Current Events :
ksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has propagated enhanced Consultation, Cooperation, Coordination & Capacity Building – a 4C formula – as a guiding principle for the countries contributing towards United Nations peacekeeping to tackle emerging challenges and ensure global peace. He was addressing the senior military leadership of United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) during the inaugural session of the Chiefs’ Conclave, being hosted by India for the first time, at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from October 14-16, 2025.
Raksha Mantri highlighted the growing complexities of the challenges being faced by the peacekeepers today – from deployment in volatile environments where asymmetric warfare, terrorism, and fragile political settlements coexist to operating amid humanitarian crises, pandemics, or natural disasters, and confronting misinformation campaigns. For the sustainability of peacekeeping operations, he urged the member states, especially those with advanced technological and financial capabilities, to enhance their support through troops, police, logistics, technology and specialised capacities. He stressed that innovations such as secure communications, surveillance systems, and unmanned platforms can make missions safer & more effective.
“Meeting the emerging challenges demands, more than bravery, adaptability, innovation on part of the troop contributing countries and a comprehensive mission level approach taking onboard relevant political actors, finance contributing countries, and other key players influencing the conflict environment to achieve the mandate. These operations often fall short due to delayed deployment, inadequate resources, and an insufficient mandate to address the root causes of conflicts. We cannot fight today’s challenges with outdated multilateral structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence. For today’s interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism: That reflects realities; Gives voice to all stakeholders; Addresses contemporary challenges; and focuses on human welfare,” asserted Shri Rajnath Singh.
Raksha Mantri pointed out that India has always stood firm with the UN in its mission to maintain international peace & security, and it remains steadfast in this commitment. “Over the decades, nearly 2,90,000 Indian personnel have served in more than 50 UN peacekeeping missions, earning global respect for professionalism, courage, and compassion. From the Congo and Korea to South Sudan and Lebanon, our soldiers, police, and medical professionals have stood shoulder to shoulder with the international community to protect the vulnerable and rebuild societies. We are ready to contribute troops, share expertise, and support reforms that make peacekeeping more effective & accountable. Through cooperation and technology sharing, we can build missions that are better equipped, more adaptive & more humane,” he stated.
Adding that the success of peacekeeping depends not only on numbers but on preparedness, Shri Rajnath Singh mentioned about the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in New Delhi which has trained participants from over 90 countries. He pointed out that India has the necessary credentials to impart training and developing interoperability between peacekeepers from friendly countries to build the mutual understanding that is essential for mission success.
Raksha Mantri added that under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, India has developed cost-effective indigenous technologies which strengthen peacekeeping missions in the from of land mobility platforms, secure communications, surveillance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and medical support solutions.
Shri Rajnath Singh described the growing participation of women as one of the most inspiring transformations in peacekeeping, stating that their presence enhances the mission’s effectiveness, builds trust with local populations, and brings empathy into operations. “India has been a pioneer in this domain. Our all-women Formed Police Unit deployed to Liberia in 2007 became a global symbol of empowerment. Their professionalism and compassion inspired a generation of Liberian women to join their national police. Today, Indian women officers serve in missions across South Sudan, Golan Heights and Lebanon, leading patrols, engaging with communities, and mentoring local women and youth. They represent the best of what modern peacekeeping can achieve — inclusion, respect, and trust. In 2024, an Indian Army woman peacekeeper was awarded the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her exemplary service with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added.
On the participation of medical peacekeepers, Raksha Mantri said Indian medical teams have treated thousands of civilians and peacekeepers in UN field hospitals across Africa. “Their service, often under challenging adversities, embodies the finest traditions of the Indian peacekeepers and ethos of the UN in the spirit of humanity,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh also underlined the fact that India’s aspiration to become a Vishwa Guru is not an assertion of dominance but a call for collaborative and inclusive progress. He voiced India’s belief that by sharing its heritage of non-violence and inner peace, UN peacekeeping and peace-building operations can be enriched, fostering a world order where harmony prevails.
