Dear ALL
This message is only for those who use Apple products like iPhone or iPad or iMac (desktop computer) or Mac Book (Laptop) but do not use iCloud facilty.
As you know if you have a grievance with SPARSH, they will only look into it and redress it if you supply them documents like birth certificate, Aadhar, PPO and Pension slips etc.
Therefore these documents are very important. You can take a hard copy of such important documents and store them in a plastic folder like I do.
In addition, I store them in my iPhone, iPad and also in my iMac (Desktop computer).
But as I told you earlier too, these devices can be attacked by viruses in spite of best anti virus software you might have installed. Then you cannot retrieve your documents if your device is infested with a virus.
Then what is the alternative?
You can store them in a pen drive like I do. But I can lose the pen drive or misplace it.
The best method of storing my documents safely I found recently is iCloud of Apple..
Since I have iPhone 14, iPad and iMac and Apple watch, I am given 5 GB additional iCloud storage in each of these devices.
What is iCloud?
iCloud is a remote storage device installed by Apple like a huge harddisk called server. iCloud is not hanging in the air.
Cloud is a fancy name for an alternate storage device. Apple with its money power has installed such data centres all over the world to store documents.
In India too they have huge data centre to store documents of any Apple user on monthly rent. This way they make up for the establishment of data centres .
They also tempt you to buy other Apple products like iPad or Apple watch etc. This is sales gimmick too. But we have no option.
They rent out storage space (like a house) for Apple users.
The storage space known is iCloud and is available to all Apple Users.
I bought iCloud storage of 2 TB for rental of Rs 749 per month so that all the documents, videos and photos etc in my iPhone and iMac can be safely stored in iCloud.
The advantage is whenever I send photos, videos to documents from my iPhone or iMac to iCloud, I do not have to worry about their safety.
These documents can be viewed in my iPhone and other Apple devices which I have, whenever I need it by just downloading them from iCloud.
If you have iPhone or iPad or any other Apple product you get free iCloud space upto 5 GB.
Therefore you need not go for renting out iCloud like I did. First make use of free 5 GB iCloud storage to store all your photos, videos and documents in your iPhone.
Because I have many documents, photos and videos I need much more storage space than 5 GB free iCloud. Moreover I am not very sure whether my iPhone or iMac will not be attached by viruses. If my Apple devices are infested with viruses, then I lose all the photos or videos or documents and other data.
It is not uncommon to lose iPhone as al of us are above 70 and suffer from forgetfulness.
You try to store your important photos, videos and documents like SPARSH PPO, monthly pension slips, Corr PPOs etc in your iPhone onto iCloud using your free 5 GB iCloud storage .
For this method is ver simple.
Go to www.icloud.com/icloud drive from you web browser like Google Chrome or Apple Safari.
Since you have iPhone or any other Apple device, you have to get an Apple ID to make use of iCloud.
Go to www.icloud.com/iclouddrive from your iPhone or iPad or Mac Book or iMac through Google Chrome or Apple Safari.
Since you have iPhone, when you go to www.icloud.com, your photo appears on the left top of the page. Click on your photo.
It will take you to a new page.
Since you are not yet registered, click on Create a new Account.
Enter particulars like your first and last name, mobile no etc. You will be asked to select an email address. I got a new email address: csvidyasagar@icloud.com. Then you can enter your password. (Please note down password in your password note book and then only enter the password). It will ask you to confirm. Enter the same password second time.
Then you are too good to go.
Now iCloud welcomes you to securely store your precious documents.
Once you enter your Apple ID (i.e. your email address like mine csvidyasagar@iCloud.com) you will be taken to a page where you find a iCloud icon like a cloud with an arrow pointing up.
You click the icon and it will ask you which document in your iPhone (if you have used it to go to iCloud.com from your web browser) to be stored in iCloud.
Say you want to store your Apr 2025 pension slip which you might have got downloaded from SPARSH or your SPARSH PPO. Select that document and click it. It will tell you that the documents is stored in iCloud.
To ensure the documents is acutally stored in iCloud, go to Files in iPhone or System Preferences in your Mac Book (Laptop) or iMac (Desktop) and you can see the PPO or pension slip you saved in iCloud appearing in the iPhone or other Apple devices.
From your iPhone your SPARSH PPO or pension slip of Apr 2025 first goes to iCloud.
Once your document is stored in iCloud, it is also is displayed in your other Apple product like iPad or iMac or Mac Book.
This way you need not carry physical documents where’ve you go.
Your documents are safe.
But you have to pay monthly rent.
If you have very limited number of photos or videos or documents, I recommend, use the free 5 GB iCloud storage space.
You will also get iCloud email address like mine.
If you exhaust free 5 GB, then you may consider to rent out iCloud 50 GB for Rs 75 pm or 250 GB at RS 219 per month which I am sure you all can easily afford. It is worth it.
This way you can store your precious photos / videos /documents in iCloud and also get a new email address like I have got (csvidyasagar@iCloud.com).

