Updated Date: Jul 23, 2018 19:20 PM

Srinagar, July 13

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) has been appointed Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) for a five-year term.The appointment was cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind. Hewill replace founding Chancellor Srikumar Banerjee.“The President of India in his capacity as a Visitor of central university of Kashmir has been pleased to appoint Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former Military Secretary of the Army, as the Chancellor of CUKfor the tenure of five years as per statute 1 of the Central Universities Act of 2009,” read the notification issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.Lt General Hasnain (65) has served in Kashmir in several capacities during his Army career. The last post he held was that of the Commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. — TNS

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 8

The Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat paid obeisance at the Golden Temple on Sunday.Talking to mediapersons, he said to create tension in Kashmir, Pakistan had been playing a dubious role in misguiding the youth who indulged in stone-pelting.He said the existing strategy of the Army to tackle militancy in Kashmir was appropriate. “The involvement of Pakistan in creating disturbance cannot be denied,” he said.The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presented him a replica of the Golden Temple, a siropa and kirpan.SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and chief secretary Dr Roop Singh raised the issue of missing documents and rare manuscripts of the Sikh Reference Library that were reportedly taken into possession by the Army during Operation Bluestar. General Rawat showed ignorance about it, but promised to look into the matter. “I have no knowledge about it, but will try to locate them,” he said.The SGPC also demanded that the control of Gurdwara Pathar Sahib in Leh, associated with Guru Nanak Dev, should be handed over to it.At present, the gurdwara and its arrangements are under the control of the Army.Later, the Army Chief, his wife and Major General DK Nautiyal visited the Partition Museum.Earlier, he visited the Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

The Ministry of Defence has restored the ‘technical allowance’ paid to thousands of officers and jawans who work on the engineering side responsible to keep military equipment in running condition.The 7th Central Pay Commission had recommended abolition of the allowance. The services had represented to continue this to which the MoD has agreed and issued a detail order on eligibility.The allowance will be paid at Rs 3,000 per month for those who are B Tech-level and Rs 4,500 per month to those who are qualified at M Tech level.The weapons and equipment like submarines, fighter jets, radars, UAVs and missiles among others, need technical support. The Army has full-fledged Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), a separate Corps for Signals. The Navy now recruits only science students at its training academies and all officers pass out as B Tech. The Indian Air Force, the fleet of planes and copters need engineering support and full-fledged maintenance command exists.

Residents shift to safer places after an encounter at Srigufwara in Anantnag district on Friday. Photo: Amin War

Suhail A Shah &

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Anantnag/Srinagar, June 22

Four radicalised militants, a policeman and a civilian were among six killed in an early morning encounter at Nowshehra village of Srigufwara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday. The dead included 33-year-old Dawood Ahmed Sofi, “commander of the Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK)”.The J&K Police claim the four slain militants were “inspired by IS ideology” and had been active for the past few months. This is the first time that the police have admitted to “IS-inspired militants” operating in Kashmir.“All four were inspired by Islamic State ideology. The IS has no infrastructure or cadre here,” J&K Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid told The Tribune. However, IS-linked Amaq News Agency called the slain militants “soldiers of Islamic State”.Earlier this year, the Government of India had denied IS’ presence in Kashmir.The encounter broke out around 6 am when a cordon and search operation was launched after inputs about the presence of militants in Srigufwara. The gunfight continued till late afternoon.“As a joint patrol moved towards a suspected house, terrorists hiding inside opened fire, injuring a policeman and a civilian, both of whom succumbed to their injuries,” a police official said.The slain policeman has been identified as Ashiq Hussain, and the civilian, who owned the house, as Muhammad Yousuf Rather. Rather’s wife Rafeeqa Begum was also injured and admitted to a Srinagar hospital.Besides Dawood, a resident of Srinagar, the three slain militants were identified as Majid Manzoor Dar of Pulwama, Adil Rehman Bhat and Muhammad Ashraf Ittoo, both from Anantnag in south Kashmir.“Dawood was initially known to be affiliated with the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) terror outfit. This terror gang was active on the social media and targeted policemen on duty. Their social media profiles and inputs indicate they were inspired by the IS ideology,” the police spokesman said.A police officer said the slain militants were planning strikes and to carry out recruitment in south Kashmir.Around 20 people were injured as clashes erupted between locals and security forces near the encounter site. Clashes were also reported in Srinagar.

