The regimental flag of the 30th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment being unfurled to mark the battalion’s raising at the Punjab Regimental Centre in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, on Friday. Tribune photo

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 1

Punjab Regiment, the Army’s oldest infantry outfit has raised a new battalion as part of the Army’s force accretion programme and ongoing restructuring.The new unit, christened 30th Battalion, became operational at the Punjab Regimental Centre in Ramgarh today.The raising was marked by the unfurling of the battalion’s regimental flag at the centre, where troops will undergo training after enrollment and where the regimental records are kept.Col SC Kandpal is the battalion’s first Commanding Officer, with Sub Maj Lakhwinder Singh as the senior JCO. The Center Commandant, Brig GS Sisodia, unit officers and other ranks were also present on the occasion.It is after two years that a new Punjab Regiment battalion has been raised.In 2014, the 29th Battalion, then commanded by Col HS Guleria, was raised at the centre and moved to the Western Sector on its first operational deployment. Other infantry regiments, including the Sikh Regiment and Sikh Light Infantry, that draw their manpower from this region are also raising new battalions.The number ‘30’ is not new to the Punjab Regiment. In 1857, the British had raised the 22nd Regiment of Punjab Infantry at Ludhiana, which was later redesignated as 30th Punjabis. After Independence, this battalion was allocated to Pakistan.With the new raising, Punjab Regiment’s strength has gone up to 20 regular battalions in addition to four Rashtriya Rifles and three Territorial Army units.One of the oldest and most highly decorated regiments of the Indian Army, it traces its history to 1761. The Army’s two elite outfits, First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and the First Battalion of Brigade of the Guards, are erstwhile Punjab Regiment units.

No. ‘30’ not new to regiment

• The number ‘30’ is not new to the Punjab Regiment. In 1857, the British had raised the 22nd Regiment of Punjab Infantry at Ludhiana, which was later redesignated as 30th Punjabis. After Independence, this battalion was allocated to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Sharing the concern of a Delhi-based lawyer protesting against government funds to Jammu and Kashmir-based separatists, the Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a petition wanting to declare such a move unconstitutional. “We also share the same feeling,” a bench headed by Justice AR Dave told the counsel. The court said the matter could be heard on September 14 if all the technical formalities are fulfilled.

The petition is filed at a time when the separatists reportedly turned down the all-party delegation’s offer to hold talks to resolve the crisis in the Valley.

As per the petition, the separatists “enjoyed” the exchequer’s money and promoted “antiIndia activities” in the Valley. It seeks a CBI inquiry into the alleged disbursement of funds to the separatists.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 25

In a two-pronged move to address the crippling shortage of 155 mm artillery guns of the Army, the Ministry of Defence today approved the first such gun purchase in 30 years and also set a timeframe for a second line of locally produced artillery guns.It was in 1986 that India had last ordered a 155 mm artillery gun when 410 pieces of the FH-77B were procured from Swedish company Bofors for Rs 1,500 crore.Today, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar okayed the purchase of 145 M777 ultra light howitzers (ULH). The DAC agreed to send the letter of acceptance (LOA) to BAE Systems for the supply of guns through the foreign military sales routes offered by the US.India had time till August 5 to agree and send an LOA. A cost negotiation committee agreed on Rs 5,100 crore for the 145 guns.BAE Systems will assemble, integrate and test the guns at a facility created with Indian company Mahindra.  This will be the main ground-based weapon for the Mountain Strike Corps to be stationed all along the Himalayas.BAE will supply the first 25 guns in ready-to-use condition. It has been asked to start deliveries within six months of signing the contract. The purchase of the ULH was originally proposed in 2008. Made of titanium, each gun weighs 4,000 kg, making it transportable by CH-47 Chinook helicopters, C-17 Globemaster and the C-130 Hercules aircraft or on trucks.

Dhanush timeline

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) also reviewed the progress of the indigenous 155 mm artillery gun, Dhanush, modelled on the transfer of technology from Bofors. The final trials of a production-level prototype start at the end of this month. This is supposed to be the last lap of trials before the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) starts bulk production
• OFB, that comes under the Ministry of Defence, has been set a stiff delivery schedule. The first 18 guns will be delivered in 18 months. Another 36 are slated for delivery over 12 months thereafter
• The DAC also approved the case of the six next generation missile carrying vessels that will replace the 1980s design Soviet-era warships. It will cost Rs 13,600 crore

