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P.K.Vasudeva No politics please, the Army is secular & apolitical

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As a policy, no new regiment is to be raised on the basis of a class, creed, community or religion. The Indian Army has a pan-India representation.

No politics please, the Army is secular & apolitical
Ishfaq Ahmad, holds his six-month-old son after the Passing out Parade of new recruits in Srinagar, at the headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. PTI

This is as a counter to the article, “The country needs more Muslims in armed forces,” by Col Ramesh Davesar (retd.) published in The Tribune. Davesar has touched a very sensitive issue, which has been discussed threadbare a number of times earlier and has been settled with the present arrangement. The Indian Army is the only organisation in the world in which soldiers from all castes, creeds and communities are recruited. There are no reservations for any category. Why should the issue of “more Muslims in the Army” be kindled? The Indian Army is the best example of national integration where all festivals and religious functions are organised, based on the ethnicity of the soldiers. All officers, irrespective of their religion, participate wholeheartedly in all the religious functions organised by the jawans. Raising the issue of recruitment of more Muslims in the Army at this juncture is uncalled for as they are recruited according to merit and there is no bar on their recruitment in the armed forces. Muslim officers can join any service of the armed forces they desire, depending on their qualifications and merit. But the eligible and fit Muslims are not coming forward to join this service. It is a tough life, one that entails separation from families and a highly disciplined lifestyle that which only highly motivated people can survive. However, a number of Muslim soldiers have done extremely well during the Indo-Pak wars. The reason for the Muslim under-representation in the Indian Army, or the over-representation of Sikhs is something that lies partly in history. Sikhs form 1.86 per cent of India’s population and have a representation of around 8 per cent in the Indian Army. Muslims form 13 per cent of India’s population and about 2 per cent of the population is in the Army. Just as Muslims are under-represented in the Army, so are the Bengalis, Biharis, Oriyas, South Indians or Gujaratis. And just as Sikhs are over-represented, so are the Jats, Dogras, Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gurkhas, Marathas, and Punjabis. The Indian Army’s recruitment pattern was set 150 years ago by India’s 1857 uprising. Traumatised by the rebellion, the British army adopted a recruitment policy that punished the groups which rebelled and rewarded the ones that stayed loyal. Because the Muslims of Awadh, Bihar and West Bengal led the uprising, the British army stopped hiring soldiers from these areas.Also blacklisted from these places were high-caste Hindus, whose regiments in Bengal had also mutinied. In contrast, the British raised the recruitment of castes that had stood by the British to put down the uprising. These castes were Sikhs, Jats, Dogras, Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gorkhas, Marathas and Punjabis, both Hindus and Muslims. Honoured as martial races, they received preferential treatment in army recruitment for the next 90 years. Like any institution, the Indian Army is a prisoner of the past. Even today, it favours enlisting men from the martial races. According to the figures of last three years, large numbers came from four “martial” states, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. So these states, which account for 5 per cent of India’s population, provided 15 per cent of soldiers in the Indian Army.In contrast, the fewest recruits came from “non-martial” West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat. These three states account for 30 per cent of India’s population, but they provided only 14 per cent of the Army’s soldiers in this three-year period.  About the Muslim under-representation in the Indian Army, there are three reasons. Firstly, Partition caused this. Before Independence, Muslims were around 25 per cent of the Indian Army and 25 per cent of undivided India. When India broke up and Muslim soldiers were asked to choose between India and Pakistan, they joined Pakistan en masse. So Muslim numbers in the Indian Army dropped so drastically that they were only 2 per cent in 1953. Jawaharlal Nehru himself expressed concern that “hardly any Muslims” were left in the Army. And Muslim numbers never really picked up in the last 67 years for obvious reasons. This discrimination is a natural phenomenon of India and Pakistan’s bitter hostility over 67 years. In similar situations, the same thing happens all over the world. The Israeli army doesn’t trust its Arab soldiers in jobs related to defence security. The Buddhist-Sinhalese army under-recruits it’s Hindu Tamils lest their sympathies lie with the Tamil Tigers. After 9/11, US army recruiters would probably screen a Muslim American volunteer more thoroughly than a Christian American one. Despite these reasons, India still has two to three Company’s strength of Muslims in Grenadiers, Mahar Regiments and Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry battalions that too are not getting their full quota of Muslims. In all other arms and services, Muslims are not deprived of the recruitment if they are qualified and are fit to serve in the Army. Secondly, the cause of Muslim under-recruitment is their relatively poor education. When they try to enlist as soldiers, they lose out in the competition to better-educated Sikh, Hindu, and Christian youths. Efforts should, therefore, be made by the Muslim leaders to impart proper education to them in schools other than madrassas. Thirdly, in life, however, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. The under-representation of Muslims and other caste or regional groups benefits the over-represented ones. The composition of the Indian Army is totally askew numbers’ wise. West Bengal’s population is eight times that of Uttarakhand. But Uttarakhand provides almost the same number of Army recruits as West Bengal. Compare a “martial” Punjab with a non-martial Gujarat. Punjab’s population is half that of Gujarat. But it provides four times as many people to the Indian Army as Gujarat. The Indian Army hired far more recruits in Rajasthan than in Tamil Nadu, even though Tamil Nadu’s population is higher. Essentially, the Indian Army is dominated numbers’wise by Sikhs and Hindi-speaking Hindus of North India, since they are highly motivated, ready to take challenges, and prepared to sacrifice for the nation. The current status quo suits them perfectly.The Army has strongly rejected calls for raising new “single-class” units like the Gujarat, Kalinga, Dalit, Ahir, Paswan or Tribal regiments as well as attempts to tinker with its “time-tested” regimental system. The policy since Independence is not to raise any new regiment on the basis of a particular class, creed, community, religion or region but to have a force in which all Indians have representation. This is the well-defined position of both the Defence Ministry and the Army. Politics should not be played with the apolitical armed forces. The Army is an inclusive and secular force open to all. The Sachar Committee for that reason even opposed the religious headcount in the armed forces in 2005-06. The writer is a former Professor, International Trade, ICFAI University, Hyderabad. 

Reservations are not enough

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A quota for women in the paramilitary forces must be followed up with real feminisation of security doctrines, writes ANURADHA M CHENOY

Anuradha M Chenoy is professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi The views expressed are personal

There has been a long-standing demand that women be part of security, peacemaking, peacekeeping, get protection during armed conflicts and be politically empowered. The Union home minister has said that there will be 33% reservation for women in constable-level posts in the Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force, which are paramilitary forces. Will this empower women or securitise and militarise society? Further, what about other reservations for women, like in Parliament?