9 security men injured in Tral

Militants attacked a security forces party in volatile Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district that left at least nine of them injured.The incident took place at about 3.20 pm.Police said militants fired upon the security forces when they were handling law and order in the area.“Terrorists lobbed a grenade, followed by firing on the security forces from a crowd when they were busy with law and order duties on Tral road resulting in injuries to the nine security personnel,” a police spokesman said.He said security forces exercised maximum restraint after being attacked to prevent any civilian casualties.Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen owned the responsibility for the attack.
Cop succumbs to injuriesA J&K policeman who was injured in a militant attack in Srinagar last week succumbed to his injuries on Friday.Head Constable Habibullah, a resident of north Kashmir, was injured in a militant attack at Karan Nagar locality on June 15 that also left another cop and three civilians injured.Habibullah, the lone bread-earner of the family, is survived by three daughters, two sons besides wife and aged parents. His elder daughter’s marriage was scheduled next week.Meanwhile, civil and police officers led by Director General of Police SP Vaid laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the two cops who died on Friday.

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 17

After the martyrdom of Rifleman Aurangzeb, the demand for raising a Gujjar regiment in the Army has gained momentum to involve the patriotic nomadic Gujjar community in the ongoing fight against militancy in the state.Aurangzeb, who was abducted and brutally killed by militants on Thursday in the Kashmir valley for participating in anti-terror operations, was a Gujjar of Salani village of Poonch.“Since the eruption of gun culture in the state, Gujjars have been playing a critical role in fighting militancy, especially in inaccessible areas,” Choudhary Shah Mohammad, a prominent Gujjar leader, told The Tribune.Pointing towards the supreme sacrifice of Rifleman Aurangzeb, Shah Mohammad asserted, “Once again, a Gujjar soldier has established that our community is not behind others in sacrificing life for the nation.”A video of Aurangzeb, said to have been shot moments before his killing, surfaced on social media on Friday and became a source of inspiration for youth of the community to serve the nation. “It is high time the government engages patriotic and brave Gujjar youth in the Army to utilise their services in the real sense,” Shah Mohammad said.A Gujjar delegation has already given a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and interlocutor Dinesh Sharma to raise a Gujjar regiment in the Army, but there has been no progress in this regard so far.Realising the importance of involving this nomadic community in eradicating militancy from the state, former Union Home Minister Rajesh Pilot had promised to raise ‘Gujjar Scouts’ on the pattern on Ladakh Scouts, but it could not materialise.Similarly, in 2003, the then NDA government had announced that a new force comprising Gujjars and Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir would be raised for deployment on the difficult terrains of the state.Gujjars played a very important role in containing militancy in the Hill Kaka area of Poonch district. Women village defence committees comprising Gujjar women were formed and they eliminated some dreaded militants active in areas once considered a safe haven for militants.Recently, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal, BJP leader, had also raised this issue before Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and had urged him to organise a special recruitment drive for Gujjar and Bakerwal youths in the country and raise a Gujjar regiment to fight Pakistan-backed militants and anti-India extremist forces in J&K.Earlier promises

• A Gujjar delegation had given a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and interlocutor Dinesh Sharma to raise a Gujjar regiment in the Army, but there has been no progress in this regard so far
• Realising the importance of involving this nomadic community in eradicating militancy from the state, former Union Home Minister Rajesh Pilot had also promised to raise ‘Gujjar Scouts’ on the pattern on Ladakh Scouts, but it could not materialise
• In 2003, the then NDA government had announced that a new force comprising Gujjars and Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir would be raised for deployment in the difficult terrains of the state

