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Following the launch of Operation Sindoor after the killing of 26 people in Pahalgam, the Army has now intensified its search for terrorists suspected to be hiding deep within the forested areas of the Jammu division. The primary focus of…

Arjun Sharma

Following the launch of Operation Sindoor after the killing of 26 people in Pahalgam, the Army has now intensified its search for terrorists suspected to be hiding deep within the forested areas of the Jammu division.

The primary focus of the search is Kathua district, from where it is suspected that terrorists infiltrate from the International Border (IB) and then use traditional routes to reach Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur and other parts of the region.

Notably, the Army has deployed two brigades and established a mobile network in the remote areas of the Billawar region in Kathua. This move is expected to not only provide enhanced security to the local population but also enable better surveillance and communication in far-flung areas through improved connectivity.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, during his visit to Jammu, said that one brigade had been deployed at Sarthal, while another had been stationed in the Rampur township of Billawar. “This will not only provide round-the-clock Army surveillance in the area but the Army personnel will also maintain regular liaison with the civil administration, with the Brigadier and the District Magistrate concerned constantly being in touch with each other,” the Minister said.

The decision to bolster Army presence came after intelligence agencies revealed that terrorists were able to reach the mountainous areas via the dense forests of Kathua. Soldiers will now closely monitor these jungles, through which traditional infiltration routes meander.

Terrorists often take shelter in natural caves and ‘dhoks’ (temporary nomadic shelters), frequently shifting their locations to avoid detection.

On Sunday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps also visited the border areas of Jammu to assess operational preparedness and interacted with troops of the Tiger Division.

Sources in the intelligence community have indicated that under the revised strategy, terrorists hiding in forest areas will be tracked and neutralised. “It is believed that there are multiple groups of Pakistani-trained ultras who are hiding in different districts of Jammu division. The estimates are that there might be 35-40 terrorists hiding in the forests and are being helped by Over Ground Workers (OGWs),” sources said.

Multiple intelligence sources further confirmed that efforts are underway to plug infiltration points along the IB, while also securing civilian populations in the hinterland. “Earlier, most of the attacks were limited to security forces, but it is now suspected that Pakistani terrorists might attempt attacks on civilians. This makes it essential to ensure the safety of areas, particularly those with Hindu populations,” said sources.

With terrorist movements detected in various areas of Kathua district, security forces are also focusing on safeguarding areas inhabited by significant Hindu communities. During the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir on April 22, tourists were reportedly targeted by terrorists after being asked about their religious identity.

In addition to the Army, the J&K Police have also deployed personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG) in vulnerable areas.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda, Sandeep Mehta, visited the Bhaderwah area on Saturday to review the security situation. There have been inputs suggesting terrorist movement in the region over the past three to four days. Locals, during an interaction with the SSP, requested regular training to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities in the event of counter-insurgency operations.

Stresses on continued vigil and jointness to address the evolving threats

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan visited the Indian Army’s Northern and Western Commands on Sunday to conduct a strategic review and operational assessment post-‘Operation Sindoor’.

During his interaction with the senior officers of these two commands, who were actively involved in the planning and execution of the operation, the CDS stressed on continued vigil and jointness across the Services to address the evolving threats.

At the Headquarters Western Command in Chandimandir, he was given a comprehensive brief on the kinetic and non-kinetic punitive response during Operation Sindoor by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar.

A detailed overview of the operational environment, defence preparedness and key outcomes of the operation were provided, while underscoring the prevailing security situation along the Western borders.

Inputs on technological infusion and enhanced logistics capability, contributing to high operational efficiency, real-time situational awareness, strengthening the military capability of the Western Army were also highlighted. 

The CDS was also given an insight into veterans’ welfare and medicare facilities extended to serving and retired personnel.

At Udhampur, the CDS was briefed by the GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, on the success of the Northern Army in neutralising the terror network, adversary’s assets that supported terror and counter measures taken to protect own military assets and civil population during Operation Sindoor. 