SAMEER SEHGAL/HTThe belief that women are essentially peaceful and should remain this way is a binary stereotyping rejected by all genuine social research, which shows that men and women can be trained to be militarist and aggressiveThe argument for affirmative action for women in security is, first, women should have more roles in security and peacekeeping. Second, women should have equal opportunities in all public institutions. Third, since more women are engaged in all types of armed conflicts, insurgencies and even terror attacks, state security needs more women security personnel. Fourth, the nature of military methodology has dramatically changed from pure physical combat to more push button and smart technologies. Fifth, the UN Security Council has passed many resolutions like 1325 and others that ask countries to involve women in peacekeeping and protect women in conflict situations.

There are several aspects to the debate of women’s role in war, security and peace. The traditional point of view is that security is a male affair. And indeed, wars have been dominated by men who planned, fought, became heroes and martyrs and then wrote war histories and made war films. War, security and even strategic thinking are largely masculinist discourse that intersects comfortably with patriarchal and militarised frameworks.

It was generally believed that women have been absent from wars. But this has never been the case. Women played secondary roles in wars, as wives and mothers of soldiers, as care givers, maintaining logistics involved. Women’s bodies have always been seen and equated as territory during war, where women are symbols of honour who can be either violated or safeguarded.

The belief that women are essentially peaceful and should remain this way is a binary stereotyping rejected by all genuine social research, which shows that men and women can be trained to be militarist and aggressive, with the caveat that since women do have motherhood functions and roles, they are just less inclined to use force. Further, women are more inclined to oppose wars because through history they have been at the receiving end of violence during war, post-war reconstruction and during peace. In addition, they are left out of peacemaking, power-sharing and state political activities that remain the domain of men.

Many argue that it is best to keep women out of security forces because this will militarise women and increase the use of force in civil relations, making society even more violent. Why should women be excluded from the huge security complex? Women, like men, have the right to make the choice of joining security forces. Moreover, if security forces follow international laws, especially the Geneva Conventions and its additional protocols, they would be better places to work in.

In Israel, every adult has to do military service. However, women are not sent into major battles, but do participate in security activities. There is currently a debate in Israel if women should be involved in major combat roles and hostilities. The situation in the United States and the European Union is similar. The experience of US women security posted in Afghanistan is known to have been very controversial, where many women were raped and sexually harassed by their own colleagues.

So what does 33% reservation for women in select security services, and that to at the lowest level, mean? One small step forward, which needs to be assiduously followed up by meaningful changes for women’s effective participation in State institutions. This can come if there is affirmative action for women at all levels and all institutions, beginning with Parliament. Women constables will clearly not be in any position to take decisions — their importance lies in their presence and training.

The intention of bringing in women should be to make a more gender-sympathetic and pro-people security force. The key would be to train the security forces, both men and women, to be gender-sensitive, work in accordance with the Constitution and be trained in human rights. Further service conditions for women need to be improved. This means adequate facilities, including for child care and medicare.

Ultimately, women cannot be deployed merely as constables. A move such as this will have real meaning if women have avenues to be promoted, join the security at different levels and, most important, are also decisionmakers and participants in peace processes. Currently there are several peace talks between the Indian State and insurgent groups. One that was recently concluded was the talks with the NSCN (IM). None of these talks have any presence of women. For serious security sector reforms, there is a need to have women, civil society and people’s representatives participating in these talks.

There is a need for India to adopt the UNSC resolution 1325 and other following resolutions in a much more serious way. It is clear that while women are needed for security, they are much more needed for peace. To make peace sustainable and think of security as one that combines national with human security is the only way that security itself can be truly achieved. Getting 33% reservation for women in one section of the paramilitary will only have meaning if it is urgently followed up with real feminisation of security doctrines.

Exercise before it’s too late

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Exercise before it’s too late

Dr Rajeev K Sharma

Most of us have seen elderly people in the family or neighbourhood suffering from debilitating bone fractures of the arm, leg or hip due to osteoporosis. However, in what is an alarming new trend, cases of such osteoporotic fractures are now being observed in relatively younger people.Complete lack of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle is the reason behind the reduction in average age of osteoporosis. Shilpa, 37, bent her ankle while walking to her car from office. What she initially considered a mild sprain turned out to be a hairline fracture of the ankle bone. A bone density test revealed her bones were as brittle as that of a 69-year-old woman. Living a largely sedentary life for many years, the only walking she did everyday was the walk from home to the elevator and then to the car in the morning, and the same from her office cabin to the car parking in the evening.As a part of the normal ageing process, both men and women lose their bone density by 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent after the age of 35 years. Known as osteoporosis, the condition of extremely weak or ‘porous’ bones results from decrease in bone mass due to loss of bone mineral density. While due to anatomy and other physiological factors, the condition is more prevalent in women than in men, due to the change in lifestyle, there is an increase in incidence of osteoporosis in young urban.

Causes of early osteoporosis

Primarily, deficiency of calcium and vitamin D is the root cause of osteoporosis. Therefore, low intake of calcium, low sun exposure and a resultant deficiency of vitamin D, lack of physical exercise and poor habits such as smoking increase the risk of osteoporosis in young urban.With technology making life easy, habits like walking to the neighbourhood store everyday or cycling to work are no longer practiced. Elevators have ubiquitously replaced stairs, common instruments like hand-pumps that required hard work are no longer needed with easy availability of water, and the facility of home deliveries has done away with the need to carry groceries home every day. All these conditions have drastically reduced human physical activity levels. Besides consumption of a bone-friendly diet, exercising is crucial to maintain bone health in the long run. Since bone is a living tissue, it becomes stronger when subjected to exercise. Loss of bone mineral density that begins during the 30s can be prevented by exercising regularly. People who exercise have greater peak bone mass as compared to people who do not. Weight-bearing exercises are ideal for the bones.