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 9

A soldier from Tigrana village in Bhiwani district, Jitender Singh, has realised his dream of becoming an Army officer by passing out as Lieutenant from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, on Saturday.Jitender Singh, 27, was recruited as a soldier in the Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) Corp of the Army. He completed his matriculation from the Government Secondary School in his native village and Class 12 from TIT Senior Secondary School in Bhiwani town.Jitender got enrolled into the Army Cadet College (ACC) for graduation after clearing the written examinations during his service.Brother Mohit Singh said Jitender had been aspiring to be an officer right from his school days. “Our family has the tradition of serving the defence forces. My grandfather Jagroop Singh retired as Havildar, while my father Shripal Singh superannuated as Subedar,” Mohit said, adding Jitender got into the Army in his first attempt.“Because of his passion for the uniform, he grabbed the first opportunity that came by in 2010,” said Mohit, who along with parents attended the ceremony of his brother at the IMA.Jitender’s uncle Vijay Pal Singh said the family had a large number of serving members and ex-servicemen in the defence forces. “Around 35 persons from the extended family have served or are serving in the defence forces. Jitender has realised his dream with sheer hard work and dedication,” he said.Sarpanch Pradeep Singh said the village was proud of him.

New Delhi: The CBI has booked the principal of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla in Pune, four faculty members and some unidentified persons for alleged irregularities in the appointment of teaching staff at the institute for training military officers. A case was registered under Sections 12-B, 420, 465 and 471 of the IPC and Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the accused. Those booked are Principal Om Prakash Shukla, a political science professor,  an assistant professor of chemistry, an assistant professor of mathematics and head of the department of chemistry.There were complaints that academic performance indicator (API) scores of applicants were approved in violation of rules and sent to UPSC. Later, these persons were appointed as professors and associate professors by UPSC.Some officials from the defence ministry have also been named in FIR. — TNS

Srinagar, June 6

The Army on Wednesday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Macchil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing three militants.        Troops noticed suspicious movement along the LoC in Macchil sector in Kupwara district and challenged the infiltrators, an Army official said. Three militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight, he said, adding search operations were on in the area. More details are awaited. PTI

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 31

Kirti Chakra awardee and second World War veteran Lt Col Inder Singh Rawat (104) is no more. He breathed his last in Dehradun during morning hours on Thursday. His last rites were performed in Hardwar later in the day. Col Rawat was awarded Kirti Chakra in 1957 for effective tackling insurgency in the northeast.Hailing from Bageli village in Thalisen block of Pauri Garhwal district, Col Rawat did his primary schooling from the village school. He further went to Khirshu to study middle classes. Later, he went to Pauri town, where he did his high school from a Messmore Missionary school.Joining the forces in other ranks in Garhwal Rifles, he participated in the World War II and was involved in action in East Africa. Through his sheer hard work and determination, he got commissioned in the then Burma Infantry in his forties in the pre-independence era. He later joined Royal Garhwal Rifles after country’s independence.The best of Lt Col Rawat was still to come. In the fifties, then as Major posted with Assam Rifles, he was awarded Kirti Chakra for his ability in effectively tacking insurgency in the northeast. Kirti Chakra was bestowed on him on the independence day of 1957. In 1962 Indo-China war, he successfully commanded the 4 Garhwal Rifles in Arunachal sector.Even after retiring from military service in 1966, Col Rawat was in the forefront working for the welfare of ex-servicemen in the state. He also actively contributed in social causes. Lt Col Rawat was an inspiration for many. That was not due to just his act of bravery as army officer but also because of his physical fitness level. He was active even till his last days. In Feb 2014, he celebrated his 100th birthday with the Garhwal Rifles Officers Association specially felicitating him in grand style.The late Lt Col Rawat is survived by his son Brig RS Rawat (retd). The Rawat family resides in the Race Course locality of Dehradun. Ex-servicemen fraternity and Pauri Garhwal’s Raath Jan Vikas Samiti has expressed grief over passing away of Lt Col Rawat and expressed their condolences to the bereaved family.