He was apprised about the efforts by the Northern Army in the rehabilitation of the civilians of the border areas who were targeted by the adversary.

The Northern Army Commander gave an update on the continued operational and logistics preparedness of the Northern Command and assured the CDS of its commitment in protecting the borders, while also launching an all-out effort to eradicate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

General Chauhan acknowledged the operational excellence achieved by the field formations responsible for the Northern and Western borders in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and commended the overall synergy and timely accomplishment of operational tasks under challenging conditions.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Sunday visited the Army’s Northern Command at Udhampur, where he interacted with senior Army officers. He met the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, who was…

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Sunday visited the Army’s Northern Command at Udhampur, where he interacted with senior Army officers.

He met the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, who was actively involved in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor.

He also visited Western Command at Chandimandir Military Station, Haryana. The CDS conducted a strategic review and operational assessment in the Northern and Western theatres during the visit.

At Udhampur, the CDS was briefed on the Northern Army’s success in neutralising the terror network, dismantling adversary’s assets that supported terrorism, and implementing counter measures to protect military’s assets and civil population during Operation Sindoor. He was also informed about the efforts by the Northern Army to rehabilitate civilians in border areas who were targeted by the adversary.

An official spokesperson said “The Northern Army Commander gave an update on the continued operational and logistics preparedness of the Northern Army and assured the CDS of its commitment in protecting the borders, while also launching an all-out effort to eradicate terrorism in J&K”.

General Anil Chauhan paid tribute to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty during Operation Sindoor, lauding the valour, resolve, precision and discipline of all ranks. He acknowledged the operational excellence achieved by the field formations responsible for the Northern and Western borders in J&K and Punjab.

The CDS commended the overall synergy and timely execution of operational tasks under challenging conditions. He emphasised the importance of continued vigilance, jointness and synergy across the services to address evolving threats. He exhorted them to render a helping hand in the rehabilitation of the civilians who were targeted by the adversary.

Bids invited for prototype, private players allowed

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

The Ministry of Defence has invited bids to develop a prototype of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, a step that is set to boost India’s indigenous defence capabilities and strengthen the domestic aerospace industry.

The private industry has been invited to participate in the project — a first for the military aviation sector — and will involve development of new technology.

The ministry said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had approved the “programme execution model” for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will execute the programme through industry partnership, providing equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis.

Bidding can be done independently, as a joint venture or as consortia. The entity or the bidder will have to be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the land.The ministry said it would be an important step towards harnessing the indigenous expertise, capability and capacity to develop the AMCA prototype, and a major milestone towards “aatmanirbharta” in the aerospace sector.

The ADA will soon issue an expression of interest (EoI) for the AMCA Development Phase.

In March last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the proposal to design and manufacture AMCA.

The Rs 15,000-crore project involves the development of design and prototype of the aircraft. It will have two variants with different engines — Mark 1 is expected to be powered by General Electric (GE) F414 98 kilonewton (kN) engine and advanced Mark 2 may have a 110 kN engine, which is being developed.

The IAF is looking at seven squadrons (18 planes each) of AMCA — two of Mark 1 and the rest of Mark 2.

Mark 2 will be powered by new indigenous engines for which Safran of France, GE of the US and Rolls Royce of the UK are the contenders.

The aircraft will have the latest avionics and indigenous AESA radar, besides the capability to carry weapons internally as well as externally.

Currently, only the US (F-22 Raptor), Russia (Su-57) and China (J-20) have developed fifth-generation fighter jets.

Rs 15K-cr AMCA project

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will have 2 variants — Mark 1 with 98 kN engine & Mark 2 with more powerful 110 kN engine

It will have latest avionics and indigenous active electronically scanned array radar & can carry weapons internally and externally

Only the US (F-22, F-35), Russia (Su-57) and China (J-20) have developed fifth-generation fighter jets

Says thwarted attempts to infiltrate 40-50 terrorists via Jammu border

The Border Security Force on Tuesday said it destroyed over 70 Pakistani posts and three terrorist launch pads in retaliation to unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in the Jammu frontier during Operation Sindoor.