“Now-a-days, some nations are openly violating the international rules, some are trying to undermine it, while some want to create their own rules and dominate the next century. In all this, India, while advocating for the reformation of outdated international structures, stands strong in upholding the international rules-based order. India is land of Mahatma Gandhi, where peace is deeply rooted in our philosophy of non-violence and truth. For Mahatma Gandhi, peace was not merely the absence of war, but a positive state of justice, harmony, and moral strength,” added Raksha Mantri.
In his welcome address, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted India’s long-standing contributions to UN peacekeeping. He reaffirmed the Indian Army’s resolve to provide operational excellence, technological innovation and capacity building through institutions like the Centre for UN Peacekeeping, New Delhi.
The Chief of the Army Staff stressed on the need for innovation, inclusivity and interoperability in peacekeeping. He underlined India’s Aatmanirbhar initiatives in defence as scalable solutions for global partners.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Mr Jean Pierre Lacroix, Permanent Representative of India to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, and senior serving officers and bureaucrats witnessed the inaugural day’s events along with other distinguished invitees to collectively chart the future of global peace operations.
The UNTCC Chiefs’ Conclave, hosted by Indian Army, brings together senior military leadership from 32 nations that play a pivotal role in UN peacekeeping operations. The conclave is witnessing the participation from Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Poland, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay and Vietnam. The conclave also features defence exhibitions for shared capacity building.
The UNTCC serves as a vital forum to address operational challenges, evolving threats, interoperability, inclusivity in decision-making and the role of technology & training in strengthening UN peacekeeping. As one of the largest contributors to UN missions, India is convening this high-level forum to deliberate on operational challenges, evolving threats, share best practices and build shared understanding on future peacekeeping. The Conclave reflects the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
*******
The rank structure of the Indian Army, particularly for its Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), has been a subject of discussion regarding its suitability in the modern military context and its impact on the dignity of the personnel. Ranks like Subedar, Havildar, and Sepoy trace their roots to old Mughal terminology used during the Islamic reign, which some veterans argue is historically significant but less aligned with the contemporary roles and status of these soldiers.
The demand for redesigning these ranks is rooted in the belief that the current nomenclature, especially for the high-ranking NCOs, does not accord the respect and dignity commensurate with their critical roles and responsibilities, particularly when compared to equivalent ranks in the Indian Navy and Air Force, and other developed nations armies.
The rank of Havildar presents a central case for re-evaluation.
Role and Status in Indian Army: A Havildar is the highest-ranking Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) before promotion to the Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) cadre. They are the backbone of the unit, responsible for the training, discipline, and immediate command of a section or platoon’s sub-units. Their role is supervisory, leadership-oriented, and tactically crucial.
To restore the dignity and better reflect the responsibilities of the Havildar rank, various suggestions have been put forth:
| Suggested New Rank | Rationale |
| Sergeant | Most common equivalent in global armies; aligns with professional military terminology. |
| Junior Officer | Directly elevates the perceived status by aligning it closer to the commissioned/junior commissioned officer structure. |
| Junior Commander | Emphasises the command and leadership role performed by the individual. |
A detailed study reveals that a vast majority (approximately 95%) of developed countries’ armies use the term “Sergeant” for the rank equivalent to the Indian Army’s Havildar. This global consensus strongly supports its adoption for standardization and immediate recognition of the rank’s status.
The following table provides a comparison of the Indian Army’s Havildar rank, which is a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) position, with its approximate equivalents in the ground forces of major developed nations, demonstrating the global prevalence of the “Sergeant” nomenclature.
| Country | Indian Army Equivalent Rank |
| India | Havildar |
| United States Army (USA) | Sergeant |
| British Army (UK) | Sergeant |
| French Army | Sergent |
| Canadian Army | Sergeant |
| Australian Army | Sergeant |
| German Army (Bundeswehr) | Stabsunteroffizier / Feldwebel |
Note on Indian Army OR-4/OR-5: The Indian Army ranks of Naik (OR-3) and Havildar (OR-4) are generally seen as equivalent to Corporal and Sergeant respectively in the British/Commonwealth system, which many developed armies follow.5 However, in some contexts, the Havildar is compared to US Army’s Sergeant (E-5/OR-5) or even Staff Sergeant (E-6/OR-6) given the depth of their experience before JCO promotion.