Chennai, September 1

A remotely operated vehicle of NIOT that can scan sea at a depth of 3,500 metres, will join the search for IAF’s AN-32 aircraft which went missing with 29 crew members on July 22, a Coast Guard official said today.The search operations would move into the third phase next week and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) had been requested to bring its remotely operated vehicle that can be taken to a depth of 3,500 metres, Coast Guard Commander (East) Inspector General Rajan Bargotra said here.So far two phases — surface search and sub-surface — have been undertaken, but no debris of the transport aircraft that went missing on its way to Port Blair from Tambaram airbase here has been found, he told reporters here on the sidelines of Regional Editors Conference, organised by the Press Information Bureau.“As of now we are into second phase of search operations. Surface search, we have already done that for quite sometime. No debris has been located. Now the focus is on sub-surface search,” he said. — PT

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

Lt Gen KJ Singh, GOC-in-Chief, Western Command, Chandimandir today dedicated the Integrated Veterans Complex to the ex-servicemen of triservices settled in the tricity.The complex will provide a range of care and support services, as also a single point of contact for grievance redressal to veterans, widows and their wards.Integrated Veterans Complex comprises of Army Placement Node, Directorate Regional Centre Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Veterans Sahayata Regional Centre, Directorate of Resettlement Western Zone, Station ECHS Cell, e-lobby and Canteen Stores Department, thereby bringing all essential services under one roof which otherwise were located at various places in Chandimandir.On the occasion, Lt Gen KJ Singh stressed on the need to strengthen the institutional framework for veterans’ care and promised all support to them.The inauguration of the complex was undertaken by a veteran, Naik Saroop Singh (retd), who is 105 years old and settled in Kalka. Hon Sub Maj TD Piplani, a nonagenarian, inaugurated a multi-banking complex.

CHENNAI: Jobs in the corporate sector may be lucrative but youngsters are slowly getting more attracted to the Indian army, leaving lucrative employment in law, engineering and even research.

Akshay Patil, a junior scientist in Defence Research Development Organisation, opted for the Olive Green, rather than a career in India’s premier defence research lab.

Nurturing a dream to join the Army as an officer, Patil, the first commissioned officer from Jalai village in Jalgaon in Maharastra, is content with the job. “Even Abdul Kalam tried to get into the army; he failed and I succeeded,” he says with a smile.

Although this is a short service commission, the former scientist who specialised in armament research had made up his mind to opt for a permanent commission

Even Hyderabad based Nikita could have landed in a lucrative job in the corporate sector. The girl from a humble family lived on scholarships alone after seeing her parents struggle.

“I lessened the burden of my dad and got into Chaitanya Bharati Institute of Technology through scholarship,” says Nikita. She had numerous offers but the charm of the armed forces motivated her to apply for the Officers Training Academy.

“My dream is to take care of my father as I saw him struggle throughout his life. I don’t want to get married. I want to care for my parents,” she says, eagerly awaiting the September 10 Passing out Parade, which her parents would attend.

For S Kannan, who did engineering from Rajalakshmi Engineering College in Chennai, joining the army was a career with a difference. “I had three job offers but I want something different in life,” reasons Kannan, a resident of Ponamallee. According to him awareness on careers in the defence is very low in Tamil Nadu.

This time there have been more cadets from Tamil Nadu unlike the past year. Earlier, there were only six to seven cadets but this year there are 13, said an officer with OTA.

Lokesh Pant, who had completed law from Christ University, Bangalore, and a runner-up in Moot Court competition in St Thomas University in Miami, Florida, United States, preferred the army as he wanted to use his professional skills to serve the nation.

First Fiji officer to graduate from OTA in Chennai

Orisi Lavasiga Nasove will become the first Fiji officer to graduate from the Officers Training Academy on September 10 during the Passing Out Parade. Fiji, which was relying on United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, has started looking to India after the Commonwealth nations keeping it off, following the coup in 2010. Once the elections were held, the sanctions were lifted and the island nation has been sending budding officers to India for training. Nasove, who was selected by the Fiji military for military training, is among the first generation of army officers undergoing training in India. After graduation from the OTA, the son of a farmer would join the Fiji military as 2nd lieutinant.

Orisi Lavasiga Nasove will become the first Fiji officer to graduate from the Officers Training Academy on September 10 during the Passing Out Parade. Fiji, which was relying on United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, has started looking to India after the Commonwealth nations keeping it off, following the coup in 2010. Once the elections were held, the sanctions were lifted and the island nation has been sending budding officers to India for training. Nasove, who was selected by the Fiji military for military training, is among the first generation of army officers undergoing training in India. After graduation from the OTA, the

son of a farmer would join the Fiji military as 2nd lieutinant.