Weighty issue

Weight-bearing exercises are ideal for the bones. These put extra stress on the bones, making them to respond by building their strength. Any activity that forces your body to work against gravity can be called weight-bearing. These exercises help build bone strength and achieve a higher peak bone density. However, the intensity of weight bearing exercises should be decided according to the body’s strength and capability. Weight training: This involves lifting heavy weight and should be done by healthy people. It not only builds muscle but also increases bone health and density. Hiking: If you are an adventure lover, go ahead and indulge in hiking, trekking and mountaineering. This will not only fulfill your penchant for fun, but also help build your bones.  Dancing & aerobics: For those who love to dance, there is nothing better than practicing every day. It will also be extremely good for your bones and muscles.Running: Running is a good exercise for several reasons. It helps manage weight and keep the heart in good condition, and it also strengthens bones and muscles. Climbing stairs: This is another healthy way to strengthen bones and muscles and build stamina. Shunning elevators and climbing stairs every day is a life-long healthy exercise.Brisk walking: For those who are not fit enough to perform any of the above due to health or other reasons must certainly do brisk walking for 30 minutes every day. This is a low impact weight-bearing exercise but has good effect on bones and muscles.The writer is a senior consultant, orthopaedics & joint replacement surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

How Niranjan died

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How Niranjan died :- The soldiers have killed two terrorists in same spot and as a standard procedure the body has to be inspected thoroughly ( even inserting probes in to their chest cavity and stomach) by the NSG explosive disposal squad, which is headed by Niranjan. Normally terrorists hides explosives in their body which is meant for inflicting further damage.

Nirajan approached the first body and cleared that of for handling as it did not have any hidden explosives.

The solders dragged the second body a little towards Niranjan for him to inspect and clear. But the second body has a chest belt based explosives hidden, which gets triggered once the belf is disturbed. Niranjan quikly realized that it got activated and screamed the solders to take cover.

He then rolled over to the dead body, lifted the body in air and was trying to through it away. By then explosion got triggered and ruptured our national hero’s both hands, chest cavity, one side of face and eye.

The reason why he was not wearing protective gear was that,it was a major combing operation by walk in a wast 1500 acres forest type land. The bomb disposal gears are so heavy with all that protective gears and non flexible. It is impossible for an NSG commando to have that put on in a live operation underway in a terrain like that.

I saltute the fallen spirit and we all indian say, you will live through us…. your every drop of blood will continue to flow through us… You, our immortal hero… we salute you !!!

Deploying NSG instead of Army was a mistake: experts

Thousands of troops were stationed near the airbase, but precious time was lost by sending National Security Guard commandos all the way from Delhi

Army and security circles are bewildered and angry over the way the government kept the Army from the Pathankot terror hunt, especially in the early phase, when Army troops were available in thousands close by. Instead of pressing Army units into immediate action, precious time was lost in sending a few dozen NSG commandos from New Delhi.

“None of us can believe what they did. We have two infantry divisions and two armoured brigades in the vicinity. We have at least three corps headquarters in a couple of hours’ drive, and the Northern Army headquarters too. All of those troops are seasoned in carrying out counter-terror operations,” said a serving Brigadier posted close to Pathankot. “Instead, they wasted time to send a few dozen NSG commandos to the base?”

Lieutenant-General Prakash Katoch, a veteran para-commando and leading authority on special forces operations in India, said: “NSG is required for a specific target, it cannot tackle an area target.” He said that in a place such as the Pathankot airbase, the perimeter had to be secured first and combing operations to hunt down terrorists should have been initiated. “The Army is the best for that,” he said.

MULTIPLE LAPSES

The terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase was a result of a series of systemic security failures at various levels.

1 Despite a huge concentration of Army units in andaround Pthankot, why were they not tasked with securing the airbase?
2 Despite statements by SP Salwinder Singh and his cook that they were intercepted by terrorists, why did the Punjab police not act?
3 Why was the Army not deployed for combing operations?
4 Why were Garud personnel and Defence Security Corps, who are not trained for anti-terror operations, the primary responders?
5 With so many security agencies involved, who was in charge of the operation against the terrorists?

“There is no harm in sending the NSG, but then you should have a clear command and control. You cannot shove in the BSF, NSG, Army, etc, just like that. Was there a command and control there?” Gen. Katoch said.

General V.P. Malik, former Army chief, told The Hindu: “I don’t know if the NSG was the right one. They came from Delhi. It should be given to a local agency which knows the place.”

Former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali H.Major said: “Garuds were raised for a different mandate for special Air Force tasks and not anti-terror operations. The DSC personnel are basically re-employed people.”

A serving Army officer said that the Army with its 10 Special Forces units, and at least the one based in Udhampur, would have been in Pathankot in a couple of hours. “We practise all the time for such operations,” he said. “Instead, you send NSG commandos in the night. Who told them that they could defend the 24 sqkm of the base with 160 commandos?”

A senior serving officer said if the government had followed the management principle of “functional foremanship” which advocates the right man for the right job, it would have saved precious lives and ensured quick elimination of terrorists.

“It was not the job of the NSG or the Garuds. It is the job of the infantry,” he told The Hindu. The local Army unit conducts a recce of the entire airbase every six months, but they were not allowed to get in when the situation came, he said.

Lt.Gen. Vinod Bhatia, former Director-General of Military Operations, told The Hindu: “The operation was not handled the way it should have been. The fact is, it has gone on for too long. If the Army was called in, they could have a better cordon as they have more strength. There was no unity of command. There has to be a single commander given the wherewithal and authority.”

“The complete infantry of the Indian Army has been fighting counter insurgency for decades,” another officer noted, adding, “This could have been handled much better with fewer casualties.” “How many times has the government airlifted the NSG for operations in the Valley? The infantry has been fighting for a long time and has been doing a good job,” he said.

Pathankot attack: Army defends NSG deployment at airbase

Lt Gen Singh defended the NSG deployment and sought to convey that the decision was not a solo flight by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. –

short by Nihal Thondepu / 12:47 pm on 07 Jan 2016,Thursday
The Western Command’s Lt General KJ Singh on Wednesday said the Pathankot operation shows “excellent synergy” among armed forces following criticism over the deployment of the National Security Guard (NSG). “I say that because all our strategic air assets are safe, not harmed, not touched,” he added. The NSG was reportedly called in to prevent and deal with hostage situations.
pathankot-main
Pathankot attack: Lt Gen Singh defended the NSG deployment and sought to convey that the decision was not a solo flight by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.
SEEKING to counter the criticism of the NSG-led operation against the terrorist infiltration and attack at Pathankot airbase, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen K J Singh Wednesday called the operation a “complete success” and said it was an example of the “excellent synergy” among the forces. A day after the operation ended with questions about the necessity of deploying the NSG, and confusion in the command structure during the operation due to presence of multiple agencies, Singh said “Operation Dhangu Suraksha” (Dhangu is the name of the village where the airbase and other defence facilities are located) had been a “complete success. I say that because all our strategic air assets are safe, not harmed, not touched. The airbase remained operational throughout this operation. That means sorties that were meant to be launched for surveillance, communication, evacuation — all could be launched”. –
Lt Gen Singh defended the NSG deployment and sought to convey that the decision was not a solo flight by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. “Deployment of NSG was a joint decision taken at an appropriate level, which included the service chiefs. Because there were strategic assets located here, and there could have been a hostage situation, NSG is specially trained for that. It is a success of this operation that airbase was operational. God forbid, if the airbase had not been operational, how would have we brought the NSG there? That was the main reason that the NSG was inducted prior to the operation to prevent and tackle the hostage situation”. Lt Gen K J Singh admitted that the first alert about possible terrorist infiltration had come during a joint meeting of law and security enforcement agencies on December 30 from the Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau. Replying to the queries pertaining to over-90 hours taken to kill the terrorists, Lt Gen Singh said, “You need to use the stop-watch method here. The total point of contact with the terrorists was about 10-11 hours. Rest of the time was utilised by us for the combing and sanitisation of the area”
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More rain, snow likely in next 2 days