The argument for re-designating the rank of Havildar (and potentially other ranks like Subedar and Sepoy) is compelling, resting on the need to:
Accepting the suggestion of Sergeant as the new rank for Havildar would be a decisive step towards re-establishing the due dignity of these senior soldiers, ensuring both national pride and international recognition of their professional status.
All Exservicemen Association and veterans may approach the concerned authorities addressing the concerned issue for consideration and redesign the rank to restore dignity of Senior NCO rank of the Indian Army
An Army jawan, who lost his life due to medical complications while on duty in Ladakh, was cremated with military honours in his native village on the outskirts of Jammu city on Monday, officials said.
Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma and all ranks of the Northern Command paid homage to the braveheart. The general officer commanding (GOC), Fire and Fury Corps, along with all ranks, also saluted Lance Naik Saini.
The mortal remains of the jawan arrived from Leh to his home in Arnia Kalan village, wrapped in the national tricolour, officials mentioned. Lance Naik Saini was cremated with military honours as soldiers paid a solemn salute in his memory.
Two terrorists were killed after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Tuesday. The Army stated that the identities of the slain terrorists are yet to be confirmed.
According to the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, corroborated by other sources and agencies. Acting on this information, a joint operation was initiated by the Army and J&K Police in the Machil sector of Kupwara on Monday.
“As part of Operation Amar, alert troops noticed suspicious movement and challenged the infiltrators, prompting them to open indiscriminate fire,” the Army said in a statement. “Troops retaliated effectively, killing two terrorists.”
The Chinar Corps further added that a large cache of weapons and equipment was recovered from the site. A senior Army official said the operation is still ongoing in the area as search and clearance activities continue.
This infiltration attempt comes at a time when security forces have heightened surveillance along the LoC. Officials have expressed concerns over a possible rise in infiltration efforts before heavy snowfall closes the mountain passes commonly used by infiltrators ahead of the winters.
Just last week, Additional Director General of the BSF, Satish S Khandare, stated in Srinagar that the BSF has intensified vigil along the LoC in anticipation of winter-related infiltration.
He noted that intelligence inputs indicate that “terrorists are waiting at various launch pads across the border to infiltrate into the Valley.” While he refrained from giving specific numbers, Khandare said, “Reports suggest our neighbouring country is operating several launch pads across the border.”
As India intensifies its focus on futuristic warfare, a tri-service, multi-domain exercise, codenamed ‘Vidyut Vidhhwans’ is being conducted later this week under the aegis of Headquarters Northern Command.
The drill, which comes a few months after Operation Sindoor where all three services were involved in carrying out precision attacks deep inside Pakistan, will bring together troops, systems, strategies and doctrines that span not just the domains of land, air and sea, but delve into space, cyber, electromagnetic and cognitive domains.
The exercise will simulate high-pressure situations, including communication breakdowns, cyber intrusions and disinformation, exercising troops and commanders with challenges of operating in an interconnected and networked environment, defence officials said.
“At its heart, this exercise is about readiness not just for war, but for unpredictability. And it began not with noise, but with a thoughtful dialogue and well-crafted strategy to shape a future ready force,” an Army spokesperson said.
The lead-up to the drill began with ‘Samwad’, a brain storming event held at Mathura earlier this month, where officers and subject matter experts exchanged ideas on modern threats and emerging technologies.
In his key note address at the event, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, had said, “The boundary between kinetic and non-kinetic operations today blurs rapidly. Adversaries will attempt to paralyse a commander’s decision cycle without firing a shot, by disabling communication, disrupting satellites or creating mass confusion through disinformation. In this reality, Multi-Domain Operations are not restricted to battlefield tactics but encompasses a paradigm shift in operational art”.
‘Samwad’ focused at preparing military minds to think beyond the precincts of conventional warfare. Topics ranged from satellite vulnerabilities to information warfare, with the core message being that future wars will be fought in uncharted territories and will test the minds as much as the machines.
For Exercise ‘Vidyut Vidhhwans’, formations are readying their gear and grid incorporating niche technologies and new generation equipment which is spread over the entire Northern Command theatre.
Besides the Armed Forces, the Central Armed Police Forces that function under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Central Government agencies are also being integrated along with the private sector players to achieve jointness, self-reliance and innovation under the ‘whole of the nation approach’.
