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Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 10

To bridge the communication gap between martyrs’ families and society, the sainik welfare department (SWD) conducted a programme for adoption of Veer Naris through various NGOs and social organisations.

The department looks after welfare of ex-servicemen and families of martyrs. It also processes various schemes of the Centre and state government.

“It was felt that there was a communication gap between martyrs’ families and society,” said Brigadier (retired) Harcharan Singh, director, rajya sainik welfare department.

He said the families were left in isolation in spite of the fact the supreme sacrifice of martyrs. “To curb this disturbing trend, the sainik welfare department started a campaign and requested various departments, NGOs and citizens to visit the martyrs’ families and maintain a close liaison with them,” said the Brigadier.

Rajni Kumari, 35, from Arnia, who lost her husband Naik Sarwan Kumar in the Pathankot attack of 2005, said since her husband’s death she had been facing great hardships.

“Earlier also, such efforts were made by different organisations, but nothing happened. No government agency reached out to us,” said Rajini Devi.

Ritu Devi, widow of late Havildar Parveen Singh, also had similar views. Havildar Parveen Singh lost his life while fighting militants in 2003. Ritu Devi of RS Pura said she took to teaching in a private school that helped her survive.

“Except a gift of tea cups costing Rs 150, we never got anything from the government or from any agency. The martyrs’ families are most unfortunate as they lose their members for the nation, but in return they are forgotten by the government as well as people,” said Ritu Devi.

Earlier, Jammu mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, who attended the function, assured all possible assistance to the martyrs’ families. Eight Veer Naris were adopted by members of Inner Wheel Club.

Brigadier Harcharan Singh informed that a regular check will be maintained by the department to see that NGOs adopting Veer Naris conduct regular visits to their houses and address their problems.

“The president of the SWD is Governor Satya Pal Malik to whom every activity is forwarded. NGOs and individuals working for Veer Naris are given appreciation certificates,” said Brigadier Harcharan Singh.

Ambala, February 3

The Ambala police have booked two men for duping youths of Rs 12 lakh on the pretext of getting them employed in the Indian Army. The suspects have been identified as KB Thapa and Narang Thapa, both residents of Nepal.

Padam Bhandari, a resident of Nepal, alleged that Narang Thapa, who runs a guest house in Nepal, had told him that the recruitment in the Indian Army was on and his friend KB Thapa was a Colonel in the 14th Gorkha regiment, who could arrange a job for him in the Indian Army. Thapa alleged that nearly two-and-a-half-months ago, Narang, along with Prakash Sharma and Ashish, reached Ambala Cantonment, where KB Thapa met them and he introduced himself as a Colonel. He assured them that since he had good connections, he would help them get jobs, for which he would charge Rs 2.50 lakh per candidate.

They were also given a training letter of the Gorkha Regiment and an army uniform kit. Three more youths from their village— Sanju, Robin, and Nirmal— were also called by the suspects.

Padam claimed that on failing to to fulfil their promise, the suspects refused to return money. — TNS