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Bhanu P Lohumi,Tribune News Service,Shimla, February 7

Shimla and its surrounding areas experienced the season’s first heavy snowfall today. It has been snowing in the tribal areas and other hills since morning.The state capital received 18 cm of snow. Showers accompanied by strong winds lashed the city in the morning while it started snowing towards the evening.Vehicular movement towards upper Shimla remained affected as the snow blocked the Hindustan-Tibet National Highway, state highways and link roads in the interiors.Rampur-bound buses were diverted through Basantpur and Kingal as the national highway was blocked at Fagu, Kufri and Narkanda. The Shimla-Rohroo and Shimla Chopal roads were also blocked.Shimla, donning a white mantle, looked fascinating. The area between Kufri and Fagu experienced 35 cm of snow.The Dhauladhar Range in Kangra district received less than 45 to 50 cm of snow while Rohtang, Kunzam, Saach and Chansel Passes have been receiving continuous snowfall since morning.Mercury dropped from 16 degree Celsius to 5.2 degree Celsius in Shimla, which experienced the warmest day on February 5, with the maximum temperature soaring to 21.8 degree Celsius. Keylong and Kalpa received 35 cm and 30 cm of snow.Power connections have been snapped in Lahaul due to heavy snowfall.Dharamsala received 50 mm rain, Manali 30 mm, Chamba, Sundernagar and Kalatop 23 mm each, Bhuntar and Bajaura 20 mm, Gaggal 19 mm, Jogindernagar 17 mm, Sarkaghat 15 mm and Baijnath 13 mm.The Met Department has predicted rain and snow in the higher hills on February 8, 9 and rain and snow in low, mid and high hills from February 10 to 13. Director of the department Manmohan Singh said the rain deficit of the season was now 70 per cent.Snow brings cheers to residents, tourists

The season’s heavy snowfall brought cheers to residents and tourists. A couple from Delhi, Avinash and Stuti, said: “We have never seen such a sight. The place looks like a dreamland.”
Traffic halted
Commuters had a harrowing time as vehicles remained stranded for hours. Long queues were witnesses between the Lift and Bemloe.
100 panchayats in Trans-Giri sans power
Churdhar received 100 cm of snow while Haripurdhar and Nauradhar witnessed 35 cm of snow. The areas have been cut off. Residents of 100 panchayats are without electricity.
Roads being cleared
Roads leading to hospitals are on our priority list and will be cleared soon. Three JCB machines have been pressed into service. The water supply to Sanjauli has been restored. —  Tikender Panwar, Deputy Mayor

शिमला में मौसम की सबसे ज्यादा बर्फबारी

Posted On February – 7 – 2016

ज्ञान ठाकुर/ निस
शिमला, 7 फरवरी
मैदानों पर बादल, बारिश और पहाड़ों पर बर्फबारी। शनिवार देर रात मौसम ने ऐसे तेवर बदले कि रविवार को शिमला में इस मौसम की सबसे ज्यादा बर्फबारी हुई। पूरा शहर सफेद हो गया और एक ही दिन में तापमान 11 डिग्री गिर गया। हिमाचल के मनाली, कुफरी, नारकंडा, चायल, नालदेहरा और अन्य पर्यटन स्थलों ने भी मानो बर्फ की चादर ओढ़ ली, जबकि निचले इलाकों में बारिश का सिलसिला चलता रहा। उधर चंडीगढ़, हरियाणा व पंजाब के कई हिस्सों में बादल छाये रहे, कहीं-कहीं हल्की बारिश भी हुई।
मौसम में आये इस बदलाव ने हिमाचल में पिछले कई हफ्तों से चल रहे सूखे मौसम का दौर खत्म कर दिया। कुफरी में एक फुट, नारकंडा, खड़ा पत्थर में 2 फुट और शिमला में आधा फुट से अधिक बर्फबारी हुई। धर्मशाला में सर्वाधिक 47 मिमी बारिश हुई।

9 को पश्चिमी विक्षोभ के कारण फिर बारिश
मौसम विभाग के स्थानीय निदेशक मनमोहन सिंह के मुताबिक हिमालय क्षेत्र में सक्रिय पश्चिमी विक्षोभ के कारण मौसम में यह बदलाव आया है। इस क्षेत्र में 9 फरवरी से फिर पश्चिमी विक्षोभ सक्रिय हो रहा है। इसके प्रभाव से फरवरी के दूसरे हफ्ते में भी हिमाचल प्रदेश में व्यापक हिमपात और बारिश होने का अनुमान है।

शादी का हसीन तोहफा
शिमला में रविवार को हाॅलीडे होम के पास बेमलोई में निरंकारी भवन में शादी करके यह नवविवाहित जोड़ा बाहर निकला तो अचानक हुई बर्फबारी को देखकर खिल उठा। वहीं, पयर्टकों, कारोबारियों और बागवानों के चेहरों पर भी रौनक आ गयी। दरअसल दिसंबर में थोड़ी-सी बर्फबारी के बाद पहाड़ों की इस रानी से बर्फ और बारिश जैसे रूठ सी गयी थी। इसका असर पर्यटन और बागवानी पर पड़ रहा था।
रविवार को इतनी बर्फ गिरी कि यातायात ठप हो गया। शिमला के पुराने बस अड्डे तक ही गाड़ियां बमुश्किल चल पा रहीं थी। ऊपरी शिमला और हिंदुस्तान-तिब्बत सड़क पर शिमला से आगे यातायात रुक गया। शहर का अधिकतम तापमान गिरकर 5 डिग्री सेल्सियस पर आ गया, जबकि शनिवार को 19 डिग्री दर्ज किया गया था। फोटो अमित कंवर

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C.R. Gharekhan Do we have a choice to talk or not to talk?

