwar.
Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said the matter was “under examination through the appropriate institutional mechanisms”.
Sources said the trouble began when the driver of a private vehicle associated with the Army allegedly got into an altercation with the driver of a pilot vehicle of the Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner, who was on his way to an official function.
As the Army driver allegedly misbehaved, the vehicle was taken to the nearby police station. The sources said although the vehicle was later allowed to leave, the situation escalated when the Army personnel later stormed the police station.
According to the FIR, a copy of which was accessed by The Tribune, “a criminal conspiracy and violent assault” took place at Atholi police station. The FIR states that under the “direct command” of N Arun Gandhi, Commanding Officer 17 RR, a group of 30-40 Army personnel, led by Major Vikas Sharma, launched a “pre-planned attack”.
“Armed with lathis, iron rods, and arms and ammunition, the group stormed the police station by climbing over the main gate and the boundary wall. Their intention was to cause fatal injuries and kill the police personnel on duty,” the FIR states.
It further alleges that during the scuffle, the Army personnel tore the uniform of the SHO and physically assaulted Atholi SDPO Vijay Kumar Bhagat. Several other police personnel on duty also sustained injuries during the assault, it adds.
The FIR also states that the Army personnel also assaulted the ARTO, Kishtwar, and his personal security officers (PSOs), who were present at the police station. “The attackers also caused extensive damage to government and public property, vandalising the official vehicle of the ARTO, the vehicle of the SHO and the SDPO and damaging the main gate of the police station,” it states.
The FIR names Commanding Officer Gandhi and Major Vikas Sharma of the 17 RR, besides 30-40 other Army personnel.
Meanwhile, the Army spokesperson said, “Appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the joint investigation. At this stage, it would be premature to comment further while the investigations are in progress.”
Army’s portable field hospital to be deployed in earthquake-hit Venezuela
Two Indian Air Force C-17 transport planes, carrying doctors, a portable field hospital, equipment and supplies, took off from the Hindon Air Base, near Delhi.
‘Amistad’ is Spanish for ‘friendship’. Venezuela is a Spanish-speaking country in South America.
En route, the IAF planes will refuel in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on the west coast of Africa.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X, “Two IAF C17s took off today for Venezuela with urgent assistance to support their post-earthquake relief efforts. The assistance contains an Indian Army Field Hospital Unit and over 35 tons of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment.”
India is committed to supporting the government and people of Venezuela in this difficult time, Jaishankar added.
A key initiative is the portable self-contained field hospital called the BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) Cube.
The BHISHM Cube is a state-of-the-art, indigenous, rapidly deployable modular medical facility designed specifically for disaster and humanitarian response. Comprising compact, self-contained medical modules, it can be quickly assembled into a fully functional field hospital capable of delivering advanced trauma care, emergency surgeries, intensive care support and essential medical treatment for up to 200 patients. Equipped with portable ventilators, patient monitors, diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, power generation and oxygen support systems, the BHISHM Cube enhances India’s capability to provide swift and effective medical assistance during crises anywhere in the world.
Indian Army’s specialised medical contingent will assist in humanitarian relief efforts in the affected region. The medical team from 60 Para Field Hospital is on board the IAF planes.
The contingent comprises 41 personnel, including nine medical officers, and is equipped to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, life-saving surgical support and other essential health care services to the affected.
The Army team is carrying approximately six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian relief supplies provided by the Ministry of External Affairs.
UAE military delegation sees military prowess along India’s western front
The delegation also was given first-hand experience on state-of-art AI and Quantum lab facilities, modern weapon systems and tactical training methodologies
A military delegation from the UAE has been shown around Indian Army’s firepower and training abilities.
The delegation leader Brig Gen Staff Mohamed Khamees Al Hassani, Deputy Commander, UAE Land Force, paid homage at National War Memorial on Thursday.
Earlier, the five-member delegation of UAE Army led by Brigadier General Al-Hassani, visited the Army War College at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh and the Infantry School at the same location. The delegation was briefed on the institutional training imparted at various establishments located at Mhow.
The delegation also was given first-hand experience on state-of-art AI and Quantum lab facilities, modern weapon systems and tactical training methodologies.
The Army War College posted on X saying it hosted a high-level UAE delegation. Discussions covered contemporary conflicts, multi-domain operations, and avenues for bilateral cooperation in professional military education.
A day earlier, the delegation had visited an Army division tasked westwards. The delegation witnessed mechanised manoeuvres and integrated operations showcasing own UAV and Counter-UAV capabilities. The Army’s South Western Command said during interactions, both sides exchanged views on contemporary security challenges, emerging defence technologies and evolving operational concepts, reaffirming the shared commitment of India and the UAE towards strengthening military-to-military cooperation and fostering a robust friendship.