This is not the first time that a tri-service, multi-agency military drill is being held. Last year, Exercise Poorvi Prahar, a nine-day drill in Arunachal Pradesh involved elements from the Army, Navy and Air Force for enhancing synergy and validating joint operations in rugged high-altitude terrain.
Tri-services drills have also taken place in the past in places such as Visakhapatnam on the eastern seaboard and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to India’s sole Tri-service Command, though the Navy’s participation in high altitude joint exercises is a recent development.
Defence sources say that several aspects of emerging warfare transcend service line, such as cyber, intelligence, surveillance and covert missions. Besides, the Navy, which is a multi-dimensional force operation in sub-surface, surface and aerial domains, besides cyber, special operations and electronic warfare, has also been associated with operations in the mountains.
The Navy’s Marine Commando Force has been deployed in Kashmir, particularly around Wular Lake, on anti-terrorist operations for many years and during the stand-off with China in 2020, they were deployed at Pangong Tso Lake in eastern Ladakh.
The Navy’s Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, based at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, and unmanned aerial vehicles also flew reconnaissance and survey missions along the Line of Actual Control AC to monitor Chinese movements. The P-8s were also reported to have been deployed along the western borders in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack for intelligence gathering.
In May 2023, the Defence Ministry went ahead with the move to cross-post officers to different services to give them better, hands-on understanding of their sister services’ ethos, role, nuances and operating procedures – a step towards the establishment of the much talked about integrated theatre commands. This initially involves about 150 officers at the level of Major and Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent.
The Indian Army on Tuesday flagged off a four-day ‘Shaurya motorcycle rally’ from Likabali Military Station in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang district to honour the heroes of the 1962 India-China War.
The rally is an initiative of the Indian Army to commemorate the indomitable spirit, courage and dedication of the soldiers who defended the nation’s frontiers under the most challenging conditions, an army official said.
The official said that 20 riders, including personnel of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and 12 civilians from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, will cover around 900 km through the rugged terrain and remote valleys of the frontier state, retracing the historic routes taken during the 1962 war.
The riders will interact with locals and promote ‘No Drugs, No School Dropouts’, an initiative of the Arunachal Pradesh government.
They will also conduct outreach programmes at Basar (Leparada), Bora Rupak, Menga, Shere Thapa Memorial, Taksing, Daporijo (Upper Subansiri), Ziro (Lower Subansiri) and Neelam Tebi War Memorial (Keyi Panyor).
The official said that the riders will also conduct motivational interactions with students, felicitate local communities and conduct awareness campaigns promoting unity and nation-building in the border regions, with support from civil administrations.
THE Gaza ceasefire agreement, announced on social media by US President Donald Trump, came into force on October 10. The initial phase aims to pause the hostilities in a genocidal war of retribution by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) that began after the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This Trump-brokered ceasefire is to be cautiously welcomed for one overriding reason – and that is the humanitarian dimension. Two years of a relentless war and the indiscriminate, disproportionate attacks on civilians in Palestine to neutralise Hamas have killed over 67,000 Palestinians; about 2,000 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have lost their lives. According to UN agencies, humanitarian organisations and local authorities, around two million Palestinians (of a total of 5.5 million) have been displaced.
Gaza has been reduced to rubble; famine conditions prevail, with children and women bearing the brunt of the Israeli onslaught. With the ceasefire coming into effect, displaced Palestinians are returning to areas like Gaza City and Sheikh Radwan. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are trekking north along roads like Al-Rashid from southern camps such as Nuseirat and Khan Younis, carrying their meagre belongings amid a ruined landscape.
With 600 aid trucks now entering Gaza daily, the ceasefire will mitigate — to some extent — the famine declared in August and described by the UN as a “man-made catastrophe.” This surge in aid, coupled with the reopening of Rafah and other crossings, could alleviate suffering for Gaza’s almost two million residents,
80 per cent of whom are displaced.
The next phase of the ceasefire agreement — also being referred to as the Gaza peace deal — involves hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. It is expected that beginning today, Hamas will release 20 Israeli hostages and the mortal remains of the 28 deceased. In the reciprocal arrangement, Israel is preparing to free about 250 long-term Palestinian prisoners (serving life sentences) and around 1,700 detainees arrested in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including women and children.
