All posts by webadmin

Remembering heroes of 1971 Indo-Pak war on Vijay Diwas

Leave a comment

PANCHKULA:To commemorate the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) organised a lecture on ‘Military force and diplomacy in managing India’s external security’ on Saturday.

SANT ARORA/HT■ Ex­servicemen during 46th Vijay Diwas celebrations to commemorate 1971 Indo­Pak war.Former high commissioner to Pakistan and Singapore,TCA Raghavan, addressed the gathering and said, “I believe relationship with neighbouring countries is never smooth. If we look at India and Pakistan’s relationship through any country’s lens, things will seem alright.”

“Few people say why it bothers us, why are we spending our time and energy in dealing with Pakistan’s issues. Like Iraq and Germany cannot insulate themselves from the volatile situation in Syria and Iraq, the same goes for India with Pakistan,” he added.

He further said, “We talk about military force and diplomacy. There is not a single neighbouring country where we did not use our force.”

VIJAY DIWAS AT WESTERN COMMAND HQ

Vijay Diwas was celebrated with grandeur at Western Command headquarters.

Lt Gen Surinder Singh, general officer commanding (GOC), 1971 war veterans Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, Lt Gen GS Sihota, Air Marshal MM Singh, Col HS Dhaliwal laid a wreath at Veer Smriti War Memorial at Chandimandir. In another ceremony, tributes were paid to second lieutenant Arun Kshetrapal, who laid down his life fighting in the 1971 war.

REMEMBERING HEROS ON VIJAY DIWAS

Loss pegged at over Rs 81 cr as cross-LoC trade remains suspended

Leave a comment
Loss pegged at over Rs 81 cr as cross-LoC trade remains suspended
A soldier stands guard on the LoC. Tribune File Photo

Jammu, October 31

Suspension of cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for the last 17 weeks has resulted in a loss of over Rs 81 crore, an official said on Tuesday.Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have sought a meeting with officials of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Thursday to discuss resumption of cross-LoC travel and trade via the Poonch-Rawalkote road.Trade across the Line of Control (LoC) was suspended on July 11 after heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side caused damage to trade facilitation centres and police barracks.”Due to suspension of trade along the LoC, there was a loss of over Rs 81 crore during the period,” custodian of LoC trade (Poonch), Mohammad Tanveer told PTI.”We have requested PoK officials — via the government — for a meeting on November 2 to decide on resumption of the cross-LoC travel and trade via the Poonch-Rawalkote road,” he said, adding a response from PoK authorities was awaited.Cross-LoC trade and transport facilities are considered major confidence building exercises between India and Pakistan. According to official figures, goods worth Rs 1,500 crore was traded since the start of the facility in 2008.The cross-LoC bus service via Poonch-Rawalakot road too remained suspended for the past 17 weeks.Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the worst border skirmishes between India and Pakistan along the LoC this year.According to Indian Army figures, till August 1, there were 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army, while in 2016, the number was 228 for the entire year.Eleven people, including nine soldiers, were killed and 18 injured in ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army in July, according to the Army data.There were as many as 83 ceasefire violations, one BAT (border action team) attack and two infiltration bids from the Pakistani side in June in which four people, including three jawans, were killed and 12 injured.The cross-LoC bus services on the Poonch-Rawalakot road between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) also remained suspended for the fourth consecutive week. — PTI

चंडीमंदिर में मनाया विजय दिवस

Leave a comment

चंडीगढ़, 16 दिसंबर (ट्रिन्यू)

चंडीमंदिर छावनी में शनिवार को परमवीर चक्र विजेता लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल अरुण खेत्रपाल को श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित करते उनके परिजन व अधिकारी। -मनोज महाजन

