The ambitious Zojila Tunnel project in Jammu & Kashmir has been hit by a series of delays and rising costs, with the completion deadline now extended to February 2028, over a year beyond the original schedule. The project, which was initially slated to be completed by September 2026, has made only 64 per cent physical progress so far.
In a written reply to Parliament, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, attributed the delays to a combination of factors, including disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a terrorist attack at the nearby Sonamarg Tunnel Project, and prolonged spells of harsh weather in the region.
The Zojila Tunnel, expected to significantly improve connectivity between Srinagar and Leh by ensuring year-round road access through the strategic Zojila Pass, is now expected to be completed nearly 17 months later than planned.
The project’s financial outlay has also seen a sharp increase. The total estimated cost currently stands at Rs 6,809 crore, out of which Rs 3,934.42 crore has already been spent. Officials say the remaining work will continue under strict monitoring to avoid further cost overruns.
As per data shared by the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the project currently employs 1,141 persons. Of these, a significant 77% belong to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and 28% of the overall workforce hails specifically from the Ganderbal district, the region in which part of the project is located.
Gunfight in Kulgam as security forces challenge terrorists
An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, officials said.
The Kashmir police said that the gunfight began in the Akhal area of Kulgam district. “J&K Police’s Special Operations Group, Army and Central Reserve Police Force are on the job,” the police said in a post on X. A senior police official said the operation is underway in a mountainous area and additional reinforcements have been rushed to the spot.
Earlier on Friday, J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, accompanied by Kashmir IGP VK Birdi, visited Kulgam to assess the security situation. Police sources said DGP Prabhat held an “operational review” with the Army’s General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Victor Force and senior officers of the J&K Police and Army in Kulgam.
About 168 years ago, on August 1, 1857, 282 Indian soldiers of the 26th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment were buried in a large well in Ajnala Tehsil on the orders of Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Frederick Henry Cooper. The well was then covered with soil.
After 157 years, historian and researcher Surinder Kochhar, who played a critical role in discovering the well and retrieving the skeletons of the 282 soldiers buried there, today submitted a demand letter to SDM Ajnala, Ravinder Singh Arora, requesting that the relics excavated from the well be recovered by the local administration and displayed in a museum.
The site was originally part of the main cantonment. Later, in 1972, a dargah was established there, followed by the construction of a gurdwara over the site. Kochhar said he first learned about the incident and the burial of the soldiers in the well in 2006 through historical books and documents. “However, it was on February 28, 2014, with the cooperation of the local people of Ajnala and the Gurdwara Committee, that the skeletons of the Indian soldiers and other relics were recovered. The excavation took place in the presence of administrative officials and thousands of locals. Later, these remains were placed under state government custody and handed over to Banaras Hindu University for DNA analysis,” he said.
A decade later, Kochhar claims they have identified four families who are descendants of one of the soldiers buried in 1857. “The DNA analysis of teeth found at the time helped identify their families. We hope to identify at least 50 families,” said Kochhar, who served as tourism advisor during former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal’s tenure and led the rediscovery.
According to historians who have written on the subject, these soldiers were buried, some alive, between July 31 and August 1, 1857. As many as 282 sepoys, who had rebelled against the colonial rule, were captured by British forces while on their way to Lahore and massacred. The incident is mentioned in the works of Giani Hira Singh Dard, an eminent Punjabi writer, historian and editor of the Amritsar-based Punjabi magazine Phulwari.
The relics found in the well included two lion-faced bracelets, three Victoria medals, a silver buckle, seven stone tablets, coins (including a one-rupee coin dated 1835), copper coins and other items. Kochhar said these relics are currently in the possession of the former president of the Gurdwara Committee. He added that these should be immediately recovered and preserved for exhibition in a museum.
“The biggest lacunae is that while the mortal remains of the soldiers attracted attention at the time, the other recovered items were neglected. Many of these relics have either been sold or entered the black market due to a lack of action by the local and state authorities,” he added.
Trump’s move casts shadow over US arms deals in India
US President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs and penalties on India is expected to rebound on American defence firms bidding for multi-billion-dollar projects in India, sources said.
For now, New Delhi is holding off on approving any major defence deals with the US until tempers cool, they added.Barring a few exceptions, most military procurement projects — including fighter jets, transport aircraft, specialised vehicles and anti-tank systems — fall under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This means any US company securing a contract must partner with an Indian firm and establish manufacturing facilities locally, marking a strategic shift in India’s defence acquisition policy.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have a strong defence partnership with the US, which has been strengthening over the last several years.” He added that the relationship has potential to grow further under the India-US ‘COMPACT’ arrangement for the 21st century.