AWARDS

	ASHOK CHAKRA
1. 12974389N L/NK NAZIR AHMAD WANI, SM**, JAK LI, 34 RR (POSTHUMOUS)
PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-35471M GEN BIPIN RAWAT, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, INF 2. IC-38011W LT GEN PANKAJ KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, AVSM, VSM, ARTY 3. IC-38266W LT GEN SURINDER SINGH, AVSM**, VSM, MECH INF 4. IC-38403K LT GEN SHOKIN CHAUHAN, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (RETD) 5. IC-38643F LT GEN RANBIR SINGH SALARIA, VSM, ARTY 6. IC-38708K LT GEN ASHOK AMBRE, AVSM**, SM, INF 7. IC-38750H LT GEN MANOJ MUKUND NARAVANE, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF 8. IC-38753W LT GEN JASWINDER SINGH SANDHU, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, INF 9. IC-38879W LT GEN ASHWANI KUMAR, AVSM, VSM, AAD 10. IC-39438M LT GEN PATTACHERAVANDA CHENGAPPA THIMMAYA, VSM, MECH INF 11. IC-39445H LT GEN SUDARSHAN SHRIKANT HASABNIS, VSM, ENGRS 12. IC-39590A LT GEN HARISH THUKRAL, SM, INF 13. IC-39607H LT GEN IQROOP SINGH GHUMAN, AVSM, MECH INF 14. IC-39865H LT GEN MICHAEL MATHEWS, VSM**, ENGRS 15. IC-40098F LT GEN DUSHYANT SINGH, AVSM, INF 16. MR-03993P LT GEN BIPIN PURI, VSM, AMC 17. IC-37934P MAJ GEN VIJAY DNAYANDEV CHOWGULE, VSM, INF (RETD) 18. IC-40378P MAJ GEN BOLLINA VENKATA RAO, VSM, ENGRS 19. IC-40792N MAJ GEN DEV ARVIND CHATURVEDI, AVSM, SM, INF
KIRTI CHAKRA
1. SS-46936F MAJ TUSHAR GAUBA, 20 JAT 2. 15496659X SWR VIJAY KUMAR, ARMD, 22 RR (POSTHUMOUS)
UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-39929H LT GEN SARANJEET SINGH, YSM, INF, HQ 16 CORPS 2. IC-40022F LT GEN ANIL KUMAR BHATT, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF, HQ 15 CORPS 3. IC-40235P LT GEN GOPAL R, AVSM, SM, INF, HQ 3 CORPS
ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-38528F LT GEN KAPIL KUMAR AGGARWAL, SM, VSM, EME 2. IC-38694P LT GEN PARAMJIT SINGH, VSM, EME 3. IC-39117P LT GEN BS SAHRAWAT, SM, INF 4. IC-39437K LT GEN SHASHANK TARAKANT UPASANI, SM, VSM, INF 5. IC-39464H LT GEN MH THAKUR, VSM, INF 6. IC-39501W LT GEN ANANT PRASAD SINGH, AAD 7. IC-39874K LT GEN TARANJIT SINGH, VSM**, ARMD 8. IC-39956M LT GEN GURPAL SINGH SANGHA, SM, VSM, INF 9. IC-39996N LT GEN RAJEEV SABHERWAL, VSM, SIGS 10. IC-40007M LT GEN YENDURU VENKATA KRISHNA MOHAN, SM, VSM, INF 11. IC-40025P LT GEN GIRI RAJ SINGH, SM, AOC 12. IC-40299A LT GEN SANJAY VERMA, VSM**, EME 13. IC-40393K LT GEN JAGDEEP KUMAR SHARMA, MECH INF 14. IC-41461Y LT GEN YOGENDRA DIMRI, VSM, ENGRS 15. IC-41465P LT GEN AJAI SINGH, ARMD 16. IC-41471H LT GEN SURENDAR KUMAR PRASHAR, VSM, INF 17. IC-41521H LT GEN HARSHA GUPTA, YSM, VSM, INF 18. MR-04262N LT GEN UMESH KUMAR SHARMA, AMC 19. MR-04434X LT GEN RAJAN SINGH GREWAL, VSM, AMC 20. IC-39864A MAJ GEN VIKRAM DEV DOGRA, ARMD 21. IC-39909P MAJ GEN PARAMJIT SINGH SANDHU, VSM, MECH INF(RETD) 22. IC-40133Y MAJ GEN SANJAY CHRISTOPHER MESTON, SM, VSM, INF(RETD) 23. IC-40982A MAJ GEN GURDARSHAN SINGH AUL, ARTY 24. IC-41154F MAJ GEN ALOK RAJ, INF 25. IC-41464M MAJ GEN TEJPAL SINGH RAWAT, VSM**, ENGRS 26. IC-41858L MAJ GEN CODANDA POOVAIAH CARIAPPA, SM, VSM, INF 27. IC-41912N MAJ GEN TARUN KUMAR CHAWLA, ARTY 28. IC-42491H MAJ GEN CHANDI PRASAD SANGRA, YSM, INF 29. IC-42753N MAJ GEN CHANNIRA BANSI PONNAPPA, VSM, INF 30. IC-42833L MAJ GEN GAJINDER SINGH, INF 31. IC-43021K MAJ GEN GULAB SINGH RAWAT, YSM, SM, INF 32. IC-43756N BRIG SANJEEV LANGEH, SM, JAK RIF
SHAURYA CHAKRA
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BAR TO YUDH SEVA MEDAL
IC-42794X MAJ GEN MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR, YSM, VSM, INF