पाकिस्तान से सन 1971 के युद्ध की ऐतिहासिक जीत की याद में चंडीमंदिर स्थित वेस्टर्न कमांड के हेड क्वार्टर में शनिवार को विजय दिवस सैनिक सम्मान के साथ मनाया गया। जनरल आफिसर कमांडिंग इन चीफ लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल सुरेंद्र सिंह ने शहीदों का श्रद्धांजलि दी। समारोह में बड़ी संख्या में अधिकारी व अन्य रैंक के कर्मचारी उपस्थित थे। ब्रिगेडियर कुलदीप सिंह चांदपुरी, लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल जीएस सिहोत्रा, एयर मार्शल एमएम सिंह और एचएस धालीवाल सहित कई सेवानिवृत्त अधिकारी भी इस अवसर पर उपस्थित थे।  एक अन्य समारोह में परमवीर चक्र विजेता सैकेंड लेफ्टिनेंट अरुण खेत्रपाल के परिजनाें ने चंडीमंदिर में लगी उनकी प्रतिमा पर श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित किये। 16 दिसंबर, 1971 काे पाकिस्तानी सेना कमांडर लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल अमीर अब्दुल्ला खान नियाजी और 93000 सैनिकों ने भारतीय सेना और मुक्ति वाहिनी के संयुक्त बलों के कमांडर लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल जगजीत सिंह अरोड़ा के समक्ष आत्मसमर्पण का दिया था।

MESSAGE FROM MY VETERAN FRIEND TO ADJUTANT GENERAL, ARMY HEADQUARTERS NEW DELHI*by Brigadier R Vinayak VSM, AAD

Leave a comment
My dear General,
May I take the liberty of communicating the *mood of the Armed Forces Veteran community after the most unfortunate and terrible way the veterans and family pensioners were treated by Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar* yesterday 30 Oct 2017.
I may be having difference of opinion with Veteran Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM but the manner in which he and others were pushed and shoved around and bundled into police vehicles meant for criminals has not been digested by the serving as well as the veterans. Although the serving fraternity may not express their feelings due to obvious reasons, yet the *veterans have expressed their anguish on social media as well as Republic TV* (the only channel that dared to) telecast a prime time debate hashtagged *#IndiaWithVeterans*.
Notwithstanding individual perceptions of the participating veterans, one good trend that emerged from yesterday’s Republic TV debate was that *all Veteran participants were together in condemning the ill-treatment of our brethren at JM.* Most veterans have realised the need to be united as far as the honour and dignity of Veterans is concerned irrespective of any political or ideological leaning.
My personal view is that there has been *enough procrastination on part of the bureaucracy on the One Man Judicial Commission (OMJC)* and the *intention to resolve OROP anomalies remains suspect.*
Moreover, there has been *enough insults from the Government machinery  by way of Police action on peacefully agitating veterans* at JM.
*OMJC has not yet been made public even after over one year of submission of Report by Hon’ble Justice L Narasimha Reddy.*
The crafty and scheming bureaucrats continue to have their say in surreptitiously *denying and degrading the status of Armed Forces. Warrant of Precedence (WoP) of Military Ranks totally disregarded by successive Central Pay Commission (CPC) and Armed Forces given a raw deal while all goodies have been granted to civilian counterparts*.
It is high time the voice of the Armed Forces (serving and veterans) is heard by the Hon’ble PM and RM and they deliver justice to the Armed Forces in their actions. If the issues are not addressed urgently it may worsen the matter with Armed Forces Veterans coming out in larger numbers.
May I therefore request you to kindly consider apprising the Chief the aforesaid sentiments expressed by veterans in a manner you consider appropriate.
With warm regards,
Yours sincerely,
🇮🇳 Jai 🇮🇳 Hind 🇮🇳
Untitled
Brigadier R Vinayak  VSM, AAD
‘Veteran’
Bhopal

ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀਆਂ ਦੇਣ ’ਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਰਹੇ ਮੋਹਰੀ: ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ

Leave a comment

ਖੇਤਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿੱਧ
ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, 16 ਦਸੰਬਰ

ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਨਿਰਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਬੁੱਤ ’ਤੇ ਫੁੱਲ ਮਲਾਵਾਂ ਭੇਟ ਕਰਦੇ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ। -ਫੋਟੋ: ਬਸਰਾ

‘

 

 

 

 

 

ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਹੋਣ ’ਤੇ ਮਾਨ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ  ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀਆਂ ਦੇਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।’ ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਟੀਐੱਸ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਬਾਈਪਾਸ ਨੇੜੇ ਸਥਿਤ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਰ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ’ਚ ਵਿਜੈ ਦਿਵਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਹ ਦਿਵਸ 1971 ਦੀ ਭਾਰਤ-ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਜੰਗ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਅਤੇ ਜਿੱਤ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕੀ ਕੰਪਲੈਕਸ ’ਚ ਫਲਾਈਂਗ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਨਿਰਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਬੁੱਤ ’ਤੇ ਫੁੱਲ ਮਲਾਵਾਂ ਭੇਟ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ।
ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੇਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਤਾਕਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ, ਜੋ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੀਰਤਾ ਦਾ ਸਬੂਤ ਹਨ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੜਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਨ। ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਬੱਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਗੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀਆਂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਸਜ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਕੱਟਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਾਲ 1971 ਦੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਟੇ ਵਜੋਂ ਹੀ ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਖਿੱਤੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਦੀ ਬਹਾਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ 1971 ਦੀ ਭਾਰਤ-ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਜੰਗ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀਆਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਾਏ ਗਏ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਭਲਾਈ ਸਕੀਮਾਂ/ਯੋਜਨਾਵਾਂ ਲੋੜਵੰਦ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਕੋਲ ਪੁੱਜਣ ਤੱਕ ਪੂਰੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਹੀ ‘ਗਾਰਡੀਅਨਜ਼ ਆਫ਼ ਗਵਰਨੈਂਸ’ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਤਹਿਤ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਲੰਟੀਅਰ (ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀ) ਭਰਤੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਤ ਯੋਜਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਹਕੀਕਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਮੇਂ-ਸਮੇਂ ’ਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਓਵਰਆਲ ਰੈਂਕਿੰਗ 19ਵੇਂ ਸਥਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਚਲੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਥਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਪੈਸਕੋ ਦੇ ਸੀਐੱਮਡੀ ਮੇਜਰ ਜਨਰਲ ਐੱਸਪੀਐੱਸ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ, ਵਧੀਕ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ (ਜ) ਇਕਬਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਜੰਗੀ ਵਿਧਵਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਸਕੂਲੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਗਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪ੍ਰਦੀਪ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਅਗਰਵਾਲ, ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ (ਜ), ਕਰਨਲ ਐੱਚਐੱਸ ਕਾਹਲੋਂ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਸੈਨਿਕ ਭਲਾਈ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੋਪਾਰਾਏ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ ਹੋਰ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ।

VIJAY DIVAS COMMEMORATION IN LUDHIANA. Wreath laying  at Flt Lt Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon  PVC statue and a get together of about 600 ESM and 200  school students at War Museum. Interesting fact narrated by Lt Gen T S Shergill that all the Div Commanders in LIBERATION of Bangladesh were from Punjab.  4 Inf Div Maj Gen  M S Brar, 9 Inf Div Maj Gen Dalbir  Singh,  20 Mtn Div Maj Gen  Lachman Singh Lehl, GOC 101 Comn Zone Maj Gen Gurbux Singh Gill and later Maj Gen Gandharv Nagra. All under Lt Gen JS Aurora.

 

Army rescues US paraglider in Baijnath

Leave a comment

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 25

US paraglider Barry Roberts, who had got stuck at a height of about 15,000 feet, in the Baijnath area of Kangra district, was rescued with the help of the Army in the wee hours today.CP Verma, DC, Kangra, said Barry Roberts had taken off from the Billing paragliding site.Last evening, the paraglider strayed from the regular path due to strong winds. He got stuck on the rock at an altitude of about 15,000 feet. Since there was no way to rescue the paraglider by foot, the Army help was sought. The Army rescued the paraglider and shifted him to Delhi, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Operation to occupy Siachen glacier had many surprises’

Leave a comment

CHANDIGARH: When uncertainties, surprises and happenstance interact with the military, it can have long-term strategic implications. The story of the Siachen conflict is no exception to this.

HT PHOTO■ Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni recounting his experience of serving in Siachen as author Rahul Bedi looks on.