Sources said India and the UAE had rapidly deepened defence ties since 2023, moving from periodic exercises and equipment cooperation to a formal Strategic Defence Partnership that expanded cooperation across maritime security, defence industry collaboration, cyber and counter terrorism, training and interoperability, and intelligence sharing.
The two governments signed a Letter of Intent toward a Strategic Defence Partnership in January 2026, committing to negotiate a framework agreement to deepen and broaden defence cooperation.
A throwback to forgotten, tragic chapter on Indian war prisoners
For the first time, an Indian Army observer participated in Australia’s Operation Render Safe, the latest edition of which was held in Papua New Guinea from June 15 to June 19.
Amid thriving bilateral ties between India and the Oceanic state, it was a throwback to a tragic and largely ignored chapter in Indian military history — involving thousands of prisoners of war (POWs) held captive in terrible conditions by the Japanese forces during World War II.
Led by the Australian Defence Forces (ADF), Operation Render Safe takes place annually or after an urgent request from a Pacific Island nation to address danger posed by remnants of explosives for World War II.
“The engagement is aimed at enhancing interoperability and cooperation in unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) reconnaissance and disposal operations. It aids professional military exchanges and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) expertise among participating nations,” the Indian Army said.
Operation Render Safe contributes to collective regional security through safe disposal of remnants of explosives, and provides education and training to enhance the security capabilities of Australia’s Pacific partners, according to the ADF website.
“The participation reflects India’s growing commitment to regional security, defence cooperation and capacity building across the Indo-Pacific region,” the Indian Army added.
Located in south-western Pacific Ocean, the island territory of Papua New Guinea — part of the Commonwealth — lies to the north of Australia, and covers about half the island of New Guinea and numerous smaller islands in the vicinity. To its west on the main island, it shares a land border with Indonesia. It was a strategically crucial location during World War II, despite its brutal environment and tough terrain.
Approximately 40,000 Indian soldiers part of the erstwhile British Indian Army were captured by the Japanese forces, mainly after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. Though many of them joined the Indian National Army (INA), over 10,000 of them were transported to various camps in New Guinea, and were at the centre of untold tales of courage, sacrifice, resilience and survival.
In a paper titled ‘Great in adversity: Indian prisoners of war in New Guinea’, Peter Stanley, principal historian at the Australian War Memorial, said official histories provide scant coverage as Indian POWs have been largely overlooked in war literature of India as well as the Allied forces.
“Despite the neglect, the ordeal of Indian POWs was as severe as those of the less in number British and Australian troops who were captured in the fall of Southeast Asia. Unlike their British and Australian comrades, they have not published memoirs, nor have they been the subject of historical works. They remain substantially neglected,” he added in the paper.
More Indians were transported by the Japanese to New Guinea than anywhere else. They were forced to work in labour camps in harsh conditions for constructing airfields and fortifications in dense jungles while enduring severe starvation, tropical diseases and execution. Many did not survive to the end.
Narinder Singh Parmar, an educator based in Australia, has written a book on the experiences of his father — Major Chint Singh, a native of Himachal Pradesh who served with the 12th Frontier Force Regiment during the war.
He said that over two years, many of the POWs died in the thick jungles and swamps due to diseases, malnutrition, torture by the Japanese or bombings by the Allied forces. They were even deprived of medical aid. Of 2,400 captives at the camp, only his father and 10 others were rescued by Australian forces in September 1945.
Tragically, the other ten died in a plane crash while heading home in November 1945. Chint Singh, should have been on board, but he was needed for testimony in the trials of Japanese soldiers charged with war crimes, making him the sole survivor among the 2,400 Indian POWs.
Terming the campaign in New Guinea to be all but forgotten except by those who served there, the US Army Center for Military History said diseases thrived on the island. “Though Malaria was the greatest threat, dengue fever, dysentery, scrub typhus and a host of other tropical diseases awaited unwary soldiers in the jungles. Scattered, tiny coastal settlements dotted the flat malarial north coastline, but inland, the lush tropical jungle swallowed men and equipment,” the Center said.
The status of Indian POWs became significant when they began to be rescued as Allied forces led by General Douglas MacArthur advanced along the northern coast of New Guinea. The first indications that Indians were to be found in New Guinea came in March 1944, when Indians were liberated on Los Negros by advancing American forces under McArthur.
The presence of Indian POWs — over 6,000 of whom were during and after the war — had come as a surprise to the Allies, Dr Stanley wrote.
On September 16, 1975, Papua New Guinea became an independent state and established diplomatic relations with India. Structured ties between the two countries are spread across diplomatic, economic, defence, maritime, science and education fields, and include delegation visits at the highest level and regular bilateral interactions. The country also forms a key element in India’s Act East Policy and Indian Navy warships have made several port calls over the years to Papua New Guinea.
The latest round of talks were held in June 2026. “During the consultations, the two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, including development partnerships, political engagements, economic cooperation and cultural ties. They also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora, the Indo-Pacific region and exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said.