YUDH SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-42475L MAJ GEN SAVNEET SINGH, SM, VSM, INF, HQ 3 INF DIV 2. IC-46723N BRIG HARBIR SINGH, SM, SIKH LI, HQ 12 SECT RR 3. IC-49911A BRIG PRASANNA KISHORE MISHRA, SM, 13 JAK LI 4. IC-49939A BRIG VIKRAM SINGH SEKHON, JAK RIF, HQ 10 INF BDE 5. IC-50034K BRIG VINOD KUMAR NAMBIAR, SM, PARA, HQ 161 INF BDE 6. IC-50306Y BRIG ARVIND CHAUHAN, 1 GR, HQ 28 INF BDE 7. IC-60800H COL NEERAJ PANDEY, ASSAM, 42 RR 8. IC-61359X COL DHARMENDRA SINGH NEGI, RAJPUT, 44 RR 9. IC-64976L COL H SABARINATH, 2/4 GR
BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
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SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
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IC-76292F MAJ VIKAS SEHRAWAT, ARMD, 14 RR 22. IC-76379H MAJ SHAKTI SINGH, MECH INF, 42 RR 23. IC-76615Y MAJ SANJEEV RANTA, GUARDS, 21 RR 24. IC-76633F MAJ VIKAS KUMAR, PUNJAB, 22 RR 25. IC-76672A MAJ GAURAV SINGH RAWAT, PARA, 31 RR 26. IC-76799H MAJ VARUN GAUR, ARMD, 22 RR 27. IC-77054F MAJ DILIP UNNI, EME, 1 RR 28. IC-77179Y MAJ SHER SINGH RANAWAT, 17 JAK LI 29. IC-77594A MAJ HARMEEK SINGH BAINS, ENGRS, 55 RR 30. IC-77782F MAJ SHAKTI NANDAN TRIPATHY, 2 NAGA 31. SS-44769X MAJ VINISH NAIR, MECH INF, 42 RR 32. SS-45438H MAJ MANISH KUMAR SINGH, ENGRS, 53 RR 33. SS-46336Y MAJ RAVI KUMAR, BIHAR, 47 RR 34. IC-77509M CAPT AMAN KUMAR, SIGS, 42 RR 35. IC-78483P CAPT ANIL KUMAR, SIGS, 34 RR 36. IC-78870K CAPT MD SAHWAJ ALAM, ASSAM, 42 RR 37. IC-82127M CAPT AKHIL RADHAKRISHNAN, EME, 6 GARH RIF 38. SS-45276H CAPT PARVINDER DAGAR, MECH INF, 42 RR 39. SS-48558M CAPT DIGVIJAY SINGH, 5 GARH RIF 40. IC-81713H LT RAMESH CHANDER PANDEY, 3 PARA (SF) 41. JC-310104N SUB BIKRANT TETE, ENGRS, 44 RR 42. JC-480832A SUB RAVINDER KUMAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 43. JC-480975A SUB RAM NIWAS GURJAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 44. JC-594270N SUB MOHD YAQOOB KHAN, JAK LI, 41 RR 45. JC-612928N SUB SUNIL KUMAR, 4/4 GR 46. JC-414144F NB SUB RAJENDRA PRASAD, 1 PARA (SF) 47. JC-414383W NB SUB RAJPAL DHAYAL, 10 PARA (SF) 48. JC-414394H NB SUB GIRISH CHANDRA, 12 PARA (SF) 49. JC-441392F NB SUB HAREESH KUMAR PK, 4 MADRAS 50. JC-571619N NB SUB SUNDER PAL SINGH, MAHAR, 30 RR 51. 5348418N CHM ANIL THAPA, 4/4 GR 52. 4081530L HAV NAGENDRA SINGH RAWAT, 6 GARH RIF 53. 9104223X HAV RIYAZ AHMAD BHAT, SC, 162 INF BN(TA) JAK LI, 42 RR 54. 13622956N HAV SHAMSHER SINGH, 9 PARA (SF) 55. 13623439H HAV PUSHPENDRA SINGH, 3 PARA (SF) 56. 13625453N HAV MANISH KUMAR, 9 PARA (SF) 57. 13756894A HAV JORABAR SINGH, 160 INF BN (TA)(H&H) JAK RIF, 41 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 58. 2807995L NK THORAT KIRAN POPATRAO, 4 MARATHA LI(POSTHUMOUS) 59. 3001182N NK SURESH SINGH, RAJPUT, 44 RR 60. 3004619F NK PARI MAL SINGH, RAJPUT, 44 RR 61. 3005902F NK SUNIL KUMAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 62. 4083169K NK DEVENDRA PRASAD, GARH RIF, 14 RR 63. 4200208L NK NARESH CHANDRA BHATT, 9 PARA (SF) 64. 4280232M NK RANJIT KHALKHO, BIHAR, 41 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 65. 4573316W NK RAJESH KUMAR, MAHAR, 1 RR 66. 4576607F NK DEV DATT PAITOLA, MAHAR, 1 RR 67. 5049952Y NK DEEPAK THAPA, 14 GR, 15 RR 68. 5350960H NK YAM BAHADUR BUDHA, 4/4 GR 69. 9107622M NK DALJEET SINGH, 10 JAK LI 70. 12954742N NK MOHD ASHRAF RATHER, 160 INF BN (TA)(H&H) JAK RIF, 41 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 71. 13624265A NK DINESH KUMAR HRANGKHAWL, 3 PARA (SF) 72. 13626834F NK INDERVESH, 1 PARA (SF) 73. 13768609H NK RAMESH KUMAR, JAK RIF, 3 RR 74. 15334818M NK M SADIK, ENGRS, 1 RR 75. 16020152L NK SHIKHER CHOUDHARY, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 76. 