COMPACT — Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology — was announced in February following a meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Among the major deals in the pipeline is India’s procurement of six additional Boeing P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft. These aircraft, capable of anti-submarine warfare, were officially confirmed during the Modi-Trump meeting. A joint statement noted that terms for the P-8I deal were agreed upon and the contract is nearing finalisation.
India had earlier procured 12 P-8I aircraft, and the US State Department cleared the additional sale in May 2021. The P-8I platform was used to monitor the LAC during the military standoff with China.
Another significant American offering is the Stryker armoured fighting vehicle. India is exploring variants with amphibious capabilities and integration of the Javelin anti-tank missile. A demonstration for the Indian Army is expected this year. The Army has projected a need for a large number of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles. The US has proposed setting up a global manufacturing base for the Stryker in India.
Talks are also underway to co-produce the Javelin missile in India. A long-term agreement is being negotiated, with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) having signed a memorandum with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to explore joint manufacturing opportunities.
The largest potential deal on the table is the Indian Air Force’s tender to procure and manufacture 114 multi-role fighter jets. US giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin have expressed interest — a deal that would require shifting production lines to India and involve billions of dollars in investment and revenue.
In another joint venture, Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are bidding to manufacture 80 C-130J special operations aircraft in India. The IAF currently operates a fleet of 12 such aircraft. A dedicated ‘Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited’ facility in Hyderabad already manufactures parts for the global C-130J supply chain.
As for rotary-wing platforms, the Indian Army has the option to procure 11 more Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, while the IAF is seeking additional Chinook heavy-lift helicopters — both manufactured by Boeing.
The case sparked outrage among ex-servicemen, Army veterans, and the public, leading to demands for accountability and justice. (File photo)
A departmental inquiry against Punjab Police personnel, accused of allegedly assaulting a serving Army officer over a car parking issue, has recommendation action ranging from three years’ deduction in service and denial of increments and promotions for the same time period to four inspectors and two others, it has been learnt.
The inquiry was conducted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, into the incident that took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were having food at a roadside dhaba near Government Rajindra Hospital in the district. Colonel Bath, on deputation with a central agency and his son, Angad Singh Bath, were allegedly assaulted by 12 Punjab Police personnel, including four inspectors. The incident resulted in severe injuries, including a dislocated arm for Colonel Bath and a fractured nose for his son. Colonel Bath had accused the police personnel of assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute and sought a transfer of the probe to an independent agency, preferably the CBI.
He alleged that the assailants — four inspector-rank officers of the Punjab Police and their armed subordinates — attacked him and his son without provocation, snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a “fake encounter”, all in public view and under CCTV camera coverage.
The case sparked outrage among ex-servicemen, Army veterans, and the public, leading to demands for accountability and justice. Later, the Punjab Police suspended the 12 police personnel and also initiated a departmental inquiry. The Patiala SSP has submitted the inquiry report to his superior officers and a show cause notice has been issued to the four inspectors and two other police personnel whose names and ranks have not been disclosed by the police department.
It has been recommended that three years of service of six police personnel be deducted, besides they be denied increment and promotion for three years. It recommends that the suspension of these officers will continue, and they will remain posted out of Patiala. The inspectors were attached to Bathinda and Ludhiana Police Ranges when they rejoined duty after remaining absconding for several months during which time Patiala Police failed to arrest them. The Punjab Police on March 17 had suspending 12 implicated police officers, including inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, Harjinder Dhillon, and Shaminder Singh, along with assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables.
A departmental inquiry was ordered by then Patiala SSP Nanak Singh to investigate the allegations against these officers. The inquiry was initially assigned to Patiala SP (Headquarters) Harwant Kaur, with a directive to complete the probe within 45 days. The inquiry aimed to examine the conduct of the accused personnel, who were reported to be in civilian clothes and allegedly intoxicated during the incident. The family claimed the officers used abusive language, physically assaulted Colonel Bath and his son with baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons, and confiscated the Colonel’s government ID card and mobile phone. The inquiry was intended to establish the facts, assess violations of police conduct, and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures.
In addition to the departmental inquiry, other probes were initiated which include a magisterial probe ordered by the Punjab Home department on March 20 and led by IAS officer Paramvir Singh. This probe was rejected by the Bath family, who demanded a CBI inquiry.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed on March 21 under ADGP SPS Parmar and later led by ADGP AS Rai. However, the family expressed distrust in the SIT’s impartiality. The departmental inquiry faced several challenges with the Bath family accusing then SSP Nanak Singh of delaying the FIR registration, which was only filed on March 21 based on Colonel Bath’s statement, instead of the initial FIR based on the dhaba owner’s account.
The names of all 12 suspended officers were not initially disclosed, fueling allegations of police shielding certain personnel, particularly those with accolades as “encounter specialists.”