If you still have any doubts about iCloud, you can send an email to me at csvidyasagar@icloud.com.

It is always better to have alternate email address in stead of having only gmail address or yahoo email address.
When you subscribe to MS Office 365, your get another email address like : csvidyasagar@outlook.com.

warm regards,
CS Vidyasagar
75695 13350
email address: csvidyasagar@icloud.com.

INFORMATION OF DOWNED PAF PLANES AND RESPECTIVE PILOTS

1: Mirage 5
Location: Sialkot
Pilot Name: W/C Shaukat
Service No: 40399
Shot Credit: Aakash AD System
Condition: Held at Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, died on 9th May, 2025

2: F-16
Location: Skardu
Pilot Name: W/C Aziz
Service No: 44998
Shot Credit: Meteor via Rafale
Condition: Was held at Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi in critical condition

3: F-16
Location: Muzaffarabaad
Pilot : W/C Shahbaz Khan
Service No: 00987
Shot Credit: S-400 AD system
Condition: Held at Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, in stable condition.

4: JF-17
Location: Muridke
Pilot: W/C Khurram Abbas
Service No: 55432
Shot Credit: S-400 AD system
Condition: Held at Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, and later Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi

5: SAAB AWACS
Location: Gujrat
Pilot: W/C Mansoor
Service No: 66200
Shot Credit: S-400 AD system (farthest kill by any AD system almost 300 km range)
Condition: Held at Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi

6: 2 C-130Js
Base: Nur Khan Airbase
Shot Credit: Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile deep dive variant
Casualties: 10 spot deaths of PAF ground staffs

7: SAAB AWACS
Base: Bholari Airbase
Shot Credit: Brahmos supersonic cruise missile
Casualties: 50 spot deaths, including W/C Usman Yousaf. Via Social media

जेट गिराने में Jaishankar ने की थी मदद ? कर्नल ने हिला दिया मंत्रालय ! Pahalgam

Several areas in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Saturday while the plains were lashed by rain, causing a dip in the temperatures across the Valley. According to weather officials, snowfall was recorded in Tulail…

Several areas in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Saturday while the plains were lashed by rain, causing a dip in the temperatures across the Valley.

According to weather officials, snowfall was recorded in Tulail and Razdan Top areas of Gurez valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Peer Ki Gali in south Kashmir’s Shopian, Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway and some other areas in the higher reaches.

The plains of the valley, including Srinagar, were lashed by rain.

“The snowfall and rainfall has also caused a dip in the temperatures,” said the officials.

Meanwhile, officials said authorities closed the Bandipora-Gurez road as a precautionary measure.

However, the Srinagar- Jammu national highway remained open, while the Mughal Road which connects South Kashmir with Poonch and Rajouri region of Jammu and Srinagar- Kargil road was temporarily closed.

Meanwhile, the weather department predicted brief spell of light rain/thundershower at isolated places for June 1 and 2, while from June 4-6, the weather is expected to be generally dry with brief spells of rain and showers towards late afternoon at isolated places.

For June 7 and 8, weather officials said brief spells of rain and thundershowers at scattered places towards afternoon are expected.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police said it successfully rescued a stranded passenger vehicle at Sinthan Top in South Kashmir stuck due to fresh snowfall after a distress call was made by one of the passengers. The police team swiftly reached the location and successfully evacuated eight passengers and the driver to safety, despite challenging weather and terrain conditions.

Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi has awarded a BSF woman officer and praised the paramilitary force and ex-servicemen for their role during Operation Sindoor, the Army said on Saturday. The chief of Army Staff (COAS) reached Jammu on a two-da

Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi has awarded a BSF woman officer and praised the paramilitary force and ex-servicemen for their role during Operation Sindoor, the Army said on Saturday.

The chief of Army Staff (COAS) reached Jammu on a two-day visit on Thursday and attended the high-level security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah.

“General Dwivedi reviewed operational preparedness in Paragwal sector and visited the Tiger Division where he commended troops for their outstanding performance in Operation Sindoor.

“He stressed the importance of staying agile and vigilant in response to evolving security dynamics,” the additional directorate general of public information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army wrote on X on Saturday.

It said the COAS also praised the BSF’s close operational integration with the Army and lauded the bravery of Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari and her team for defending the forward posts in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu.“He also acknowledged the valuable contribution of ex-servicemen in supporting the armed forces during operation Sindoor,” the Army said, sharing several pictures of Gen Dwivedi’s visit.

Before returning to Delhi on Friday, the Army chief awarded BSF Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor in the Jammu frontier.