3005851Y L/NK RAJINDER KUMAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 77. 16014609L L/NK DHARMENDRA SINGH BHADORIYA, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 78. 16016834Y L/NK SATENDRA SINGH, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 79. 2815324W SEP WAKCHAURE MAYUR BHAGWAN, MARATHA LI, 41 RR 80. 3008898P SEP SUNIT KUMAR, 3 RAJPUT 81. 3206908Y SEP SUNIL KUMAR, 20 JAT 82. 3210590K SEP SANDEEP KUMAR, 20 JAT 83. 4374793A SEP GHUKA K ZHIMO, ASSAM, 42 RR 84. 4485875X SEP MANDEEP SINGH, 9 SIKH LI (POSTHUMOUS) 85. 15190010K SEP THIRUMALAI K, ARTY, 19 RR 86. 20004133H SEP RAMAN KUMAR, DOGRA, 62 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 87. 5050918L RFN DEV BAHADUR ROKAYA, 14 GR, 15 RR 88. 9109177X RFN NARESH KUMAR, 17 JAK LI 89. 9116150H RFN SALEEM MOHD, 17 JAK LI 90. 13768969Y RFN RAVI SINGH, JAK RIF, 3 RR 91. 13777325A RFN RAHUL KUMAR, JAK RIF, 28 RR 92. G/5002910F RFN WAHENGBAM KULLA MEITEI, 16 ASSAM RIF 93. G/5004180A RFN T WONGTOKIU, 16 ASSAM RIF 94. 15625017H GDSM NERSWN BASUMATARY, GUARDS, 21 RR 95. 15625271M GDSM NITUL DAS, GUARDS, 21 RR 96. 15197040K GNR KISHOR KUMAR MUNNA, ARTY, 278 FD REGT (POSTHUMOUS) 97. 15218926X GNR MANDIP SINGH, ARTY, 30 RR 98. 4091174K PTR ASHUTOSH SINGH, GARH RIF, 47 RR 99. 13629227N PTR GURWINDER SINGH, PARA, 31 RR 100. 13629786X PTR MUKUT BIHARI MEENA, 3 PARA (SF) (POSTHUMOUS) 101. 16121135M SPR PRASHANT BAGEWADI, ENGRS, 44 RR 102. 18010719P SPR ATINDER PAL SINGH, ENGRS, 3 RR 103. 15506643H SWR KASHETTY SAGAR, ARMD, 22 RR
BAR TO SENA MEDAL (DISTINGUISHED)
1. IC-41228L MAJ GEN ATANU KUMAR PATTANAIK, SM, ARTY 2. IC-41668Y MAJ GEN ASHIM KOHLI, SM, ARTY 3. IC-42542L MAJ GEN MANOJ KUMAR MAGO, YSM, SM, MECH INF 4. IC-50313P BRIG MOHIT TRIVEDI, SM, GRENADIERS 5. IC-60971P COL MANISH MEHROTRA, SM, 20 PUNJAB
SENA MEDAL (DISTINGUISHED)
1. V-000391W LT GEN PAILOOR RAMACHANDRAN VENKATESH, RVC 2. DR-10359P LT GEN SANJAY MANOHAR LONDHE, AD CORPS 3. IC-39299N MAJ GEN JOYDEEP BHATI, MECH INF (RETD) 4. IC-39435Y MAJ GEN SANJIV BAJAJ, ENGRS (RETD) 5. IC-39546W MAJ GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SIGS 6. IC-40699M MAJ GEN KEMPARAJ SITARAM, VSM, ENGRS (RETD) 7. IC-41068W MAJ GEN ANIL CHAUDHARY, MECH INF 8. IC-41489Y MAJ GEN RAJESH CHABA, MECH INF 9. IC-42300H MAJ GEN PN ANANTHANARAYANAN, 8 GR 10. IC-42390P MAJ GEN MADHAVAN UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR, SIGS 11. IC-43333A MAJ GEN K NARAYANAN, MARATHA LI 12. IC-44106M MAJ GEN NITIN RAM INDURKAR, MAHAR 13. IC-43746K BRIG ADOSH KUMAR, ARTY 14. IC-46148X BRIG MANOJ KUMAR, VSM, ARTY 15. IC-46701P BRIG VAKAMULLA HARIHARAN, GARH RIF 16. IC-47032N BRIG PRATIK SHARMA, MADRAS 17. IC-47261Y BRIG AMARDEEP SINGH AUJLA, VSM,RAJ RIF 18. IC-48703Y BRIG SUNIL MISHRA, DOGRA 19. IC-48978M BRIG OM PRAKASH VAISHNAV, VSM, AAD 20. IC-49636L BRIG CHARANJEEV MANJU, VSM, DOGRA 21. IC-50226F BRIG AJAY KUMAR SINGH, SIKH 22. MR-05688F BRIG NARENDRA KOTWAL, VSM, AMC 23. IC-52159A COL BD CHENGAPPA, ARMD 24. IC-52475Y COL MANEESH JOSHI, SIKH LI 25. IC-55861W COL SURJEET KUMAR SINGH, INT 26. IC-57459L COL MANEESH KUMAR DUBEY, ARMY AVN 27. IC-61374M COL MOHIT SAH, 3/8 GR 28. MR-06075N COL AMIT SHARMA, AMC 29. IC-52619W LT COL YOGENDRA SINGH CHAUHAN, ENGRS 30. IC-59517H LT COL SHASHIKANT WAGHMODE, ENGRS 31. IC-60622L LT COL SAURABH AGRAWAL, SIGS 32. IC-72823W MAJ SHIVSHANKAR DEEP S, 7 PARA 33. IC-67793A MAJ MOHD MAJID KAMAL, EME 34. JC-352438K SUB BHOSALE PANDURANG VITTHAL, ENGRS 35. 15588066L SPR AMANDEEP SINGH, ENGRS (POSTHUMOUS)
BAR TO VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-41235F BRIG SANJEEV SAINI, VSM, 3 GR (RETD) 2. IC-51574P COL DIGVIJAY SINGH BASERA, VSM, 5 GR (FF)
VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-38718N MAJ GEN BIRAJ KUMAR GUHA, ARTY(RETD) 2. IC-39888K MAJ GEN ASHWINI SHARMA, EME (RETD) 3. IC-40787H MAJ GEN RAJU K SUBRAMANI, EME 4. IC-41511Y MAJ GEN MOHAN JEET SINGH SYALI, EME 5. IC-41887A MAJ GEN PRABODH SHARAN RANA, SIGS 6. IC-42000F MAJ GEN SANJAY GUPTA, ASSAM 7. IC-42165A MAJ GEN ASHOK KUMAR, AAD 8. IC-42275P MAJ GEN SANDEEP SINGH, ARMD 9. IC-42294A MAJ GEN SHAILJANAND JHA, ARMD 10. IC-42313A MAJ GEN NUDURUPATI DURGA PRASAD, MECH INF 11. IC-43771H MAJ GEN S MOHAN, SM, AAD 12. IC-43684P MAJ GEN JAGDISH BALIRAM CHAUDHARI, SM, GUARDS 13. IC-44038K MAJ GEN HARIHARAN DHARMARAJAN, SM**, ENGRS 14. IC-44065N MAJ GEN MANJINDER SINGH, YSM, MADRAS 15. NR-16957H MAJ GEN ANNAKUTTY BABU, MNS 16. IC-41481M BRIG TARUNDEEP KUMAR, VSM, ARMD(RETD) 17. IC-42404K BRIG JAI SINGH, SM, GRENADIERS(RETD) 18. IC-42610N BRIG JASPAL SINGH MAKOL, 9 GR(RETD) 19. IC-42779H BRIG YOGESH KAPOOR, ARMD(RETD) 20. IC-43254L BRIG SANDEEP SINGH KAHLON, ENGRS 21. IC-43914X BRIG RAJIV KUMAR MAHNA, YSM, SM, KUMAON 22. IC-44509M BRIG SUYASH SHARMA, SIGS 23. IC-44552N BRIG RAGHU SRINIVASAN, ENGRS 24. IC-44603W BRIG VIVEK KASHYAP, ARMD 25. IC-45985X BRIG NITIN KUMAR SHARMA, ENGRS 26. IC-46718H BRIG MANOJ KAUSHIK, JAG 27. IC-47076L BRIG RAKESH KAPOOR, ARMD 28. IC-47960K BRIG DHIRAJ MOHAN, ENGRS 29. IC-48081H BRIG RAJIV KUMAR, EME 30. IC-49417K BRIG PRAVEEN CHHABRA, ARMD 31. IC-49459W BRIG SANJIV RANJAN SHARMA, SM, JAK LI 32. IC-50304N BRIG RANJAN MALLIK, SM, RAJ RIF 33. IC-50702P BRIG PUNEET AHUJA, SM, MECH INF 34. IC-50798H BRIG BHUPESH HADA, SC, PARA 35. IC-50829X BRIG ARUN CG, KUMAON 36. IC-52038Y BRIG PUNEET SRIVASTAVA, ARTY 37. MR-04905A BRIG SOUMYESH NATH BHADURI, AMC 38. MR-05134H BRIG SURINDER SINGH BHATIA, AMC 39. MR-05959N BRIG BHUPENDRA NATH KAPUR, AMC 40. IC-51601N COL UTTAM HUKKU, ARMY AVN 41. IC-52055Y COL SIMERJEET SINGH, ENGRS 42. IC-52929F COL ASHISH RANJAN, JAK LI 43. IC-53113X COL AMARESH GUNJAN, SM, GARH RIF 44. IC-53217L COL GAURAV SANAN, AAD 45. IC-53601M COL YUDHVIR SINGH SEKHON, BIHAR 46. IC-53708F COL SANJAY G, MADRAS 47. IC-54434N COL RAVI MADHOK, JAK LI 48. IC-56151L COL AJEEN KUMAR K, JAG 49. IC-56841P COL MOHAMMAD SHOAIB KHAN, SM, RAJ RIF 50. IC-56908H COL PARVINDER SINGH SIDHU, SIGS 51. IC-57161F COL GURDEEP SINGH, SM, ARMY AVN 52. IC-57564F COL MANJEET SINGH KOONER, ASSAM 53. IC-57753L COL TAPAN JYOTINDRA VAISHNAV, PUNJAB 54. IC-59219M COL SUMIT SHERON, SM, INT 55. IC-59682N COL RAVI RATHORE, ARMD 56. IC-60128P COL LALIT KUMAR JAIN, 2/1 GR 57. IC-60718N COL ASHISH CHOPRA, 1/1 GR 58. IC-60834W COL HEMANT SAHNI, RAJ RIF 59. IC-61465W COL DEEPENDRA JASROTIA, 3/4 GR 60. IC-65055X COL JOGINDER PAL SINGH, 7 KUMAON 61. IC-65256A COL AJAY THAKUR, 10 JAK LI 62. MR-06623A COL GAURAV KUMAR, AMC 63. MR-07603Y COL HAKAM SINGH, AMC 64. DR-10471F COL MANINDER HUNDAL, AD CORPS 65. IC-56048A LT COL R VAMSI MOHAN, ENGRS 66. IC-56768F LT COL PREET BALJIT SINGH SRA, ARMY AVN 67. IC-67976W MAJ HEMAND RAJ R, 28 MADRAS 68. MR-08564X MAJ SANDEEP KUMAR, AMC 69. IC-80669X CAPT MOHAMMAD NAVAID, 20 JAK RIF 70. JC-470660H SUB MAJ SULTAN SINGH SHEKHAWAT, RAJ RIF 71. JC-521355F SUB MAJ RANDHIR SINGH, DOGRA 72. JC-617671X SUB MAJ THAKUR PRASAD POUDEL, 5/5 GR (FF) 73. JC-623828H SUB MAJ RESHAM BAHADUR GURUNG, 7/8 GR 74. JC-826245P SUB MAJ B KARUNAKANAN, APTC
MENTION-IN-DESPATCHES
OPERATION RAKSHAK 1. IC-76277M MAJ GAURAV SINDHU, JAK RIF, 3 RR 2. 5249263F HAV TEK BAHADUR RANA, 3 GR, 32 RR 3. 2611773K NK SENAPATHI RAJANA, 4 MADRAS 4. 3999226K NK RAJINDER KUMAR, DOGRA, 20 RR 5. 4373457F NK ALEMTOSHI AO, ASSAM, 42 RR 6. 13627163P NK BALWANT SINGH, 3 PARA (SF) 7. 5050403L RFN PIPAL BAHADUR PUN, 4 GR, 15 RR