Shashank Anand, Inspector General, BSF, said infiltration attempts by 40-50 terrorists were thwarted with pre-emptive strikes during the conflict. “When India launched Operation Sindoor, it was expected that Pakistan will retaliate. They opened unprovoked fire and we retaliated effectively, damaging their over 70 border outposts and three terror launch pads. Our pre-emptive strikes inflicted heavy losses on the enemy troops, forcing them to retreat. Their soldiers and terrorists suffered casualties,” he said.

Women personnel get pat fpr engaging enemy

BSF IG praised women personnel for their courage, specifically mentioning Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari. “Our women troops had the option to relocate to battalion headquarters, but they chose to remain at forward posts. Assistant Commandant Neha and women constables engaged enemy fire with bravery.”

Addressing the media here, the IG said intelligence agencies had been receiving inputs that Pakistan was planning to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists, for which the Rangers were targeting Indian outposts.

Anand said Operation Sindoor was still on as Pakistan could not be trusted. “The BSF will not let its guard down as there are apprehensions of more infiltration attempts. We are maintaining the highest-possible vigil,” the IG said. “We are also in the process of naming a post in the Samba sector as “Sindoor” and two others after martyrs.” He said terror launch pads had been destroyed with targeted strikes in Akhnoor, Samba and RS Pura sectors of the Jammu frontier. “On May 9-10, Pakistan opened unprovoked fire in the Akhnoor sector, targeting BSF posts. In response, we hit the Loni launch pad linked to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and caused significant damage,” said Anand. He said Pakistan used low-flying drones to drop payloads on BSF posts, resulting in three casualties.

Chiter Pal, DIG, BSF, said Pakistan started firing on the Indian posts on May 9. He said a key terror launch pad run by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence near the Sunderbani sector was destroyed. “There is no movement seen from that area now,” he said.

A US official says the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already had scheduled their visa interviews

The US State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the US while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said.

A US official said on Tuesday that the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already had scheduled their visa interviews.The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration document.

A cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press says the State Department plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity” until the guidance is issued, the cable says.

Asked about the suspension at a briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the US uses every available resource to vet people applying for visas.

“We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce said.

The move, first reported by Politico, is the latest in the Donald Trump administration’s crackdown on international students.Last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students, removing the college from the programme that allows schools to sponsor foreign students for visas.

That effort was quickly challenged in court and for now is blocked by a federal judge.

This spring, the administration also revoked the legal status of thousands of international students already in the country, leading some to leave the US out of fear of deportation.

After many students filed successful legal challenges, the administration said it was restoring the students’ legal status. But the government also expanded the grounds for terminating international students’ legal status going forward.

Trump’s previous administration stepped up scrutiny of all visa applicants, introducing reviews of their social media accounts. The policy remained during former president Joe Biden’s administration.

An extended pause in scheduling student visas could lead to delays that may disrupt college, boarding-school or exchange students’ plans to enrol in summer and fall terms.

A downturn in enrolment of international students could hurt university budgets. To make up for cuts in federal research funding, some colleges shifted to enrolling more international students, who often pay full tuition.

HC rejects anticipatory bail petition of Punjab cop in Colonel assault case

Gross misuse of police authority’: HC denies bail to Punjab cop in Colonel assault case

Linguistic mistake: MP minister on Col Sofiya remark

Army officer dies while rescuing jawan

President Murmu awards 6 Kirti, 33 Shaurya Chakras for gallantry

Major Aashish Dhonchak posthumously conferred Shaurya Chakra

Shaurya Chakra for two brave Majors from state

Maj Rohit Kadian shines in World Masters Games

Integrated Command and Control Centre gets operational at Vaishno Devi shrine

Raja Warring visits kin of Agniveer killed in Jammu, demands martyr status

Wreath-laying ceremony held for Maharashtra braveheart

CRPF commandos honoured with Shaurya Chakra for anti-Naxal operations

Flight carrying Kanimozhi-led MP delegation circles Moscow sky following drone attack  