Nihang-police standoff in Uttarakhand ends, heavy security continues at border with Himachal
A day after a tense face-off between a large group of Nihang Sikhs and security personnel at the Kulhal border check post near Paonta Sahib of Sirmaur district, normalcy returned along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border on Friday.
The group left for Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh in the early hours of Friday following negotiations with the authorities.
After meeting police and district administration authorities, the Nihangs left the gurdwara premises at Dehradun in the wee hours in vehicles under police escort.
The authorities, however, continued to maintain heightened security across the interstate border in view of the recent developments linked to the Karnaprayag dispute in Uttarakhand.
The sequence of events began on Thursday when hundreds of Nihang Sikhs travelling from Punjab towards Uttarakhand assembled at the historic Gurdwara Paonta Sahib before heading towards the Kulhal border late at night.
Following directions from the Uttarakhand administration, the police established barricades to stop the group from entering the state, citing concerns over law and order in the wake of recent tensions in Karnaprayag and the Nagrasu Gurdwara issue.
Senior officials from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, along with representatives of the Sikh community, held extensive discussions in an effort to resolve the situation peacefully. Although a large number of Nihang Sikhs agreed to return after the talks, a section of the group reportedly crossed the barricades, leading to a brief confrontation with police before entering Uttarakhand. No major injuries were reported during the incident.
Police presence remained strong on Friday at key locations in Dehradun district and along the interstate border. Officials said the situation was under control, with most members of the Nihang group having dispersed or returned, while vehicular movement resumed without disruption after the overnight tension.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government had full respect for every religious community, but made it clear that no one would be permitted to take law into their hands. He asserted that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb public order.
The border standoff is rooted in the developments that followed the June 16 incident at Karnaprayag in Chamoli district, where a dispute involving some Nihang Sikhs and local residents over parking reportedly escalated into a clash, leading to arrests and heightened tensions. The arrests prompted protests and demands from Nihang organisations for the release of those detained, eventually culminating in Thursday’s mobilisation towards the Uttarakhand border.
Officials of both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have appealed to the public to maintain peace and avoid rumours, while assuring that the situation is being closely monitored to prevent any further escalation.
Passport application fees in normal route to be Rs 2,500 from July 1 instead Rs 1,500
New passport rules will kick in from July 1, with the government set to charge more for various categories of passport applications.
A special discount of 10 per cent will be available to children below nine years of age and elders above 60 years on fresh applications.
Other segments of passports will cost more.
Here is how the fee will change and the percentage rise in cost of filing for new passports under various major categories:
Fresh 36-page passport for people age 18 years and above: Passport application fees in normal route will be Rs 2,500 from July 1 instead Rs 1,500. This represents a 67 per cent rise. Tatkal category passport under this segment will cost Rs 5,000 as against Rs 3,500 (43 per cent rise) at present.
A 60-page passport under the normal route passport will cost Rs 3,500 as against Rs 2,000 (75 per cent rise) currently. Tatkal category passport will cost Rs 6,000 as against Rs 4,000 (50 per cent) at present.
For applications in the lost or damaged category, a 36-page passport in normal route will cost Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,000 (67 per centrise) at present. Tatkal category passport will cost Rs 7,500 as against Rs 5,000 (50 per cent) at present.
For applications in the lost or damaged category, a 60-page normal route passport application will cost Rs 6,000 as against Rs 3,500 today and Tatkal category will be Rs 8,500 instead of Rs 5,500 today.
The revised fee structure will come into effect from July 1.
Army man murders wife, swims to safety after driving car into canal in Patiala
The driver’s side door left open as a car plunged into the Bhakra Canal in Patiala’s Passiana helped the police crack the murder case of Ramandeep Kaur (30), leading to the arrest of an Army sepoy. Ramandeep drowned after being trapped inside the vehicle, while her husband, Happy Singh (29), swam to safety.
The police registered a murder case against Happy, currently posted in Assam, after evidence suggested he intentionally drove into the canal. The couple had married in 2024 after a long inter-caste love affair, but were reportedly facing disputes.
Samana DSP Fateh Singh Brar said Happy initially claimed he lost balance while driving, and no foul play was suspected. Divers were deployed to recover the car and Ramandeep’s body. However, when the vehicle was retrieved, investigators found the driver’s door was not shut properly, indicating Happy exited before impact. “It would have been tough to open the door under water pressure,” Brar noted.
Following statements by the victim’s kin, Happy was arrested. The police said the incident occurred on June 23 after a minor dispute. Ramandeep drowned, while Happy, from Bajewala village in Mansa, managed to swim to safety. A case was registered on the complaint of Ramandeep’s brother, Gurjeet Singh.
Kinnaur Bailey Bridge Collapses on NH-05, Dumper Falls Into River; Traffic Disrupted