If this proposed exchange takes place without any hurdles or surprises, President Trump is likely to arrive in the region to a thunderous roll of drums as the peacemaker par excellence. Norway will be alerted to look no further; next year’s “Nobel Peace Prize winner” will emerge in the land of Bethlehem, and the Magi of this century will assemble in TV studios the world over, led by Fox News and its global clones.
But alas, the reality is grim. Equitable and sustainable peace as well as socio-political justice for the Palestinians will remain elusive, while the optics of a historic breakthrough enabled by Trump will flood chanceries and media platforms.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been brought to the ceasefire table kicking and screaming and there have been reports of the IDF firing on returning Palestinians. Hardliners in Israel are determined to deny any concession to Palestine that will usher in peace and prosperity, as envisioned by Trump and the regional partners (Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia). Once the Israeli hostages are safely back, it is probable that there would be attempts to scuttle the peace deal.
However, one must hope for the best, and a more positive scenario can unfold in this manner. If cessation of hostilities, hostage-prisoner release and troop withdrawal proceed smoothly in the initial phase, this would lay the foundation for tentative trust in the next phase — full demilitarisation and reconstruction of the wasteland that is Palestine/Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority’s potential role in governance could marginalise Hamas, thereby aligning with Israel’s long-term security goals and the US-led call for a two-state framework. But this is a long way off, for the immediate priority is clearing the rubble, finding more bodies and rebuilding Gaza. The bill for this could be upwards of $50 billion.
The most authoritative estimates for reconstructing Gaza after the war place the total cost at $53.2 billion over the next 10 years. This figure comes from the joint Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment by the United Nations, European Union and World Bank, covering damages from October 2023 to October 2024. It includes physical infrastructure repair ($29.9 billion), economic and social recovery ($19.1 billion) and environmental cleanup ($1.9 billion), with $20 billion needed in the first three years alone. It is not clear at this stage as to how this money would be made available to Palestine.
The more disconcerting feature of this peace deal is that it has been framed as a US-led initiative supported by regional heavyweights — outside of the UN framework. A multinational military monitoring force including 200 US troops will be positioned in Israel to establish a coordination centre to oversee Hamas compliance from bases outside Gaza. An interim technical governance team to be led by former UK PM Tony Blair is in the pipeline and this reeks of neo-imperialism, Trump style.
With the UN Security Council in virtual paralysis, given the bitter discord between the US and the Russia-China dyad, the world is witnessing extended geopolitical dissonance. This has been exacerbated by the Trump-driven tariff turbulence. Yet Trump is to be accorded one cheer (not three) — for bringing a reluctant Netanyahu to the negotiating table.
India has supported the agreement, with PM Modi congratulating Netanyahu on the activation of the first phase. India has been invited by the US and Egypt to attend a follow-up ‘Gaza Truce Retreat’ aimed at discussing ceasefire monitoring and reconstruction.
New Delhi’s pedigree in complex peacekeeping operations (going back to the 1953 Korean War armistice and subsequent UN missions) and proven disaster relief competence can contribute to the international rebuilding efforts that Gaza desperately needs.
The ceasefire pact is tentative, fragile and prone to setbacks. This is the third major truce since the war began in October 2023 — first in November 2023 and later in January 2025 — and both collapsed. Will October 2025 be auspicious? The jury is out — the talks on demilitarisation and governance are imminent, even as Hamas has rejected ‘foreign guardianship’.
Bringing this complex ceasefire-cum-peace deal under the UN aegis would be highly desirable, but the feasibility of such a transition is very low. Trump wants peace, and “King Canute’s courtiers” will proclaim that it has indeed arrived and the Star of Bethlehem is glowing over the rubble of Gaza.
C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies.
India on Tuesday launched a sharp counterattack against Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of being one of the “most serious violators” of the global agenda on the protection of children in armed conflict.
Delivering India’s statement on the Promotion and Protection of Rights of Children, MP Nishikant Dubey said Pakistan continues to exploit international platforms to deflect attention from its own shameful record of atrocities against children — both within its borders and beyond.
“Neighbouring Pakistan presents a contrasting example. It is a country that is one of the most serious violators of the CAAC (Children and Armed Conflict) agenda,” Dubey said.
