Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan will attend the ninth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day event here on Tuesday, a defence spokesman said. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah…

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan will attend the ninth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day event here on Tuesday, a defence spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with senior military and civil officials will also attend the event to be held at the Tanda artillery brigade in Akhnoor under the aegis of the Army’s Northern Command to honour the force veterans and “veer naris”, the spokesman said.

About 1,000 armed forces veterans from Jammu, Akhnoor, Pallanwala, Rakhmuthi, Naushera and Sunderbani are likely to attend the function, which will also include the hoisting of a 108 feet national flag and the inauguration of a heritage museum in Akhnoor, the spokesman said. The J-K culture department will present cultural performances reflecting the region’s rich heritage, he said.

As a special gesture, mobility equipment like motorised wheelchairs, e-scooters, and autorickshaws will also be distributed to the veterans, he added. The event reflects the Army’s respect and unwavering commitment to care for the war widows and veterans who served the nation with pride and dedication, the spokesman said. — PTI

The much-anticipated Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh is set to commence on January 13, following a delay caused by the late formation of ice along the riverbanks. The trek, which attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the…

Arjun Sharma

The much-anticipated Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh is set to commence on January 13, following a delay caused by the late formation of ice along the riverbanks. The trek, which attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the country every year, was initially scheduled to begin on January 7 but was postponed due to weather conditions.

An official announcement revealed that after a reconnaissance mission by the UT Disaster Response Force (UTDRF) in collaboration with representatives from the Wildlife and Tourism Departments, as well as the All Ladakh Tour Operator Association (ALTOA) and Ladakh Mountain Guides Association (LMGA), the revised date for the trek has been confirmed, contingent on favourable weather conditions.

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, has also released a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the successful and safe conduct of the trek. Trekkers will begin arriving in Leh on January 13, where they will rest for acclimatisation for a day before undergoing medical checks.

Travel agencies are required to ensure that all trekkers possess the necessary equipment and gear for the trek; without these, they will not be permitted to participate. ALTOA will be responsible for organising and providing the required gear.

An identity card will be issued to each porter, cook, helper and guide by ALTOA, and medical facilities will be available to the trek crew. To ensure safety and comfort, firewood for halts along the trek will be transported from Leh, with ALTOA taking responsibility for this. Travel companies will also be required to provide proper accommodation, tents, and food for the trekking team.

Additionally, the SOP mandates that all vehicles used for transportation must play an audio advisory issued by the Tourism Department, and an oxygen cylinder must be present in every vehicle at all times.

In terms of waste management, the Wildlife Department will distribute green bags for trash and collect a security deposit from guides, which will be refunded upon the return of all waste.

To regulate the number of trekkers, a maximum of 10 groups will be allowed to embark on the trek each day, with no more than 10 trekkers per group. The police are also exploring options to establish a communication network along the trekking route.

The LAHDC has made it clear that anyone violating the regulations, whether they are tourists, travel agencies, or taxi operators, will face a fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 for a first offense. Repeated violators may face fines ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. In severe cases, the administration reserves the right to revoke the license of the tour operator responsible for non-compliance with the SOPs

Army troops are training members of Village Defence Guard (VDG) in the border areas of Jammu district to strengthen the anti-infiltration grid, officials said on Monday. The police have raised Village Defence Guard in areas along the border with Pakistan…

Army troops are training members of Village Defence Guard (VDG) in the border areas of Jammu district to strengthen the anti-infiltration grid, officials said on Monday.

The police have raised Village Defence Guard in areas along the border with Pakistan. The training for Village Defence Guard members is being conducted by the Army’s Chenab Brigade, the officials said.

They further said that a week-long training camp has been organised in several border villages of Jammu district to enhance the participants’ skills in minor tactics, endurance, and firing.

Soldiers posted at Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, can now enjoy high-speed internet services, the Army said on Monday. “Connectivity at the highest battlefield of the world. Fire and Fury Corps, in collaboration with Jio Telecom, successfully…

Soldiers posted at Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, can now enjoy high-speed internet services, the Army said on Monday.

“Connectivity at the highest battlefield of the world. Fire and Fury Corps, in collaboration with Jio Telecom, successfully installed the first-ever 5G mobile tower on the Siachen glacier,” the Army’s Fire & Fury Corps said in a post on X.

“This indomitable feat is dedicated to our brave soldiers who are deployed in challenging conditions. Fire and Fury Signallers and Siachen warriors overcame harsh terrain and extreme temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius to install the 5G BTS at North Glacier,” it said.

Reliance Jio said it has successfully deployed plug-and-play pre-configured equipment at a forward post, leveraging its indigenous full-stack 5G technology. This achievement was made possible in coordination with Army Signallers from planning to multiple training sessions, system pre-configuration and comprehensive testing, the company’s spokesperson said.

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The company said the Indian Army was pivotal in managing logistics, including airlifting Jio’s equipment to Siachen Glacier.

This collaboration ensured connectivity at 16,000 feet in the Karakoram range, an area characterised by extreme conditions, it added.