Post Op Sindoor, India’s strategic requirements ‘won’t be left wanting’

DRDO chief sees global demand for ‘Akashteer’

LoP meets ailing former J&K Guv Satya Pal Malik

20,000 Indians killed in terror attacks: India rebukes Pakistan at UN

Man posing as army Captain dupes couple of Rs17 lakh, held

How Indo-Pak conflict resonates in Mizoram

AF guided IndiGo flight as Pak rejected plea to use airspace

Calls delay in registration of FIR ‘astonishing’

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of police officer Ronnie Singh Salh, one of the cops who had allegedly assaulted a Colonel and his son over two months ago in Patiala.

The alleged incident had taken place on March 13 night in Patiala, where Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were allegedly assaulted by police personnel over a parking dispute.

Justice Anoop Chitkara asserted that the incident showed a “complete misuse of police power” by the officers.

The admonition came as Justice Chitkara called for a thorough investigation into the delay in the registration of an FIR on the victim’s plea and other aspects, while referring to inaction on senior police officers’ part for bringing the “perpetrators to justice”.

Justice Chitkara observed that two FIRs were registered – first for affray based on a complaint made by owner of a dhaba, where the incident took place, and the subsequent one on the army officer’s plea.

A fundamental aspect which must be thoroughly investigated by a senior level police officer and certainly not less than of the Senior Superintendent of Police is the manner in which was registered based on the dhaba owner’s complaint and non-registration of earlier on the army officer’s plea “despite involving a grievous injury and a complaint about causing assault”.

“It is astonishing that the police immediately registered an FIR on finding an offence of affray. However, despite the earlier DDR disclosing injuries and fractures… no FIR was registered until March 22,” the court observed, terming the delay disturbing and suggestive of bias.

Justice Chitkara asserted the callous and violent way in which police officers were seen to be beating the two “clearly demonstrates an inhumane, aggressive and arrogant attitude of a cruel mindset, which is uncharacteristic of what our respectable and valiant police force actually represents. This vile, uncivilised, pitiless and brutal way is not the manner in which a police force ought to behave with its people, anywhere, and especially, in a democratic country like ours”.

Justice Chitkara added the police are meant to uphold law and order with fairness, not instill fear through unwarranted force. “It is common knowledge that the majority of the people, especially the poor, downtrodden and illiterate have been deeply conditioned to be afraid of the police, harboring a fear of them in the hearts of hearts. It is behaviour like that – as seen in the present case exhibited by a thin minority of officials – which inspires such fear and terror and is exemplary of incidents fuelling such narratives”.

The court added that the most disturbing part was that the accused police officers, fully aware of their duties and even after learning that the victim was a serving Colonel, showed no restraint. They snatched his ID, threatened his life and brutally beat him.

“We must not forget so early that this region is closer to a hostile border, has a history of militancy and is still battling cross-border narco-terrorism,” the Bench observed.

Holding that there appeared to be an intentional effort to scare away the visitors who could have acted as “independent witnesses” and assault the complainants in isolation, Justice Chitkara asserted: “Even if it is hypothetically assumed that the victims had wrongfully parked their car… still the job of a law enforcement officer is to issue a challan. It is not the job of any trained and licensed law enforcement officer to physically manhandle the occupants of the vehicle, let alone beat them black and blue.”

In a scathing order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court slammed the ‘non-action of the senior officers to ensure an FIR was registered without delay’.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Ronnie Singh Salh, a police officer accused of brutally assaulting Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad Singh, calling the act a “heinous” and “vile” abuse of power that struck at the very foundation of civilised policing in a democracy.

Justice Anoop Chitkara, who presided over the case, tore into the conduct of the accused, terming it a “gross misuse of police authority” and a display of “inhumane, aggressive and arrogant” behaviour unbefitting the uniform.