Himanshu Kumar Lall

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 11

Academy Cadet Adjutant (ACA) Rajendra Singh Bisht bagged the most coveted Sword of Honor for being adjudged the best all round Gentleman Cadet from the regular course and the bronze medal for standing third in the order of merit.Bisht comes from a humble background. He was born in Bareilly, home to Jat Regimental Centre, and belongs to Ranikhet where Kumaon Regimental Centre is located. He grew up dreaming about a life in the Army as these regimental centres had always motivated him to don the olive green. He dedicated his success to his father Gopal Singh Bisht and mother Vimla Devi.Bisht, an alumni of Sainik School, Gorakhal, said hard work is the only way to achieve the desired goals. Youths of the nation should come forward to join the military forces as this was the noblest of professions, he added. Before joining to the IMA, Bisht was a bronze medalist in the National Defence Academy.Another awardee, Battalion Under Officer Aman Dhaka from New Delhi, who won the gold medal, decided to join the Indian Army as his father had always motivated and wanted him to join the forces. He said it was a very special day since his dream of joining the Army was fulfilled.Silver medalist Senior Under Officer N Dinesh Kumar from Tamil Nadu is an alumni of Sainik School and has no Army background.

ENEFICIARIES NEED TO SUBMIT AADHAAR AND MOBILE NUMBERS WITH CONTROLLER GENERAL OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS

TARN TARAN: All ex-servicemen will get to know about their pensionary benefits through SMS soon. Controller general of defence accounts (CGDA), New Delhi, SK Kohli, said this on Saturday during a pension camp here. The system is being launched in order to prevent inconveniences the pensioners. The beneficiaries will have to submit Aadhaar Card and mobile phone numbers.

On ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP) issue, he said arrears will be paid soon. He said the department was merging entire pension record lying in banks with its own record so that the benefits could be provided to the pensioners directly. Apart from this, a website has also been created on which each of the beneficiaries will have an online account, he said.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Kanwaldeep Singh, Rajbir Singh Rana, Major General Vijay Pingle and Amarbir Chahal.

India-Afghanistan ties on new course with Friendship Dam

Kabul confers its highest civilian award on Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi with Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani after inaugurating the dam in Herat. PTI

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4

If symbols define a relationship, then all the correct signs were on display today when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Afghan city of Herat. The inauguration of the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, seemed the perfect occasion to display to the world, and to a particular neighbour, the growing bond between India and Afghanistan.The dam was inaugurated by Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Modi aptly summed up the mood  in his speech, saying “We are reviving a region, restoring hope, renewing life and redefining Afghanistan’s future. The dam is a generator not just of electricity but also of optimism and belief in the future of Afghanistan.”  Ghani displayed great warmth in his address to the PM as he welcomed Modi to his “second home” and said a “long-standing dream” of the country had been realised after 30 years with help from India. The PM, in his speech, evoked the great Persian poet,  Jalaluddin Rumi, when talking about Herat. “And the city that once Jalaluddin Rumi held as the finest, will rise again,” he said. “In the Holy Quran, river is central to the image of paradise. In the ancient scriptures of India, rivers defined our nation and were celebrated as the giver of life. And, an Afghan proverb says, Kabul be zar basha be barf ne (May Kabul be without gold rather than snow),” he said. Ghani, returning the compliment, said, “Today, we come together to make India-Afghan ties and friendship eternal. This dam will chart a new course of cooperation and prosperity.”  “Contrary to those who spread chaos and destruction, we two countries have taken a joint decision to build and grow,” said Ghani.His veiled reference to Pakistan was loud and clear and may be a relief for many in India who initially perceived Ghani having a pro-Pakistan tilt. The Afghan-India Friendship Dam will irrigate 75,000 hectares of land and generate 42 MW of power. Modi’s speech referred to the strategically important Chabahar port deal that was recently signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.  The Chabahar agreement will provide India a greater access to Central Asia and also provide Afghanistan an alternative port to Karachi. Afghanistan conferred its highest civilian honour, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award, on Modi to underline the importance Afghanistan attaches to India. It was only last December that Modi had inaugurated the new Parliament complex in Kabul built by India at a cost of $90 million.  

NEW DELHI: Secret data on India’s Scorpene submarines was accessed by an unknown number of people working for a private company in a Southeast Asian country and even placed on an internet server where it was vulnerable to hacking and interception.

The leaked data, which has forced the Indian Navy to assess the vulnerability of the Scorpene submarines ordered from French shipbuilder DCNS under a $3.5 billion deal, is believed to have been “removed” from the firm in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer, The Australian reported late on Friday.

The officer, who worked as a subcontractor for DCNS, and a French colleague, took the data to a Southeast Asian country where they were employed by a private company run by a Western businessman. After the two Frenchmen were sacked, the secret data was sent to the company’s head office in Singapore. The data was also placed on a server on April 18, 2013, and it was “dangerously vulnerable to hacking or interception by a foreign intelligence service”, the daily reported. “It is not known whether the data stayed on this server for a few days or for a year,” it added.he data was also sent by the firm on a disk by regular post to a person in Sydney in 2013. This person, experienced in defence issues, was “stunned” when he saw the documents detailing the secret capabilities of the Indian submarines, the report said