Commanding a border outpost within eyeball-to-eyeball contact of a Pakistani post along the International Border, the assistant commandant led her troops to silence three forward hostile posts across the zero line (the area closest to enemy territory) by giving a befitting reply.

“On 30 May 2025, COAS General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, felicitated Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of BSF Jammu with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor,” BSF Jammu had said in a post on X.

She gallantly commanded a forward-deployed BSF company under challenging conditions, it said.

Apart from Neha, six women constables held gun positions at a forward border post, with their “josh” rising with every bullet they fired at the enemy positions across the International Border in the Samba, RS Pura and Akhnoor sectors.

(With PTI inputs)

Air officer is category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare and National Defence College      

Air Marshal Manish Khanna, an accomplished officer with over 4,000 hours of flying experience on various fighter and trainer aircraft, on Sunday assumed the charge of the Southern Air Command.

He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, the government said in a statement.

“Air Marshal Manish Khanna Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vayu Sena Medal (VM), assumed command of the Southern Air Command (SAC) as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on June 1, 2025 at Thiruvananthapuram,” it said.

The air officer is a category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare and National Defence College.

“The air officer has over 4,000 hours of flying experience on various fighter and trainer aircraft,” it said.

Apart from his rich operational experience in air defence, ground attack, strategic reconnaissance and electronic warfare, the air marshal has wide ranging experience in the training domain, including an international assignment as the Chief Flying Instructor with the Botswana Defence Forces, it added.

In his illustrious career spanning almost four decades, he has served as commanding officer of the fighter squadron, air crew examining board, a major flying base, advance headquarters, the Western Air Command and Commandant at College of Air Warfare (CAW) among others.

The air marshal was Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at South Western Command (SWAC) prior to taking over the present appointment.

In another announcement, the defence ministry on Sunday said Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of the IAF’s Western Air Command (WAC) on June 1.

The air marshal is an alumni of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on December 16, 1989, it said in a statement.

He has flown over 3,000 hours primarily on various types of fighter aircraft. He is a pilot attack instructor and in his operational career, he has commanded a fighter squadron, been Chief Operations Officer of a forward base and Air Officer Commanding of a premium fighter base, the ministry said.

Says anti-Pak strikes signal shift towards remote, tech-driven battles

Tribune News Service

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, referring to India’s experience in Operation Sindoor, described it as a “non-contact” conflict, exemplifying the future of war.

The CDS was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, where he highlighted how India relied on indigenous systems like Akash, achieving success through effective system networking by integrating both domestic and foreign radars into a cohesive defence structure.

He said, “Modern warfare is undergoing a complex convergence — of tactics, domains (land, air, sea, cyber and space), timeframes and strategies. This evolution demands a shift away from large static platforms toward flexible, deceptive strategies. Network-centric warfare, where integration and automation across domains are critical, is becoming the new norm.”

Regarding cyber operations, the CDS mentioned that they played a limited role. While there were some denial-of-service attacks, India’s air-gapped military systems remained secure. Public platforms faced minor disruptions, but operational systems were unaffected, he told think-tanks.

General Chauhan said the key to modern warfare was in networking — real-time integration across air, land, sea and cyber domains. Advanced technologies, he stressed, were only as effective as the networks they’re connected to.

Addressing the challenge of disinformation during wartime, the CDS revealed that 15 per cent of operational time was spent countering fake narratives, underscoring the need for a dedicated information warfare vertical. India’s strategy prioritised fact-based communication, even if it meant slower responses.

India’s focus on indigenous platforms, such as Akash, and self-reliant networking infrastructure had proven successful. A key achievement was the integration of diverse radars into a unified air defence system, he added.

Sitaram Gupta, a postgraduate in economics and history from Panjab University and a former student of ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had been evading trial in a 2007 cheating case

A 77-year-old man who had been absconding for over a decade after jumping bail in a cheating case involving the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) was arrested from an old-age home in Punjab’s Patiala, the Delhi Police said on Sunday.

Sitaram Gupta, a native of Mansa, was impersonating an army colonel and duped people by offering flats and shops under fictitious AWHO schemes, police in a statement said.

“Gupta, a postgraduate in economics and history from Panjab University and a former student of ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had been evading trial in a 2007 cheating case registered at Vivek Vihar police station in Delhi,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Apoorva Gupta said in the statement.

He allegedly took Rs 56,000 from a complainant after offering him a flat and shop under the AWHO scheme and issued forged receipts, the officer said.

After his arrest in 2007 and subsequent release on bail, Gupta went underground and failed to appear before court, leading to the issuance of non-bailable warrants.

On April 26 this year, the Karkardooma court declared him a proclaimed offender. He had started his career as a contractor supplying oil to Army cantonments across India, the statement said.