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 16 had transferred the investigation into the case to the CBI. The CBI on July 25, re-registered two FIRs filed by the civil lines police station Patiala as its own separate cases, with one from Colonel Bath’s side and the other from the dhaba owner in Patiala. The FIRs were filed under various provisions of the BNS, which also include the charge of attempt to commit murder.
Pune police on Wednesday registered a FIR against seven individuals and others for alleged unlawful assembly after a group of members belonging to a right-wing group barged into the house of the family of the Kargil War veteran in Chandannagar late Saturday night
An office-bearer of ex-servicemen association and two jawans visited the family of Hakimuddin Shaikh, a retired soldier who fought in the 1999 Kargil War, on Wednesday afternoon and pledged solidarity with the family.
After verifying facts related to the incident at the police station, the visitors went to his home to show support for the family, the family members said. (HT PHOTO)
After verifying facts related to the incident at the police station, the visitors went to his home to show support for the family, the family members said.Don’t overpay for flights. Search, compare & save up to 30% today. Start Now
“Two jawans on duty and an ex-servicemen association director from the Army Engineers Regiment heard that my uncle Hakimuddin was arrested. They came to the police station first and then to our house,” said Nawab Ali Shaikh, nephew of Hakimuddin.
“The director of the ex-servicemen association had worked with my uncle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Pune police on Wednesday registered a first information report (FIR) against seven individuals and others for alleged unlawful assembly after a group of members belonging to a right-wing group barged into the house of the family of the Kargil War veteran in Chandannagar late Saturday night accused them of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Retd Colonel robbed at Gun Point while walking with dog: Mohali
Mohali: A retired Army officer was robbed at gunpoint while walking his dog near his residence in Aerocity Block-C, Mohali. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm on July 20, when four armed men in a black Honda City intercepted him under the pretext of asking for directions.The victim, Col Gurjeet Singh (retd), a resident of Sector 82 and currently posted as in-charge at the ECHS centre in Fatehgarh Sahib, claimed that the suspects used a car with mud-smeared registration number plates, partially obscuring the registration number. Only “MH” was visible, indicating a Maharashtra registration. The car also had miniature Union Jack flags on its dashboard.Singh was walking near the VY Infra property dealer’s office when the car passed him, only to return moments later. A youth stepped out from the driver’s side and asked for directions to an immigration agent’s house. During the brief exchange, the man brandished a pistol and demanded Singh’s gold bracelet (approx. 1.5 tolas) and iPhone. Two other suspects, both Sikh men in their mid-20s, remained inside the vehicle. Fearing for his safety, Singh complied, and the car sped off.Singh later used his daughter’s phone to track his iPhone, which was found discarded in bushes about 2 kms from the scene.
AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleepResMedFollowing the complaint, IT City Police registered a case under Sections 392 and 34 of the IPC, and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the area.In a significant development, Singh informed police of a similar robbery on July 9 in Block-D of Aerocity, where another resident was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by occupants of a similar vehicle while walking his dog. Police suspect the same gang may be involved in both incidents and have intensified search efforts.
Soldiers killed in boulder accident in Ladakh cremated with military honours in Punjab
Lt Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh died, and three officers were injured, when a boulder fell on their army vehicle in eastern Ladakh on Wednesday
The two soldiers killed in an accident in Ladakh were cremated with full military honours at their native places in Punjab on Thursday.Lt Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh died, and three officers were injured, when a boulder fell on their army vehicle in eastern Ladakh on Wednesday.
सेना को दुश्मन के अलाबा climate ओर प्राकृतिक आपदाओ से भी लड़ना पड़ता है, आज दोपहर बाद की इस दुःखद दुर्घटना मे 3 ऑफिसर ओर 1 जवान शहीद, गलवान घाटी के पास 52Km पॉइंट पर ll सत सत नमन 🙏
The accident occurred in Charbagh near Durbuk in Galwan, some 200 km from Leh.Earlier in the day, the bodies of Mankotia and Daljit Singh were brought to their native places in Pathankot and Gurdaspur’s Shamsherpur village.A large number of mourners gathered at their houses to pay their last respects to the armymen who died in the line of duty.
Daljit’s father said Daljit had spoken to his mother on Tuesday and asked her to find a mason to build a house. “He hung up saying he will call back,” the father, still in shock with his son’s death, said.Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann offered condolences to the soldiers’ kin.Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and officers from the army attended the cremation of Lt Col Mankotia in Pathankot.
Maj Mayank Shubham (14 Sindh Horse), Maj Amit Dixit and Capt Gaurav (60 Armd) were injured in the accident.They were part of a convoy on a training move from Durbuk to Chongtash.
Lt Col Mankotia ( Bhanu Pratap) is son of Col Raman Makotia… Ajmer Georgian.. 11974-82
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