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After every forward movement in India-Pakistan relations, terrorist acts sabotage the process. The logical reason for not cancelling the talks is that we do not have any feasible alternative. There is a strong sentiment in our country that Pakistan must pay a price for such attacks.

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Security forces at the Pathankot Air Force base after the operation to flush out militants ended. The theory that the Pathankot attack was carried out to sabotage the January 15 talks is not very convincing.
The carefully prepared  “surprise visit” of Prime Minister  Modi on Christmas day 2015 to  Lahore created a media-managed near sense of euphoria in the strategic  community in Delhi, and also perhaps in Islamabad.  The PM was given high marks, and deservedly so, for his out-of-the-box thinking and  courage in undertaking the visit  since he knew that not all even in his own party would have welcomed it. He did what Dr Manmohan Singh would have wished to do. He gave to Pakistan even more than what they desired — comprehensive dialogue which suggests a wider scope than composite dialogue.
Foreign Secretary-level talks were announced for January 15, to be held in Islamabad and not in Delhi, thus cleverly avoiding the delicate and difficult question of meeting Hurriyat members. In the wake of the attack on the Pathankot air base, the question is whether to talk or not to talk with Pakistan. The answer is simple. We have no option but to talk for the following reasons.
It has become a part of the accepted and unquestioned narrative at least in India that after every forward movement in India-Pakistan relations, those opposed to such improvement will invariably indulge in a terrorist act to sabotage it. As has been said, this attack was written into the script after Lahore. A little reflection would suggest that the two events are not necessarily linked. An operation like the one in Pathankot could not have been staged at three to four days notice. All experts are agreed that it would have entailed detailed preparations, requiring a much longer time. It would have been impossible for any group to mount such a complex operation in such a quick time after December 25.
The accepted narrative also suggests that if   PM had not gone to Lahore, the attack would not have taken place. This is very difficult to swallow. The thorough planning that obviously went into preparing the attack would not have been allowed to go waste simply because the Prime Minister had gone to Lahore.
Furthermore, why would the jihadis worry about a resumption of dialogue? Hundreds of rounds of dialogue have taken place over the decades and the problems have remained. Even the CBMs have not been implemented in full or with sincerity on both sides. And if the intention of those who planned the attack had only one motivation, namely to sabotage the Foreign Secretary-level talks, they would have carried it out just a day or two before January 15. It would have been impossible for Mr Jaishankar to proceed to Islamabad in the middle of the carnage. By staging the attack nearly two weeks before the scheduled talks, the planners in fact have given ample time to the wise men in India to counsel the PM not to cancel the talks, thus frustrating the very purpose for which the attack is supposed to have been carried out.
Thus, the theory that the Pathankot attack was carried out to sabotage the 15 January talks is not very convincing. Various experts have given various reasons why the Foreign Secretary-level talks should go ahead as agreed. The most widely accepted reason is that cancellation of the talks would give the terrorists the satisfaction of having achieved their objective. Another explanation is that the talks will give an opportunity to us to present the evidence that we would have collected to indicate Pakistan’s involvement in the attack. The government has wisely refrained from naming Pakistan in this context though the media have already identified the group responsible and the official Pakistan agency behind it. We have in the past handed over many dossiers to Pakistan about the 26/11 attack and they have not produced the desired response so far. Nevertheless, there is merit in this argument. After all, we would certainly like to share such evidence with important members of the international community; we cannot do that if we do not share it with Pakistan. The most logical reason for not cancelling the talks is that we do not have any feasible alternative. There is a strong sentiment in our country that Pakistan must pay a price for such attacks, that we must inflict “retribution” on them. A cool-headed reflection suggests that we do not have any practical option. We obviously cannot go to war.
Pathankot is not an across-LoC infiltration such that we can consider attacking the “camps”. In any case, we have not been able to “take out” the camps in all these years. Is there some measure that will cause economic discomfort to them? The river waters is one possibility but only theoretically. We cannot afford to stop the flow of waters to Pakistan, even if we may be legally entitled to do so. It will create a storm internationally. Pakistan is not dependent on India for anything that we may deny to them and which will cause hardship to them.
Cancelling the next round of talks will give some psychological satisfaction of having done something, but only of a temporary nature. Pakistan will not have to pay a price. It is  true that talking with Pakistan gives the civilian regime there something to show to their people, gives them some legitimacy if you like, though they will vigorously deny, and rightly so, the need for any legitimacy from India. It is also true that Pakistan wants to have talks with us, but they do not pay any price by our refusing to talk to them. On the contrary, it is India that will pay a price on the diplomatic front. It will give a propaganda advantage to them, domestically as well as internationally. The pressure will be on us to resume talks. On balance, the better and in fact the only option for us is to proceed with the talks. The date could be postponed by a few days, if it is essential to do so to gather more evidence to present a credible case to them. Modi is not the one to get taken in by professions of sincerity. Illusions have no place in diplomacy.
The writer is India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN.

America’s master plan to turn India into an Aircraft Carrier Superpower

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Anyone who has been watching the United States try to pull off its much discussed “pivot” or “rebalance” to Asia knows one thing: The challenges of the day, from Russian moves in Eastern Europe and Syria to the threat of ISIS—or even just the steady stream of non-Asia-Pacific problems—always seem to get in the way. However, we must give President Obama credit where credit is due. U.S. relations with India, which shares a common challenge with America in a rising China, have warmed considerably. While certainly not a full-blown alliance, relations have grown to such an extent that U.S. defense officials seem willing to share some of their most prized military technologies with the rising South Asian powerhouse. Indeed, the United States seems ready to share the very symbol of American power projection: the mighty aircraft carrier.

A report from Reuters notes that Washington and New Delhi are discussing options for the joint development of an aircraft carrier for India. In a recent visit to India, Chief of U.S. Naval Operations, John Richardson, remarked that “we are making very good progress, I am very pleased with the progress to date and optimistic we can do more in the future. That’s on a very solid track.”

Richardson, according to the Reuters report, revealed that one of the crown jewels of American carrier technology—highly coveted electromagnetic launch technology that allows heavier planes to take off from the carrier flight deck—was part of the talks. Richardson offered that “all of those things are on the table, there are possibilities, it’s a matter of pacing, it’s very new technology for us.”