India summons Bangladesh envoy

Ubeer Naqushbandi Tribune News Service

India on Monday stood firm in its stance on the ongoing fencing project in its territory along the India-Bangladesh border, saying it had observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments.

New Delhi conveyed its message to Dhaka through Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

There was a flare-up between the two countries earlier this week after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) objected to the BSF’s attempt to erect fencing in certain areas along the border. The BSF and the BGB’s Director General-level talks are scheduled for next month and the matter is expected to come up for discussions.

The development comes as tensions continue to simmer between the two countries with Dhaka on Sunday summoning Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma to convey its message that the fencing project at the border is “unauthorised”, which “undermines the spirit of cooperation between the two countries”.

The fencing by India is meant to stop illegal migration from the neighbouring country. Nearly 800 km of the 4,096 km boundary between the two countries does not have a fence. On the Dhaka envoy being summoned, the MEA said, “It was conveyed to him that while taking security measures at the border, including fencing, India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the BSF and the BGB”.

New Delhi reiterated its commitment to ensuring a “crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking.” “Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, installation of technical devices and cattle fences are among the measures for securing the border,” the MEA said.

“India conveyed its expectation that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combat cross-border crimes,” it added. On Sunday, the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka released a statement saying, “Foreign Secretary Mohd Jashim Uddin expressed deep concern to the Indian envoy… and asked India to refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the border”.

It said activities, particularly the “unauthorised attempt to construct a barbed wire fencing and related operational actions by the BSF, had caused tensions and disturbances.

Since August last year, when Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus became the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, the relations between the two countries have soured.

Arranging adequate water for the civilian population which will be excluded from the three cantonment towns of Kasauli, Dagshai and Subathu after the excising exercise will be a tough task for the Jal Shakti Department (JSD). Significantly, discussions have been…

Arranging adequate water for the civilian population which will be excluded from the three cantonment towns of Kasauli, Dagshai and Subathu after the excising exercise will be a tough task for the Jal Shakti Department (JSD).

Significantly, discussions have been held between the Ministry of Defence and the officials of the Jal Shakti Department where the former have clearly stated that the existing facility would continue to the civilian population for six months where water would be provided at the rate of Rs 60.52 per 1,000 litres which is the existing rate. Water supplied by the Military Engineering Services is thrice the amount charged by the state government in urban areas while it was minimum Rs 110 in rural households, as per an estimate made by the Jal Shakti Department.

With limited scope to provide water in places like Subathu and Dagshai, the Jal Shakti Department faces a major challenge in arranging adequate water for the civilian population of 2,904 in Dagshai and 8,720 of Subathu.

Though the Jal Shakti Department can lift water from Ghamber Khud for Subathu but since there are many stakeholders it would not be an easy task. “Even if the villagers give a no objection certificate to permit the Jal Shakti Department to lift water it will take one to two years to streamline the scheme,” stated Jal Shakti Department officials.

In Dagshai the water scenario was more dire as the Jal Shakti Department has no alternate water source to lift water to cater to the civilian population.

Though there are two natural water springs North and South water springs, through which water is supplied to the civilians, they would remain with the defence authorities after the excising exercise. The Jal Shakti Department has demanded grant of both springs to them to ensure water availability to the civilians.

In Kasauli cantonment the water problem could be solved as a Rs 102 crore ambitious Giri water lifting scheme would be commissioned soon. The Kasauli Cantonment Board has a population of 3,885, as per the 2011 Census.

Bhanu Uday Assistant Engineer Jal Shakti Department, Dharampur, stated that they were yet to work out the modalities of water arrangement in civilian areas of cantonment towns of the area.

These images and videos are just small glimpses of how bad the situation is in Los Angeles

Gratitude to the firefighters who risked their lives to save people and animals from the deadly ongoing wildfires in California.

The fires–stoked by strong Santa Ana winds– have burned thousands of structures, including homes, businesses and vehicles. At least 24 people are dead, and the toll is expected to rise as search efforts remain underway.

But it’s not just human lives and homes, heartbreaking videos showed how pets and wild animals were evacuated by firefighters while surrounded by flames.

On social media, people have posted videos of animals like dogs, deer and horses amid the fires, confused and distressed

These images and videos are just small glimpses of how bad the situation is in Los Angeles.

Though no exact numbers of animals displaced, injured, or killed, have been given but the nonprofit Pasadena Humane has taken in more than 300 animals, from dogs and cats left behind to peacocks and baby raccoons escaping fiery areas, according to an Instagram post.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, on Sunday, Kim took to her Instagram Stories and penned a note claiming incarcerated firefighters have been paid US$ 1 per hour since 1984, telling her millions of fans that pay for them has “never been raised with inflation. It’s never been raised when fires got worse and many died. A recent agreement to raise it to five dollars an hour was reportedly ‘shot down last minute.”

Kardashian then asked California Governor Gavin Newsom to raise pay for incarcerated firefighters so it’s “a rate that honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes.”