During this period, he gained knowledge of the Army’s functioning, which he later used to impersonate a senior army officer and lure unsuspecting people with promises of employment and housing benefits.

“He moved to Delhi in 1987 and began posing as a colonel. He conned several people on the pretext of recruitment in the army and real estate opportunities through AWHO,” the DCP said.

A special team was formed which was tasked with tracking Gupta. Based on a tip-off, the team conducted surveillance and zeroed in on the old-age home in Patiala where he was living under a false identity.

“He had changed his appearance and cut off ties with his family to evade arrest. After confirming his identity, he was apprehended from the shelter,” the officer added.

Gupta admitted to his involvement in multiple cases of cheating, including three other fraud cases registered with the Shakarpur police station and the Crime Branch in Delhi, related to fake army job offers.

Police said Gupta’s wife has passed away and he has two children. He had been leading a secluded life to evade arrest, shifting locations and using different phone numbers.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening

Pankaj Sharma Our Correspondent

A pall of gloom descended on Baraban village in Sirmaur district as the news of Lance Naik Manish Thakur’s martyrdom reached his hometown. The young soldier, just 27 years old, lost his life in a tragic landslide near the Brigade Headquarters at Chatten in North Sikkim on Sunday evening while on duty.

Son of Joginder Singh and Kiran Bala, Manish had joined the Army’s Dogra Regiment in September 2016. Known for his discipline and quiet dedication, he served the nation for over eight years. He is survived by his wife, Tanu Devi, and his grieving family in Baraban (Kolar) village of Nahan tehsil in Sirmaur district.

Deputy Director of the Sainik Welfare Board, Sirmaur, Major (Retd) Deepak Dhawan confirmed the unfortunate news and shared details of the arrangements being made. “It is hoped that the mortal remains of the brave soldier will arrive in Chandigarh by aircraft this evening. From there, the body will be brought to Sirmaur by road with full military honours,” he said.

He added, “Lance Naik Manish Thakur has laid down his life in the line of duty and we salute his supreme sacrifice. The district administration, along with the Army and Sainik Welfare Board, stands firmly with the bereaved family.”

The final rites will be performed in his native village with full military honours under the Assured Decent Last Rites (ADLR) protocol.Subedar Dinesh Kumar will be escorting the mortal remains.

The palace has now been turned into a museum and historical gallery

Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s panorama depicting the life and events at Summer Palace in Ram Bagh in Amritsar on Friday. Photos: Vishal Kumar

A critical outpost during the Sikh empire, the fort holds enduring tales of courage and resistance, featuring prominently in narratives of the 1857 war of independence

Anirudh Gupta Our Correspondent

To boost tourism in the border region of Punjab, the Army’s Golden Arrow Division on Sunday opened to the public the centuries-old Ferozepur Fort, a monument that was occupied for long by the British and was envied by German dictator Adolf Hitler due to its vast ammunition reserves.

It’s the first time in over 200 years that this significant architectural and historical site has been made accessible to the public as part of the Army’s programme to connect the locals with the country’s rich military and cultural heritage.

A critical outpost during the Sikh empire, the fort holds enduring tales of courage and resistance, featuring prominently in narratives of the 1857 war of independence. There were more than 200 buildings in the fort and each was given a number.

Historians say the fort was occupied by the British through deceit after the death of Sardarni Lachhman Kaur in 1835 and was converted into a British garrison in 1839 following instructions from the Duke of Wellington. In 1858, the British opened an arsenal here and different kinds of ammunition were manufactured. The fort served as the base depot for the supply of guns, ammunition, trained horses and bullocks. About 10,000 bullocks, as many horses and 150 camels would be tethered here at any given time.

The fort continued to be used as an arsenal until 1941 when the ammunition was shifted to Kasubegu as a tactical move by the British during World War-II.

AdvertisementDr Rameshwar Singh, a historian, said the monument had come to the notice of German dictator Adolf Hitler. “The historic fort finds a mention in Hitler’s autobiography ‘Mein Kampf’. He mentioned about the British ammunition marked with name ‘Ferozepore’, due to which he wanted to destroy the fort as well as the city,” he said.

Addressing the inauguration event today, Major General RS Manral, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Golden Arrow Division, said the move reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserve national heritage and promote responsible border tourism. “Strategically positioned near the India-Pakistan border, the Ferozepur Fort is a remarkable example of the 19th century military architecture from the Sikh empire. Its unique hexagonal design and robust defensive features showcase the strategic ingenuity of its time,” he said.

Brig Bikram Singh, Station Commander, said Ferozepur held a special place in the country’s freedom movement, having produced numerous martyrs and revolutionaries who bravely resisted colonial rule. “This fort and its surroundings have been a witness to pivotal historical events, which continue to symbolise national pride and sacrifice,” he said.