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak, January 23

A team of Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) today visited Dera Baba Nanak to work out the modalities for constructing the integrated check post (ICP) on the Indian side of the Kartarpur corridor and decided to acquire 50 acres for it.

The LPAI team, comprising its chairman Anil Kumar Bamba and special secretary BR Sharma, held three-hour deliberations with Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal, Dera Baba Nanak Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashok Sharma, Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman and officials of the BSF, Customs, Immigration, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the PWD.

The SDM, the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), has issued a notification to acquire 24 hectares to construct the 4.25-km stretch from Dera Baba Nanak to the zero line.

“The decks have now been cleared for the ICP construction. It will have state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate travel of pilgrims. The LPAI will take over 50 acres,” DC Ujwal said. An official said residential quarters for employees of the ICP will also be constructed.

Cabinet Minister and Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “A 200-foot-wide and four-laned road is proposed to be laid across 24 hectares. Since the Pakistani government has completed 35 per cent work, the Centre should also release funds for construction works.”

An official said the amount of compensation to be given to farmers in lieu of land acquisition was yet to be worked out. “However, the average rate of land sold in the past three years will be taken into consideration. A 100 per cent solatium, an amount given in compensation for inconvenience, will be added to the average rate,” said the official.

Targeting the state government, a BJP leader said, “The LPAI team visit indicates that the NDA government is committed to completing the project before the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev (November this year).”

Integrated check post: A single-window facility 

Integrated check posts (ICPs) have been established at all major entry points on the country’s land borders. These house regulatory agencies such as immigration, customs and border security in a single complex which serves as a single-window facility as is prevalent at airports and seaports.

New Delhi, January 24

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash from the Army for his alleged role in the Sukna land scam, holding that punishment was disproportionate to one minor charge being proved against him.

Setting aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash and its upholding by the Armed Forces Tribunal, the Bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justices S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah directed that he be paid all the retrial and pension benefits from the date of retirement.

The court gave the Army three months to clear all dues of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash. Setting aside the AFT’s decision, Justice Sikri described as its order “contradictory”, saying as on the one hand the tribunal upheld the decision of dismissal, but at the same time awarded the grant of pension from the date of its order. Holding that dismissal of Avadesh Prakash on the basis of his found guilty of a minor charge was “disproportionate”, Justice Sikri said it could not be used to erase the unblemished record of his 39-year service. — IANS

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today said there is a need to focus on incorporating Artificial Intelligence and big data computing into the armed forces’ system.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat says it is time to focus on AI and Big Data Analytics. (File)

HYDERABAD: 

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today said there is a need to focus on incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data computing into the armed forces’ system, saying the northern adversary of the country (China) is spending “huge money” on this technology.

Addressing the valedictory function of the National Conference on “Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing” in Hyderabad, he said rapid advances in technology necessitated incorporation of the industrial sector into defence manufacturing.

“Apart from guns and rifles, we will see lot of non-contact warfare happening. Future wars are going to be fought in cyber domain,” he said.

It is important to start understanding the relevance of AI and Big Data computing and how to incorporate this into the defence system, he said.

