Gursewak Singh of 22 Sikh, Rajinder of 22 Maratha LI martyred in Poonch

Grieving family members of martyr Gursewak Singh in Tarn Taran on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 6

Sepoy Gursewak Singh (24) of 22 Sikh and Naik Rajinder Narayan Tukpare of 22 Maratha Light Infantry were killed as the Pakistani army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Krishna Ghati and Saujiyan sectors in Poonch district this morning. Subedar Sanjay Solanki, Sepoy Yaqoob Beig, a civilian and a woman SPO were injured in the shelling.Indian troops retaliated, destroying the Kopra post across the border. The Army repulsed two infiltration attempts in KG sector during which Gursewak was seriously injured. He succumbed to his injuries later. Naik Tukpare was killed in Gali Maidan area. He belonged to Karve village in Kohlapur district of Maharashtra.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Defence PRO Lieut-Col Manish Mehta said on the intervening night of November 5-6 in Krishna Ghati sector, “troops challenged infiltrators who opened fire while trying to sneak back into PoK. In the ensuing gunfight, Sepoy Gursewak Singh suffered a gunshot injury and succumbed while being evacuated.”A BSF spokesperson said SI Nitin Kumar, deployed in Poonch sector, had received a splinter injury. His condition was stable.

Chandigarh, November 3

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who committed suicide over the delay in implementation of the OROP scheme, cannot be placed in the category of martyrs.“Only those who lay down their lives while fighting enemies on the borders are called martyrs, not the ones who commit suicide,” Khattar said on the sidelines of the Swaran Jayanti Samaroh of the state Assembly held at the Indradhnush Auditorium at Panchkula today.The CM said while the exact cause of the suicide would be known after investigation, prime facie, Ram Kishan ended his life due to discrepancies in his bank account.Hitting out at the opposition parties for playing politics over Grewal’s suicide, Khattar said no one should politicise the unfortunate incident. — TNS

Reports indicate that the government is embarking on a new blacklisting policy for defence companies that have allegedly crossed the Lakshman Rekha of ethical propriety. The Manohar Parrikar-headed Defence Acquisition Council is tipped to approve this policy for penalising firms suspected of bribing to win defence orders. Under the existing policy, an entire military-industrial complex is blackballed if one of its many companies or employees is suspected of unlawful activity. Under the new policy, the axe will fall only on the subsidiary company or the employee directly involved in bribery and not on the entire group. This is common sense.The need for a realistic and level-headed policy has long been recognised by sober and experienced administrators. The time has come to undo the damage when AK Antony headed the Defence Ministry and institutionalised a populist streak. Indiscriminate blacklisting helped “Saint” Antony to hold on to his pristine image. But his trigger-happy approach left everyone displeased. India’s defence acquisition schedule went haywire and probe agencies dragged on with the cases. The new system of blacklisting proposes a product-specific ban instead of Antony’s blanket bans. In other words, if a company making bullets is banned, its sister company that manufactures rifles won’t be blacklisted just because it belongs to the same group.The proposed policy is eminently realisable. But it will remain prone to misuse because the investigating agencies seem to lack the competence to probe cases with cross-border ramifications. It is also no secret that military-industrial complexes are highly resourceful and influential. They may be encouraged to take the risk of bribing decision-makers. If caught, only one company will be barred while the rest of the group firms can carry on with business. And even if a company is blacklisted, the probe will lead to nowhere. Changes in blacklisting norms may at best let some favourites off the hook. Investigating agencies need to be invested with the capability and confidence to go after the corrupt. No policy on blacklisting can be successful unless the fear of the law is instilled in the shady and the crooked.

An elderly woman shows parts of mortar shells fired from the Pakistan side in Korotana Khurd village of RS Pura sector, about 27 km from Jammu, on Saturday. PTI

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 22

Hours after the Border Security Force said it had killed seven Pakistani Rangers and a terrorist yesterday, Pakistani forces resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on the International Border (IB) during the night in which six cattle were killed in Suchetgarh sector.

The ceasefire violation, witnessed all along the 198-km-long IB of the Jammu frontier, continued till 2 am.

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Heavy shelling was witnessed in Korotana and Bidhipur villages of Suchetgarh sector and around Abdullah and octroi border outposts (BOPs) where the administration advised people to stay indoors. The BSF said it gave a befitting response to the unprovoked fire from the Pakistan side. Pakistan forces used 60 and 82 mm mortars.

With escalation in tension on the IB, the Jammu district administration ordered the closure of 55 to 80 schools in the border areas.

“People have been advised to stay indoors during the day as there is a likelihood of shelling during day time also. SDMs have been told to close schools in vulnerable areas,” Simrandeep Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, said.

Ever since the Army conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control on September 28, it has been witnessing heavy shelling and firing at regular intervals. The International Border had remained peaceful, till an infiltration bid was foiled by the BSF at Bobiyan border outpost in the Hiranagar sector on Thursday. This was followed by ceasefire violation by Pakistani forces, and strong retaliation by the BSF.