The alleged incident occurred on the intervening night of March 13-14 near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, when Colonel Bath, his son, and a friend had stopped to eat noodles from the trunk of their car. A Scorpio fitted with blinking red and blue lights arrived, and seven to eight men in civilian clothes got out, allegedly demanding that the Colonel move his vehicle. What followed, as per the FIR, was a sudden and violent assault in which Colonel Bath was punched unconscious and then beaten with fists and sticks—even after he identified himself as an Army officer.The attack left both father and son grievously injured, including bone fractures, as confirmed by medical records from Rajindra Hospital. Salh was among those named in the FIR, which was registered on March 22—eight days after the incident, and only following public outrage.

The case was later handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a Chandigarh UT cadre IPS officer, after the high court on April 3 expressed concern over the integrity of the initial probe.

In his strongly worded order, Justice Chitkara said the police’s actions were indefensible. “Even if it is hypothetically assumed that the victims had wrongfully parked their car, the job of a law enforcement officer is to issue a challan,” he wrote. “It is not the job of any trained law enforcer, skilled in the efficient use of force continuum, to mete out unmerciful, furious beatings to a common man at the drop of a hat,” he added.

“The callous and violent way in which these police officers are seen to be beating those two people visibly demonstrates an inhumane, aggressive and arrogant attitude of a cruel mindset. This vile, uncivilised, pitiless and brutal way is not how a police force ought to behave—especially in a democratic country like ours,” he further said.

Justice Chitkara did not spare senior officers either. “If it was the assault alone which was the problem, the gravity of the issue would have been different. What makes the entire episode even more worrisome is the non-action of the senior officers to ensure an FIR was registered without delay,” he said, calling it “alarming and disheartening” that no prompt action was taken despite the gravity of the incident. The FIR, the court noted, was lodged only after “public furore”.

The judge also flagged what he called an attempt to fabricate evidence. “Another perturbing aspect is that the accused attempted to fabricate evidence by getting treated in a private hospital. Such deviously crafty behaviour portrays an assumption of possessing unfettered powers—as if such officers are emperors of their police jurisdiction, which can never be the intent of legislature,” he said.

The court was also disturbed by the alleged assault on a serving Army officer. “Despite knowing from his identity card that he was a Colonel in the Army, the accused showed zero signs of stopping, snatched his ID, intimidated him, threatened his life and continued to beat him unsparingly,” the court said.

ALSO READ | Police assault on Colonel in Patiala: How the case is similar to the 1992 Army officer attack row that cost Chandigarh SSP his post

Taking a wider view, the court remarked: “If police officers display such brutality, high-handedness and disrespect towards members of our esteemed defence services, such reprehensible conduct is not just against the individual but against the whole nation. It implies they would be happy to serve any ruler—defying the very spirit of democracy that empowers them.”

Justice Chitkara stressed that “cruelty” must weigh heavily in bail decisions. “A cruel person amok is a potential threat to the well-being, safety and security of those around, much like a landmine waiting to explode on the slightest pressure,” he said.

Finding the petitioner’s involvement prima facie established and the brutality of the act incompatible with pre-arrest bail, the court dismissed the petition. The order said further comments were withheld to avoid prejudice to the trial. All pending applications were also disposed of.

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The SIT investigation continues and has been directed to conclude within four months.

Terming his controversial remark about Col Sofiya Qureshi a “linguistic mistake”, Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah on Friday once again tendered an apology. “My intention was not to hurt or offend any religion, caste or community. I sincerely apologise

Terming his controversial remark about Col Sofiya Qureshi a “linguistic mistake”, Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah on Friday once again tendered an apology. “My intention was not to hurt or offend any religion, caste or community. I sincerely apologise to the Indian Army, Sister Col Sofiya and all countrymen for the words I said inadvertently and once again with folded hands I apologise,” said Shah, the Minister for Tribal Affairs.

The Supreme Court on Monday constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the First Information Report registered against him.