“Our adversary on the northern border (China) is spending huge amounts of money on Artificial Intelligence and cyber warfare. We cannot be left behind. It is time for us to also focus on AI and on Big Data Analytics rather than just keeping it confined to mere definitions,” the army chief said.

He said the defence forces needed equipment that were capable of deep viewing adversaries’ territories. “This equipment could either be based on satellites… which fortunately we have some but are not adequate to keep continuous surveillance and other means like drones, unarmed vehicles, remotely piloted vehicles.. this is the need of the hour.”

There is a need for a battle field management system, which would enable the commander to incorporate and integrate all the information that was available and hence, technology becomes very important, he added.

Noting that the Centre was opening two Defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, he said: “Rather than becoming an import industry we should become export oriented based on case-to-case because we do not want our technology to fall into our adversaries’ hands.”

He said there are some countries willing to share technology with India and the industry needs to partner with some of the foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers and see how best they incorporate technology and “we get manufacturing within our country.”

Emphasising the importance of preparedness for future dimensions of warfare, General Rawat said the Indian armed forces have to be prepared whether it was defence of borders, combating proxy wars, terrorism, insurgencies or other internal security disturbances.

“We have to understand that we have disputed land borders on our northern frontiers, partially unsettled borders on our western sector. So, we don’t see peace on the horizon anywhere in the near future.”

The armed forces have to be ever prepared by imbibing new technologies, keeping pace with the advancements in warfare, he said.

Rahul Gandhi had said on Friday that Sitharaman evaded his questions on the controversial Rafale deal. However, she dismissed all allegations of corruption and accused Congress president of misleading the nation.

https://www.news18.com/news/politics/rahul-gandhi-wants-nirmala-sitharaman-to-quit-over-rafale-says-you-lied-to-defend-pm-narendra-modi-lies-1993207.html

New Delhi: Slamming Nirmala Sitharaman for “lying” in Parliament over Rafale issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday demanded Defence Minister’s resignation.

“When you tell one lie, you need to keep spinning out more lies, to cover up the first one. In her eagerness to defend the PM’s Rafale lie, the RM (Raksha Mantri) lied to Parliament. Tomorrow, RM must place before Parliament documents showing 1 Lakh crore of Govt orders to HAL. Or resign,” he tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi

✔@RahulGandhi

When you tell one lie, you need to keep spinning out more lies, to cover up the first one.
In her eagerness to defend the PM’s Rafale lie, the RM lied to Parliament.
Tomorrow, RM must place before Parliament documents showing 1 Lakh crore of Govt orders to HAL.
Or resign.

 Gandhi questioned her over a Times of India report that said that India’s leading defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is keenly awaiting formalisation of orders adding up to Rs 1 lakh crore mentioned by Sitharaman during the discussion on the Rafale fighter deal in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The report quoted a senior HAL management official as saying that no actual order had either been placed or a single rupee had been released to the company.

Hours after Gandhi’s demand, the Defence Minister asked the Congress president to read the complete newspaper report, where it has been mentioned that “Sitharaman did not claim the orders were signed, saying they were in the works”.

A tweet from the minister’s office later asked him to “start from ABCs”.

Gandhi had said on Friday that Sitharaman evaded his questions on the controversial deal. However, she dismissed all allegations of corruption and accused Congress president of misleading the nation.

Sikh devotees gather to pay obeisance at Bibi Chand Kaur gurdwara, to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, in Jammu on Saturday; and (right) a devotee takes a selfie with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar during his visit at Takht Sri Patna Sahib.

Using Armymen for diplomatic muscle-flexing, be it in the US, UK or India, has become commonplace. In the end, it diminishes the institution’s name and glory

Globally, ‘veterans’ naturally gravitate towards conservative parties as the Centrist and Left-of-Centre parties are traditionally perceived to be ‘soft on security’. The Republican Party in the US and the Conservative Party (the Tories) in the UK usually garner more support than the Democratic Party or the Labour Party, respectively. With politics assuming more nationalistic undertones, political appropriation and positing of the ‘soldiers’ and their ostensibly-related causes has become more blatant and commonplace. UK Prime Minister Theresa May had slammed FIFA’s decision to disallow English football players from wearing ‘poppy’ lapels (in remembrance of soldiers who died in wars) as “utterly outrageous”; whereas US President Donald Trump came back from the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, wanting to replicate and top the same with his own version of a grand military parade. Clearly, centering the ‘soldier’ makes for good politics.

However, beyond the immediate traction, overplaying the symbolic hand on this tact without doing anything concrete or meaningful has diminishing returns. Already, the unprecedented cuts in the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions, affecting the ‘veterans’, have made ‘ex-service personnel account for one in 10 rough sleepers across the UK’. Indeed, in the US, Trump’s shocking mock of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-affected soldiers or the ‘privatisation’ of the veteran health services, militate against the professed concerns for the uniformed fraternity. The lazy perception that these men and women of honour could join the Administration of the ruling political dispensations as ‘trophy-candidates’ and loyal ‘yes-men’, to project militaristic muscularity, patriotism and decisiveness on the bankrolling party, is slowly coming undone. It is true that the institutional ethos and regimental/corps spirit bequeaths these combatants with certain outwardly machismo, steel and heroic ‘branding’, but beyond the razzmatazz of their medals, uniforms and swagger, lie decades of hands-on experience, blood-sweat-toil in disturbed areas and years of training and reflection that make these people amongst the most balanced and nuanced individuals who do not suffer from knee-jerk reactions.