Considering how difficult it is to build an aircraft carrier—for example, China began in-depth, first-hand analysis of scraped aircraft carriers it purchased back in 1985, taking until 2012 to commission a small rebuilt ex-Soviet carrier—this is nothing short of a coup for India. Up until this point, New Delhi’s best options were, shall we say, less than desirable Russian technology. As frequent National Interest contributor Kyle Mizokami points out:

“In the early 2000s, India faced a dilemma. The Indian navy’s only carrier INS Viraat was set to retire in 2007. . . India’s options were limited. The only countries building carriers at the time—the United States, France and Italy—were building ships too big for India’s checkbook. In 2004, India and Russia struck a deal in which India would receive Admiral Gorshkov. The ship herself would be free, but India would pay $974 million dollars to Russia to upgrade her.

“It was an ambitious project. At 44,500 tons, Admiral Gorshkov was a huge ship. Already more than a decade old, she had spent eight years languishing in mothballs. Indifference and Russia’s harsh winters are unkind to idle ships.”

From here, well, things took an interesting turn:

“In 2007, just a year before delivery, it became clear that Russia’s Sevmash shipyard couldn’t meet the ambitious deadline. Even worse, the yard demanded more than twice as much money—$2.9 billion in total—to complete the job.

“The cost of sea trials alone, originally $27 million, ballooned to a fantastic $550 million.

“A year later, with the project still in disarray, Sevmash estimated the carrier to be only 49-percent complete. Even more galling, one Sevmash executive suggested that India should pay an additional $2 billion, citing a “market price” of a brand-new carrier at “between $3 billion and $4 billion.”

And, perhaps, worse still:

“The ship’s boilers, which provide Vikramaditya [the Indian rechristened for Admiral Gorshkov] with power and propulsion, are a long-term concern. All eight boilers are new. But yard workers discovered defects in them. During her trip from Russia to India, the flattop suffered a boiler breakdown, which Sevmash chalked up to poor-quality Chinese firebricks.”

Clearly India, now able to ‘pivot’ away from Russia’s carrier problems, stands to benefit dramatically in this new partnership with America.

Reuters also noted that a joint working group is set to meet in New Delhi in the coming weeks as part of a sustained effort to establish strong cooperation on the design, development and production of a proposed Indian carrier. My question is this: Would America also be willing to sell to its new South Asian partner the carrier-based version of the F-35? Considering rumors a few years back concerning a possible F-35 purchase by New Delhi, you have to wonder. If China keeps pushing its weight around in the wider Indo-Pacific region, one can’t dismiss how far this partnership could really go.

Harry Kazianis (@grecianformula) is the former Executive Editor of The National Interest. Kazianis presently serves as Senior Fellow (non-resident) for Defense Policy at the Center for the National Interest as well as a Fellow for National Security Affairs at The Potomac Foundation. All opinions are his own.

Govt orders security audit of all defence installations

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.New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) The government has ordered a security audit of all critical defence installations in the country in the wake of the terror attack on the strategic Pathankot air base.

Top Defence sources said the idea of the audit is to identify shortcomings in the security system and plug them.

“The defence ministry has ordered a security audit of all defence installation, to be completed quickly, so that weaknesses can be found out and plugged,” the sources said.

In the case of the Pathankot attack, it is believed that the terrorists had entered the base through an opening in the nearly 25 km-long perimeter wall of the base.

Sources said the terrorists entered the base, one of the largest of the IAF spread over about 2000 acres, through a gap in the perimeter wall which is heavily forested.

Meanwhile, the government is also looking at how the security of the international border in Punjab can be intensified further. The border is guarded by the BSF but top security officials are concerned about two infiltrations by the militants in the last six months from the same area.

“The area has a lot of river lines and it is not easy to plug all the holes there. However, it would be seen that the security is beefed up there,” the sources said.

Following the terrorist attack at the Pathankot air base, the Defence Ministry has reportedly ordered for a security audit of all defence installations in the country to plug shortcomings in the security system. Meanwhile, the government is also reportedly working to improve the security at Punjab international border which has seen two militant infiltrations in the last six months

ISI mole in Mamoon cantt arrested

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Ravi Dhaliwal,Tribune News Service,Pathankot, February 2

The Army nabbed a labourer, Irshad Ahmed, working inside the Mamoon cantonment on charges of spying for Pakistan. He was handed over to the Punjab Police. After interrogation by the police and intelligence agencies, a case under the Officials Secret Act was filed against him.A top official said that for the past several days, agencies had been keeping a watch on his activities.They were alerted by intelligence sources in New Delhi last evening that he had been regularly making calls to Pakistan. RK Bakshi, Pathankot SSP, confirmed Ahmed’s arrest.Investigators are trying to ascertain if Ahmed had provided logistic help to the six terrorists who entered the Pathankot air base on January 2. An officer said Ahmed was an ISI agent who collected “sensitive information on Indian military bases for his handler Sajjad.” Intelligence officials have recovered photos of military installations from Ahmed’s cellphone. Sajjad, who was recently arrested in Jammu, will now be questioned on the basis of Ahmed’s confessions.The Pathankot Cantonment is one of the biggest and most sensitive military bases of the Indian Army. Likewise, the Air Force station located nearby, has sophisticated fighter planes, helicopters and high-end assets.

MARCH OF TERROR

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Survivor says terrorists spoke of avenging Afzal Guru’s death

PATHANKOT: Despite having his throat slit, Gurdaspur resident Rajesh Verma was fortunate to have survived the attack by terrorists, who abandoned him along with the sports utility vehicle (SUV), taking him for dead.

HT PHOTORajesh Verma, whose throat was slit by terrorists, at a hospital in Pathankot.Admitted to a private hospital, 40-year-old Verma told HT on Saturday that the attack on the Air Force base was the handiwork of four heavily armed terrorists in army uniform. Soon after abducting Verma and two others the terrorists told them that they would attack the Air Force base to avenge the hanging of their colleague Afzal Guru.

The terrorists, who carried assault rifles and grenades besides a GPS navigation system, had a clear idea about the location of the base.

In an exclusive interview with HT, Verma said, “As it was the New Year eve, my friend, superintendent of police Salwinder Singh, asked me to accompany him to pay obeisance at the mazaar of a saint at Kolian village in Narot Jaimal Singh block in Pathankot close to the border.

Around 10 pm, we started for the place via Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and reached there around 11 pm. After paying obeisance, we started the journey back to Gurdaspur via the Punjab area which we were told was a shortcut, he said.

As we were returning, four men in army uniform signalled our SUV, XUV 500, to stop around 12.30 am. As we stopped, the four who looked to be in their twenties barged into the vehicle and tied all of us with ropes. During the one-hour drive towards the Air Force base, they conversed in Urdu and said that they would attack the Air Force base,” Verma said.

“You killed Afzal Guru and now we will take revenge,” they kept saying as they continued beating us with rifle butts, said the survivor.