Jawan succumbs to injuries

• BSF soldier Gurnam Singh (26), who was battling for life after being grievously wounded in a sniper attack by Pakistani troops on Friday, succumbed to his injuries at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, on Saturday night.

Our Correspondents

Poonch/Rajouri, October 19

After a lull of over 72 hours, Pakistani soldiers again violated ceasefire on the Line of Control in the BG sector of Poonch today by resorting to heavy firing.The Pakistani army also resorted to indiscriminate and unprovoked small and automatic weapons firing and heavy mortar shelling in the Tarkundi area of Rajouri.Indian soldiers retaliated to the firing, which was going on in both the sectors when reports last came in.“The Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian forward posts in the BG sector from 4:30 pm using small arms, automatic weapons and 82-mm mortars,” said Lt Col Manish Mehta, defence spokesman.“Our soldiers are responding appropriately and no casualty or damage to our men was reported till reports last came in. The firing was still going on,” he added.“Tension gripped residents of Naka, Panjgrain and Tarkundi Gali villages. They locked themselves inside their houses apprehending mortar shelling,” said Haji Zakar, naib sarpanch.He said more than 10 mortar shells fell in Naka hamlet, but no loss t

Angrej Kaur shows her picture with her husband Surjit Singh days after their marriage, in Faridkot on Wednesday. tribune photo

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 19

For the last 45 years, Angrej Kaur is observing “Karva Chauth” even as she has not seen her husband Surjit Singh who went missing during the Indo-Pak war in 1971.Angrez Kaur believes that one day her husband will return home. Surjit Singh was a BSF sepoy who is lodged in a Pakistan jail as a prisoner of war (PoW) since 1971.For all these years, Angrej Kaur and her son Amrik Singh continue to waffle between hope and despair. They pray for better relations between India and Pakistan, hoping that it would help in the release of Surjit Singh.The bitter relations between the two nations, especially after the surgical strikes by the Indian Army across the LoC, have again left the family crestfallen.They met Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj a few days ago. “Sushma Swaraj has assured us all help in tracing my father. But all we have got after meeting the authorities is assurances that never bore any fruit in the last 45 years,” rues Amrik Singh.“My son was barely one year old when my husband was captured by the Pakistan rangers during the 1971 war,” said Angrej Kaur, adding that they had also sought former Pakistan minister Ansar Burney’s help in tracing Surjit Singh and his repatriation.

Dehradun, October 17

Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, Air Officer Commanding, No.1 Air Force Selection Board, Town, flagged off a trekking expedition to Pangerchula here today. The No.1 Air Force Selection Board has organised the trekking expedition from Auli to Pangerchula.Eight Air Warriors from the 1 AFSB are participating in the expedition, which is led by Wing Commander KHB Singh. The entire expedition is spread over six days, covering various places such as Tali, Khulara, Tapovan and Pangerchula which is situated at 4,500 mtrs. The trip, besides keeping the adventure spirit alive, also aims to reach out to remote places spreading awareness about the IAF.—TNS

Islamabad, October 15

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan is ready for talks with India if New Delhi was serious to resolve the Kashmir issue which, he said, is the “main cause of unrest” in the region.Pakistan had offered talks on outstanding issues several times but India did not reciprocate, he told reporters in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he wrapped up a three-day visit.“Kashmir was main cause of unrest in the region and India must show seriousness for resolution of the issue and honour its commitment under United Nations Security Council Resolutions,” Sharif was quoted as saying by Associated Press of Pakistan.

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Pakistan is committed to peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said.Sharif dismissed India’s allegations that Pakistan was behind the attack on an Indian army base camp in Uri, saying India levelled allegations against Pakistan within six hours of the incident.He said no infiltration took place across the Line of Control (LoC).Sharif’s statement comes amid strains in the relations between Pakistan and India in the wake of the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed last month. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Ex-Servicemen Convention at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal on Friday. PTI

Bhopal, October 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Army would never “forgive” the country if it is found “sleeping” when it should be awake, in comments that come against the backdrop of the recent surgical strikes.He asserted that the Army does not believe in speaking but in displaying its valour. “Our Army does not speak but displays its valour. When I would say this earlier, they (critics) would tear my hair out. They would say Modi is sleeping and doing nothing. Like our Army, which does not speak but displays its valour, our Defence Minister also does not speak…” he said with a pause as the audience broke into applause with some raising patriotic slogans.“Our Army is happiest when we sleep in peace. They have no complaint. But they will never forgive us if we sleep when we should be awake. Unfortunately, we have been found sleeping when we should have been awake. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. We have to keep alert always. It will be injustice to the army if we sleep away when we have to be awake,” he said without elaborating.Addressing ex-servicemen and their families at the inauguration of ‘Shaurya Smarak’ (memorial to valour) here, he devoted his speech hailing the role of armed forces and their spirit of sacrifice in adverse situation.Modi said the ancestors in hundreds of years of India’s history never waged a war to capture a country. “But if it comes to fighting for values and ideals, India is never found wanting,” he said.Lauding the valour and humaneness of armed forces, he referred to their relief and rescue operations in Srinagar during the floods two years ago despite the violence they face from the stone-pelting mobs. — PTI