Usually, what comes as a surprise to the politicos is the latent gravitas, inherent sense of self-respect and the undying spirit of speaking the truth (gently but surely), that ultimately make the political masters uncomfortable in their midst. The retired Marine Corps General James Mattis (who recently quit as the US Secretary of Defence) is famous for telling his troops: “You are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before your weapon.”

The healthy institutional diversity within the ‘barracks’ and the societal bonhomie under the most trying of circumstances make these veterans life-long believers in plurality and ‘inclusiveness’ that is above the regressive divides that beset and define partisan politics.

Combatants are also hardwired into believing “dissent is not disloyalty”, albeit, expressed in a certain form with the requisite context, form and dignity. Thus, the unmalleable spirit of ‘brothers-in-arms’ that swears only to the hallowed Constitutional spirit of the nation, riles against the political necessities, compromises and bigotry that usually accompany partisan politics.

Contrary to some caricaturised perceptions, soldiers are not war-mongering or blood-lusting cadres, as the nobility of the soldiers code ensures a more professional, rationale and reasonable instinct that differentiates a soldier from a mercenary.  The legendary General Douglas MacArthur famously said: “The soldier above all prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war”.

The recent case of a similar realisation dawned on the draft-evader, Trump, who, in order to inject some testosterone of muscularity that befitted his contours of ‘America First’, got carried over by the Captain America-like superhero image of the iconic, four-star General, James Mattis (popularly known as ‘mad dog’ and ‘warrior monk’), and inducted him as the Secretary of Defence.

Perhaps, unknown to Trump was the erudition, sagacity and profundity that also came along with the Pattonesque-persona, whose real-time combat experience was enhanced by the scholarship that came with a personal library of over 7,000 books, unlike the empty rhetoric and vacuous bluster of a Donald Trump. The officer-like conduct in Mattis had insisted on a certain decorum and dignity in engaging with the allies, and not in the fanciful flights of temperamental rants that define Trump. Mattis’ exit and inability to get along with Trump mirrored the similar fate that beset other veterans, like the previous National Security Advisor, Lt Gen McMaster.

Historically, in India, too, veterans-turned-politicians have been amongst the most respected, well-read and responsible leaders like the classic cavalier Jaswant Singh, Maj Gen Khanduri and Rajesh Pilot — each of who did imminent justice and service to their respective political parties and administrative responsibilities. However, in the last few years, a new phenomenon emerged of newsroom-warriors plumed in their regimental regalia, thundering political invectives and positions dominating the prime-time slots. Thankfully, time and tide forced some into introspection, reflection and realisation that the politicos appropriated and misused the imagery of the ‘soldier’ for their own partisan purposes and basically the institutional interests and concerns remained unanswered, as before.

Election time is always fraught with the risk of such tactical propping of veterans as ‘show-horses’ for posturing patriotism and political muscularity. Care must be taken to ensure that the apolitical-construct and wiring of the Armed Forces is respected, and no ‘firing from the shoulders’ of these veterans is done to justify political pettiness, nefarious designs and selfish electoral objectives.

Like the veterans of yore, no implied extension of their military service should be encouraged to suggest an ‘institutional’ preference towards any political party — the veterans should propagate their partisan preferences in their individual capacity and certainly not on behalf of the ‘institution. A delicate line must be maintained. Irrespective of the political parties, matters concerning the ‘soldier’ have remained unaddressed and in crunch situations, the discomfort of politicians with the perspective and concerns of the ‘soldiers’ — be it in the US, UK or India — has led to the steady diminishment of the ‘institution’ in the national narrative.

(The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry)

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army claimed to have shot down an Indian spy quadcopter in Bagh sector along the Line of Control on Tuesday. Defence spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, in his official twitter handle, also said that not even a quadcopter would be allowed to cross the Line of Control (LoC). “Pakistan army troops shot down Indian Spy Quadcopter in Bagh Sector along Line of Control. Not even a quadcopter will be allowed to cross LOC,” he tweeted along with a picture of the drone. PTI

Allahabad as Prayagraj gets Centre’s approval

NEW DELHI: A fortnight ahead of the ‘Kumbh Mela’, the Centre has approved the renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj as sought by the Uttar Pradesh Government, officials said on Tuesday. The decision came more than two months after the state government, headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, took the decision to rename the historic city as Prayagraj. The Centre has given its consent for renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj about 10 days ago, a Home Ministry official said. The ‘Kumbh Mela’ in Prayagraj will start on January 15 on ‘Makar Sankranti’ and will conclude on March 4 on ‘Maha Shivaratri’. PTI