“As the car drove off for around 30 km, they dropped the SP and his elderly cook but took me along. When we reached near Tajpur village, from where they intended entering the Air Force base, they slit my throat and left me for dead in the abandoned SUV,” he said. “I managed to survive by controlling the flow of blood with a cloth and ran towards a gurdwara from where I managed a phone and informed my relative, who rushed me to hospital,” Verma said. He said the terrorists were unaware that they had kidnapped a Punjab Police officer as they again looked for him when the hooter of the vehicle suddenly went off. He said the terrorists also took his as well as the SP’s mobile phones.

He claimed that he had provided all clues to police and intelligence and it was confirmed on Friday itself that the terrorists would attack the Air Force establishment.

Before abducting them, the terrorists had also abducted an Innova driver Ikagar Singh along with the SUV from near Kathlor bridge and stabbed him to death.The terrorists took the SUV but left it as its tyre went flat.

For 24 hours, terrorists had free run

THE ATTACK HAS RAISED QUESTION MARK OVER SECURITY OF THE TOP DEFENCE UNIT, JUST 50 KM AWAY FROM INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER

 CHANDIGARH/PATHANKOT: A group of five terrorists was on the loose for more than 24 hours before they attacked the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, exposing chinks in the security set-up of the border districts of Punjab.

The audacious attack comes barely six months after a similar terror strike in Gurdaspur’s Dinanagar town that left 10 people, including a superintendent of police (SP) dead, exposing gaps in the security surveillance of the international border with Pakistan.

Commodore Uday Bhaskar (retd), director, Society for Policy Studies, said the fact that terrorists were on the loose for long reflects gaps in information and intelligence sharing between local and higher levels.

The attack started at 12.15am on Friday from Kathlore bridge, barely 15km from the border, when the four terrorists in army fatigues flagged down the sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh. Little did he know that the men in uniform were terrorists who had stabbed and killed the driver of an Innova SUV and abandoned it when its tyres burst.

The terrorists barged into the SP’s vehicle, tied up and thrashed the three occupants before commandeering it for an hour. They threw the SP out of the moving vehicle near Tajpur and used the GPS to find their way to the Pathankot air base nearby.

GURDASPUR SP’S INPUT TAKEN LIGHTLY?

The SP called up the police control room with a villager’s help and later informed his seniors about the terrorists. The SP’s aides told the police that the terrorists said they were avenging the 2013 hanging of the Afzal Guru, who was convicted for the 2001 attack on Parliament.

Initially, it seems the police did not trust the SP. The police were even looking at the possibility of personal enmity behind the crime. Police authorities in neighbouring Jammu and Kangra districts were also caught unawares.

Former chief of bureau of police research and development, NR Wasan, termed the response of Punjab police as “underwhelming” after the senior officer was abducted.

“The state police is and will always remain the first responder and have to be in the forefront in countering terrorists and supporters,” he said.

CALLS TO PAKISTAN LEND CREDENCE

It was only when the Gurdaspur SP’s mobile phone, which was taken away by terrorists, was put on monitoring and calls were traced to Pakistan on Friday evening did the security agencies get to confirm the terror link. By Friday night, it was clear that the intended target of the terrorists was the Pathankot air base. Punjab police ADGP (crime) HS Dhillon, IG (border range) Lok Nath Angra, and DIG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh were in a meeting through the day.

HIGH ALERT BUT LOW FOLLOW-UP

Despite information about the presence of terrorists and the consequent high alert, they managed to enter the high-security Pathankot air force base, spread over 20 sq km.

Besides the IAF base in Pathankot, which was attacked by suspected Pakistani terrorists, Punjab has frontline IAF bases in Adampur (near Jalandhar), Halwara (near Ludhiana) and Bathinda and substantial army presence at various places, including Jalandhar (11 Corps), Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda (10 Corps) and Patiala (1st Armoured Division).

India to put JeM rider on upcoming talks

TERROR Delhi has evidence tracing the attack to Bahawalpur in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India plans to ask Pakistan to take penal action against the outlawed Jaish-eMuhammed, behind the Pathankot attack, for a productive foreign secretary-level dialogue to take place in Islamabad on January 15.

AFP PHOTOIndian Army personnel stand guard while on patrol near the Air Force base in Pathankot after the attack on Saturday.According to highly placed sources, Delhi has evidence tracing the attack to Pakistan’s Bahawalpur, where JeM leader Masood Azhar — a key figure in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking — is based, and that it has the signature of the ISI.

Pakistan has condemned the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to fighting terror, but the Indian establishment is learnt to be upset about its inability to rein in its jihadis and their ISI sponsors.

“The terrorists (in Pathankot) had Pak DNA and were dropped near the Indian border in KathuaG-urdaspur sector on Dec 29-30 in a Land Cruiser and Pajero. If Pakistan wants the foreign secretary dialogue to be productive, PM Nawaz Sharif should arrest Maulana Masood Azhar and bring him to justice,” said a top diplomat.

After PM Narendra Modi’s surprise Lahore visit on Dec 25, the Indian security establishment was certain forces opposed to the newfound friendship would launch an attack to scuttle future dialogue. On Dec 28, national security adviser Ajit Doval met military and intelligence chiefs and internal security and foreign policy advisers to hone in on the group most likely to strike.

Some believed it would be the al Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) while others pointed to the Islamic State. But a section also said the attack could be carried out by the JeM, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Matters turned serious when Indian agencies picked up communication intercepts between JeM terrorists and their ISI handlers towards 2015-end signaling the date of the attack being initially fixed for Jan 1 and the target being the Pathankot air base. Further confirmation came with the abduction of Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh on Friday by five suspected terrorists who used his phone to call Pakistan.

Doval held another meeting with military and intelligence chiefs. They decided to deploy the National Security Guard and use the army’s Casspir bomb-proof vehicles. All air assets were removed from the base, where 168 NSG commandoes were deployed by Friday night. The Western Air Command chief was given the reins of the operation. Despite the high alert and eight-foot walls, the terrorists managed to get in and kill three IAF personnel.

“While India is all for talks, we need answers and action from Pak NSA Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjhua on the state involvement in the Pathankot attack. The international community should put pressure on Pakistan to act against its indigenous jihad factory. Else, India and Pakistan will talk past each other,” said a government official.

‘Salaam Alaikum’ was the reply on SP’s mobile phone

PATHANKOT: “Salaam Alaikum” was the reply when the gunman of the superintendent of police, who was thrashed by suspected Pakistani terrorists, called up on his mobile number after the news of the SP’s abduction along with his associates spread.