The SKIMS founder concluded, “And lastly I want to thank the firefighters from the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week. These are all FORMERLY incarcerated firefighters who have come home, and want to continue serving our community as firefighters. Due to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these guys can now get their sentences reduced, expunging the felonies from their records for their fire service. And when they come home can get six figure jobs working for the fire departments.”

Like Kim, many other celebrities have come out to help those impacted by LA fires.

Army chief addresses press conference in New Delhi ahead of Army Day

The Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh was “sensitive but stable” while adding “for now, during winters, we are not looking at reduction in troop-levels along the LAC”.

There may be a review of troop-levels ahead of the summer and it will depend upon what kind of meetings happen to build trust, the Army chief said adding, “we are well-poised to deal with any situation”.

The Army chief, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi ahead of the Army Day, said, “Both sides need to now sit together and restore trust”.

On being asked about any move to reduce troops in view of October 2024 patrolling arrangements, General Dwivedi said, “Troop deployment directly depends on the trust factor (between the two Armies) and the capabilities have been created on either side. The current capabilities across entails we will need to maintain the troop levels.”

“During winters, we are not looking at reduction in troop-levels along LAC. A review will be done ahead of summers,” General Dwivedi added. The Army chief further said, “We are looking at the next round of talks at the level of the Special Representatives and the WMCC,” General Dwivedi said when asked about how he sees the situation panning out. The WMCC is the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India–China Border Affairs and is coordinated by the foreign ministries of India and China.

On being asked about the patrolling arrangement announced on October 21, the Army chief said, “Patrolling in traditional areas has commenced…. two rounds of verification patrolling have bene done and both sides are satisfied”. The patrolling arrangements were for Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh.

Regarding the buffer zones created post the Galwan clash, General Dwivedi said, “There is no such thing as a buffer zone. When we carried out negotiations, a temporary moratorium was agreed so that troops of both sides agreed to stay back and not go in disputed areas as there was a chance of violence.”

On the capability development along the northern borders, Gen Dwivedi said, “It is progressing well.”

The ceasefire along the Line of Control with Pakistan is holding on, said the Army chief referring to the ceasefire announced after the two Director Generals of Military Operation agreed to it in February 2021.

The Army chief also mentioned about this year being the “year of reforms”. The mission is to ensure full spectrum of preparedness while concurrently transforming Army into self-reliant force.

Gen Dwivedi said Indian Army has prepared five key pillars of force restructuring, joint operations, modernisation, technology and human resource issues.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, two weeks ago, declared 2025 as the year of reform. 

The reforms are aimed at enhancing operational readiness, embracing technological advancements, and fostering jointness.

The five pillars in the blueprint are—jointness and integration; force restructuring; modernisation and technology infusion; systems and processes, and human resource management, sources said.

Book Release ” THORNS AND ROSES ” by Brig Baqir Shameem, at DSOI CHANDIGARH, on 6 Jan 25. With Speakers, Col Romesh Mehandroo, Maj Gen Mohan Singh Brig Baqir Shameem, Brig TPS CHOWDHURY, and our lovely Moderator Ms Mehak.

. It has articles from various service officers on their experiences during service. Two of Major Gen Mohan Singh articles are included in the book.

One is on the Demolition of DERA BABA NANAK BRIDGE ,

and the other one is CASE OF THE SLEEPING PILL.

This is a humorous incident which took place in high altitude area at 13000 ft.
Sending some pictures of the event.

Col Romesh Mehandroo,

Maj Gen Mohan Singh

Brig Baqir Shameem,

Brig TPS CHOWDHURY

Moderator Ms Mehak. Grand daughter of Col Jatinder Bengal Sappers

Director Major General Chauhan conducts inspection at examination centre in Mohali

handigarh, January 12:

As many as 3329 candidates, on Sunday, appeared in the entrance exam for the 15th course to be commenced at the prestigious the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), SAS Nagar (Mohali). A record number of boys (4128) have registered themselves for the entrance test this year. This response has been largely due to the concerted efforts of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government and high success rate of the Institute.

Notably, the Institute is being run by the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training headed by Cabinet Minister Mr. Aman Arora.

Director of MRSAFPI Major General (Retd.) Ajay H Chauhan, VSM, conducted surprise inspection at a examination centre set up at School of Eminence, Phase-3B1, Mohali. Three examination centres were set up for the entrance test at School of Eminence, Phase-3B1, Mohali, Police DAV Public School, PAP Complex, Jalandhar and MSD Senior Secondary School, Bathinda. in spite of inclement weather young boys turned up in hordes to appear for the test.

Major General Ajay H Chauhan said that the top 150 successful candidates will be called for the final selection process i.e interview and medical at the later date and 48 candidates will be chosen from across Punjab to undergo training for joining the Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and equivalent academies under the watchful eyes of experienced and highly qualified staff of the Institute.

He further informed that a total of 74 cadets of the Institute have been commissioned as officers in Defence Services since the CM Mann led-Punjab Government has come into power. As many as 64 cadets have joined training academies and 12 cadets are awaiting call up letters.