The first time when Indian forces realised that Pakistan, with the help of the US, was planning something around Siachen, was because of a chance discovery of some maps of the area from some foreign tourists who were exploring the region for trekking.

Speaking at the Military Literature Festival, Kunal Verma, author of the book ‘The Long Road to Siachen’, said, “When officials analysed the maps, it was found that the US had drawn a line which would virtually hand over Siachen glacier to Pakistan.”

It is only after these maps were discovered, coupled with noticing some ground presence of the Pakistan Army, that India became serious about occupying the glacier.

If discovering Pakistan’s ploy was coincidental, the story of how India reached on the glacier first to occupy it, is no less interesting.

Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni (retd), said when April 13, 1984, was chosen as the day for the operation to claim and occupy Siachen, some raised doubts that the 13th is an inauspicious day. “But we moved ahead with the plan,” he said.

However, occupying the glacier required high-altitude equipment which had to be purchased from Europe. In January 1984, when Indian officials visited markets in Europe, they found that all of them had already been purchased. Intelligence revealed that Pakistan had purchased them in advance.

Pakistan had decided to launch an operation to Siachen in the first week of March. It was postponed to May 1, 1984, due to bad weather.

“We were unaware about Pakistan’s plan and that it has been postponed to May 1,” said Lt Gen Kulkarni.

Fortunately, the army was successful in arranging the gear in time.

On April 13, 1984, it successfully occupied the glacier and the rest is history.

IAF big bird lands on UP highway

Leave a comment
IAF big bird lands on UP highway
IAF transport aircraft C-130J Super Hercules lands on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway during an IAF drill in Bangarmau. PTI

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, October 24

Displaying its air prowess, 16 Indian Air Force planes performed touch-and-go landings on a 4-km stretch of the Agra-Lucknow Expressway today.The unique thing about the show was the landing of a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. As soon as the Super Hercules landed on the expressway, Garud commandos briskly got off from the aircraft on foot as well as on a Gypsy and took up positions along the expressway.This 35,000-kg transport aircraft can carry up to 200 Garud commandos. This is the first time that a transport aircraft has participated in such an air exercise in the country.The remaining 15 fighter jets touched down and took off at the same time without actually coming to a halt. Three Jaguars, two formations of three aircraft each of Mirage 2000 and two formations of three aircraft each of Sukhoi-30 performed touch-and-go landings while two Sukhoi fighter jets carried out a flypast.The finale was the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft returning for another short landing. The exercise simulates an emergency when airbases, the first target of bombings, may not be available for air operations necessitating use of highways as landing strips.

Veterans’ cricket match on December 24

Leave a comment
Veterans’ cricket match on December 24
The Chamba veterans’ cricket team.

Chamba, December 8

A one-day goodwill cricket match will be played between senior citizens of Chamba and Hamirpur on December 24 at the National Stadium Nadaun The team consists of Major SC Nayyar (Captain), Dr. Sunit Puri, Naresh Puri, Pawan Amrol, Anil Kumar, Khurshid, Surender Bhandari, Roshan, Kishan Singh, Yadu China, Rajinder Bakshi, Surender, Baldev Pathania, Rattan and Narendra Malhotra. — OC

Army plans upgrade of 2,000 military stations

Leave a comment

New Delhi, October 22

The Army is finalising a plan to modernise around 2,000 military stations and develop them in line with the government’s Smart Cities initiative.Army officials said 58 military stations have already been identified as part of the pilot project to implement the ambitious initiative. They said all cantonments will be part of the project. “We are looking at developing the military stations as smart cities where all modern amenities will be made available. Developing state-of-the-art IT network will be a key feature,” said a senior Army official.The Army top brass had deliberated extensively on the implementation of the project during the recent commanders’ conference. “We are planning to develop all military stations across the country in a time-bound manner,” said the official. The initiative is part of the Army’s overall modernisation drive that envisages significantly ramping up infrastructure at all its military installations across the country.Another official said the Army is moving forward with the implementation of the reform measures recommended by the Lt Gen (retd) DB Shekatkar committee, which includes redeployment of nearly 57,000 officers and other ranks to enhance the combat capability of the force. — PTI