However, after the gunman told the call receiver that the mobile phone belonged to SP Salwinder Singh, the call was disconnected. It was the last conversation which was made on the SP’s phone, which is believed to be used by the terrorists to make calls to Pakistan.

“After we got alert about the incident (SP’s abduction), I tried making call on the SP sahib’s number. At around 3.26 am, the call got connected. When I said ‘hello’, the reply from the other side was ‘Salaam Alaikum’. I asked ‘aap kaun’ (who are you)? The receiver said ‘aap kaun’? Then I told him this is my SP sahib’s number. The call receiver said ‘SP sahib kaun’ (who SP sahib?). Then he disconnected the line,” said SP’s gunman Kulwinder Singh.

“I continued to say “hello, hello” but the phone line was disconnected,” Kulwinder told PTI. “It was the last call made on the SP sahib’s phone number,” said Kulwinder, who is Salwinder’s gunman for about five years.

SP’s driver Rajpal Singh said, “After I got information from the control room about the incident, I also tried calling SP sahib’s both mobile numbers. But I failed to connect it.” On Friday, Punjab Police had not ruled out the possibility that suspected militants had used SP’s mobile to make a call to Pakistan.

Pakistani terrorists had abducted and thrashed the SP and his two associates before dumping them some distance away and speeding away in his vehicle in the wee hours of Friday.

We acted on intelligence inputs: IAF

CHANDIGARH: The Western Air Command said on Saturday that the terrorists who stormed the air force station at Pathankot had planned to enter the technical zone so as to target aircraft. It also said that there were intelligence inputs about a probable attack on the airbase.

“Due to effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all security agencies, the terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the air force station. The infiltrators were immediately contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the technical zone,” the Western Air Command said in a statement.

The statement added, “Intelligence inputs were available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate the military installation in Pathankot area. In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to thwart any such attempt.” The Air Officer Commandingin-Chief of Western Air Command was among those who supervised the operation along with the army, NSG and the local police.

Security up at Bathinda air force station

FORMER IAF OFFICIAL RANJITH KK WAS RECENTLY ARRESTED FROM THIS AIR FORCE STATION ON THE CHARGES OF SPYING

BATHINDA: Following the terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base, a highlevel meeting of IAF, army and Punjab Police officials was held at Bhisiana air force station, situated about 18km from here, even as security was beefed up on its premises.

SANJEEV KUMAR/HTPunjab Police and IAF personnel checking vehicles at the entrance gate of the Bhisiana air force station in Bathinda on Saturday.

It is this air force station from where 28-year-old leading aircraftsman Ranjith KK was arrested on December 29 by central agencies and the Delhi crime branch for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Ranjith, who joined the air force in 2010, was reportedly posted at Bhisiana for the past almost three years. He is accused of spying and leaking vital information regarding movement of aircraft at Bathinda and other IAF bases across Punjab, including Pathankot.

Soon after receiving reports of the Pathankot terrorist attack, Nanak Singh, superintendent of police (headquarters), visited the air force station to review security arrangements.

COORDINATION MEETING

Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Swapan Sharma said a coordination meeting with IAF and army officials was held to work out ways to tackle a Pathankot-like situation.

Sharma added that elaborate deployment of security had been made inside the IAF station in view of the red alert sounded after the Pathankot terror attack.

“Intensive patrolling by police personnel will be done around the boundary wall of the air force station to keep tabs on every activity and individual,” Sharma added.

He said the Bathinda police would remain in touch with IAF officials to ensure better coordination.

Meanwhile, IAF personnel remained on their toes throughout the day. Vehicles were allowed to enter the air force station premises only after an elaborate inspection.

Jaish-e-Mohammed ultras sneaked in from rear side of air force base

PATHANKOT: The five Jaish-eMohammed terrorists, who were killed in an encounter with the security forces on Saturday, seemed to have sneaked in from the rear side of the Pathankot air force base that is spread in 20-km radius.

PTI PHOTOA chopper flies over the Indian Air Force base.

THE SPOT WHERE THE TERRORISTS ABANDONED THE GURDASPUR SP’S SUV IS ABOUT 1.5 KM FROM THE WALL OF THE AIRBASE

The area has dense foliage and elephant grass. The spot where terrorists abandoned the Gurdaspur superintendent of police (SP) Salwinder Singh’s SUV is about 1.5 km from the wall of the airbase.

Sources said the terrorists, taking cover of the elephant grass, managed to reach the boundary wall of the airbase. “It is likely that the terrorists scaled the 10-ft wall of the air force base to gain entry. Also, the wall has drain exit points that are covered with iron rods. These are also vulnerable points as one can enter the compound after cutting the wires,” said sources.

Some years ago, a bunch of drug addicts had cut the iron rods near Majra village, throwing air force officials into a tizzy.

Shooting star among 3 martyrs

GURDASPUR/CHANDIGARH: An ace shooter was among the three bravehearts who laid down their lives fighting the five Pakistanbased terrorists at the Pathankot air force base on Saturday.

A Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel, Hony Capt Fateh Singh of Gurdaspur’s Jhanda Gujjaran village took on the terrorists who had sneaked into the air base.

A national-level shooter, Fateh Singh had retired from the 15 Dogra Regiment and joined the DSC. The DSC is a specialised unit that provides security at defence ministry sites.

Fateh had made the country proud by clinching gold and silver in the 300m big bore team and individual events during the first Commonwealth Shooting Championship held in New Delhi in 1995.

Remembering Fateh, former chief coach of Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Col MS Chauhan said, “Fateh was not only an ace big bore shooter, but also a dedicated, brave and daring soldier of the Dogra Regiment.”

“I meet him for the first time at a big bore camp in Mhow in the mid-90s. Since then, we shared a close bonding. His demise has created a big void in the shooting arena,” said national shooting coach Dilip Singh Chandel.

Fateh, who was honoured by then Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is survived by his wife Madhu Bala and sons Gurdeep Singh Deepu and Nitin Thakur. Deepu is currently serving in the 15 Dogra regiment.

Apart from Fateh, another Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel and an Indian Air Force (IAF) official were killed in the Pathankot attack.

While the IAF man’s identity is yet to be ascertained, the other slain DSC personnel has been identified as Havildar Kulwant Singh of Chak Sharif village in Gurdaspur district.

Kulwant, who retired from the army in 2004, joined the DSC in 2006. He is survived by his mother Swarn Kaur, wife Harbhajan Kaur and two sons — Surinder Singh and Gursharan Singh. He was transferred from Odisha to Pathankot air station two months ago.

The villagers rushed to the houses of the two martyrs as soon as the reports of their supreme sacrifice poured in and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.