The parliamentarian strongly condemned Pakistan’s attempt to divert global attention from the grave abuses against children within their borders, as evidenced by the 2005 report issued by the Secretary General on CAAC and by their ongoing cross-border terrorism.
Citing UN findings, Dubey said Pakistan’s forces and their terror proxies have repeatedly attacked schools — particularly girls’ schools — and health workers, besides carrying out deadly cross-border strikes that have “killed and maimed Afghan children”.
Drawing attention to Pakistan’s hand in the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, Dubey said, “If Operation Sindoor is to be mentioned, the international community has not forgotten the brutal targeted attacks carried out by Pakistan’s terrorists, including the killing of 26 innocent civilians in Pahalgam.”
He underlined that India’s air strikes under Operation Sindoor in May were a “considered and legitimate response” to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and bring perpetrators to justice.
“In contrast, Pakistan deliberately targeted children and civilians in our border areas,” he said, adding that Islamabad must “look at itself in the mirror, stop preaching on this platform and act for the welfare of children within its own borders”.
In another UN session, MP Rajeev Rai delivered India’s statement in the Second Committee on Sustainable Development and the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
He highlighted India’s leadership in leveraging information technology, science and culture to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while emphasising South-South cooperation with middle-income countries.
At the Sixth Committee on Crimes against Humanity, Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak reaffirmed India’s position that states bear the “primary responsibility” for ensuring justice and accountability for grave human rights violations.
“Any legally binding treaty must respect diverse legal systems and complement existing mechanisms like the International Criminal Court,” she said, calling for a “victim-centred approach” that ensures access to justice and reparations.
She underscored that international cooperation — through mutual legal assistance, extradition and capacity-building — is essential to effectively implement global commitments.
“India remains committed to a rules-based international order, justice and accountability,” Konyak affirmed.
The Ladakh administration on Tuesday defended before the Supreme Court climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, saying he “had been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state”.
Responding to Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo’s petition seeking his immediate release from detention, Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk, who passed the September 26 detention order under the NSA, denied as “baseless” her allegation that her husband had been detained illegally and was being ill-treated during the detention.
The affidavit asserted that Wangchuk had been “lawfully detained under a lawful authority” after considering relevant material under Section 3(2) of the NSA.
“It is submitted that the above stated order of detention came to be passed by me after duly considering the material placed before me and, as mandated under the law, and after arriving at a subjective satisfaction on the circumstances that prevailed within the local limits of the jurisdiction where Wangchuk had been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state, public order and services essential to the community as mentioned in the grounds of detention,” the affidavit read.
“I was satisfied and continue to be satisfied with the detention of the detenue,” Donk asserted.
A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria, which had on October 6 issued notices to the Centre, the Ladakh administration and others on Angmo’s petition seeking Wangchuk’s immediate release, on Tuesday deferred the hearing to October 15.
The activist was detained on September 26 under Section 3(2) of the NSA, two days after protests demanding Ladakh’s statehood and the Sixth Schedule status turned violent, leaving four persons dead and nearly 100 injured.
Terming the allegation of not being informed of the detention order as “completely false and misleading”, the affidavit said the detenue was categorically informed about his arrest under the NSA and his transfer to Central Jail, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and that his wife was also immediately informed about it.
The Leh District Magistrate said Wangchuk was communicated the grounds of his detention on September 29 and his signature was taken on the receiving copy.
The affidavit stated that Wangchuk had been medically examined five times between September 26 and October 9, and “he was certified to be medically and physically fit” and that he had told the authorities that “he is not on any medication”.
It said notwithstanding the fact that nearly a fortnight had elapsed since he was detained, “no representation has been made by Wangchuk to the detaining authority against his detention.”
In a separate affidavit, Jodhpur Central Jail superintendent Pradeep Lakhawat told the top court that Wangchuk was not in solitary confinement and that he had been kept in a 20×20 ft standard barrack.
His brother Tsetan Dorje and lawyer Mustaf Haji were allowed to meet him on October 4 for one hour, Lakhawat said, adding that his wife (petitioner) and another counsel Sarvam Ritam Khare met him on October 7. At Wangchuk’s request, he was given a laptop, the affidavit stated.
