Amid a surge in unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and other areas of the Jammu region in the recent past, the Indian Army on Friday held a flag meeting with its Pakistani counterparts at…
Amid a surge in unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and other areas of the Jammu region in the recent past, the Indian Army on Friday held a flag meeting with its Pakistani counterparts at Chakkan-da-Bagh crossing in Poonch sector.
The brigade commander-level meeting was held after India had escalated the matter with Pakistan regarding the increased firing, including sniper shots, on the Indian soldiers manning the LoC in areas that are infested with thick vegetation.
While it is not clear whether terrorists or Pakistan army personnel were behind the recent incidents of firing from across the LoC, the Indian Army during the flag meeting asked the Pakistani side to keep a check on such elements “who have the potential to disrupt peace on the borders”.
Recent attacks on Armymen
Two Army personnel, including a Captain and a Naik, were killed and another injured in an IED explosion carried out by suspected terrorists in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu on February 11
Two Armymen were injured in firing from across the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch on February 10 and 14. Two more personnel were injured in landmine blasts close to LoC in Poonch last week
While there was no official statement by the Army issued on the flag meeting till evening, sources informed that the meeting continued for over an hour during which both the sides agreed to respect the ceasefire signed between India and Pakistan. Talks to de-escalate the fresh tensions on the LoC were also held wherein Pakistani officials assured the Indian side that they would take steps to ensure peace.
After a spate of cross-border firing,the Indian Army had issued a statement in which it had said the ceasefire was intact and minor incidents were not unprecedented along LoC.
India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003 for peace along LoC and other borders in J&K. However, multiple incidents of cross-border firing took place in following years. In 2021, the countries renewed the ceasefire agreement of 2003 after which the incidents dropped drastically.
India raises issues of unprovoked firing, terror activities at flag meeting with Pakistan
The brigade commander-level flag meeting took place in Chakkan-Da-Bagh crossing point area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonc
India and Pakistan held a flag meeting along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday, in an effort to de-escalate tension after several recent incidents of cross-border firing and an IED attack, official sources said.
The brigade commander-level flag meeting took place in the Chakkan-Da-Bagh crossing point area, with both sides highlighting the need to maintain peace along the border, the sources said.
However, no official statement was issued by the Indian Army on the 75-minute-long meeting that started at around 11 am.
The sources said the Indian military delegation lodged a strong protest over the recent unprovoked cross-border firing incidents, infiltration attempts by terrorists and smuggling of narcotics and weapons.
The meeting took place in a congenial atmosphere and both sides agreed to honour the ceasefire agreement in the larger interest of peace on the border, the sources said.
Ceasefire violations along the border of Jammu and Kashmir have been rare since the two neighbouring countries renewed an agreement on February 25, 2021.
Two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack carried out by suspected terrorists in the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region on February 11.
Two Army personnel were injured in separate incidents of small-arms firing from across the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts on February 10 and February 14, while two more Army personnel were injured in separate land-mine explosions in Poonch over the last week.
The extent of damage on the Pakistani side in the retaliatory action was not known immediately but officials had said the enemy forces also suffered “heavy casualties”.
Meanwhile, the sources said an explosion took place on the zero line in the Nakerkote area of the Digwar sector in Poonch at 9:20 am but there was no casualty.
The cause of the blast was not known immediately, they added.
Minister visits war museum, says welfare of ex-servicemen priority for state govt
Punjab’s Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister, Mohinder Bhagat, said the welfare of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents was the state government’s priority. During his visit to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum and the Defence Services…
Punjab’s Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister, Mohinder Bhagat, said the welfare of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents was the state government’s priority.
During his visit to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum and the Defence Services Welfare office here, the minister lent an ear to the concerns of ex-servicemen and their dependents and expressed his department’s commitment to addressing their issues. He emphasised that the nation would always be indebted to these brave individuals, whose sacrifices secured the country’s Independence.
He disclosed that 13 per cent vacancies had been reserved for the ESM in the Group A, B, C and D posts in Punjab. Bhagat highlighted the importance of providing efficient and transparent services to them and asked the officials concerned to address all their concerns promptly.
He stressed the need to raise awareness about the war museum, stating that it was an excellent place to learn about the history of the martyrs of the country and the wars that took place after Independence.
The minister also honoured the parents of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who lost his life in a landmine explosion at the Kalal Sector in Jammu and Kashmir during operational duty on January 18, 2024. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already provided Ajay Kumar’s family with a cheque of Rs 1 crore last year.
Besides, the minister presented a cheque of Rs 1 lakh from the Flag Day Fund to Sukhveer Kaur, the widow of Naik Ranjit Singh, who served in the 112 Engineer Regiment and died on duty on November 10, 2024. He also distributed cheques of financial assistance amounting to Rs 5,000 each to 12 non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows from the Flag Day Fund.
Earlier, the Cabinet Minister was accorded a guard of honour at the museum by the district administration during his maiden visit to Ludhiana after assuming office. He took a salute from a Punjab Police contingent and laid a wreath at the memorial.
Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal welcomed the Cabinet Minister to the museum. Bhagat also held a brief meeting with the DC and other officials to review on-going schemes.
Director of Defence Services Welfare Brigadier Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (retd), and District Defence Services Welfare Officer Group Captain Davinder Singh Dhillon (retd) were also present on the occasion
Two recent developments in Tibet are being closely monitored by security experts. First, China is establishing 90 new village settlements along its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In a separate move, Beijing is significantly enhancing infrastructure at the historic border crossing between Tibet and Mustang in Nepal, a route frequently used by Tibetan refugees attempting to escape the Chinese communist regime.
Sources have informed The Tribune that the 90 new settlements are part of China’s expansion of what it calls “prosperous villages” or “Xiaokang” along the LAC, including areas opposite Arunachal Pradesh. These villages not only bolster China’s territorial claims but also strengthen its military preparedness along the LAC, a border that remains undemarcated on the ground.
To date, China has established a total of 628 such villages, with the current 90 villages forming part of its latest expansion. The sources also note that China is seeking to create a legal defence under the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (2005) with India, which addresses border settlements and local populations residing along the border. According to Article VII of the agreement, “The two sides shall safeguard the due interests of their settled populations in the border areas.” So, as and when a situation arises to demarcate the LAC, these villages do not get disturbed in any such exercise.
India too has its own border village initiative, which includes upgrading existing villages in Arunachal Pradesh under the ongoing Vibrant Villages Programme. This initiative was inaugurated on April 13, 2023, at Kibithoo in far-east Arunachal Pradesh, and aims to upgrade a total of 2,963 villages over the next 10 years.
The second development concerns China’s transformation of operations at the Korala border crossing between Tibet and Mustang in Nepal. This border, historically a passage for Tibetan refugees, has seen the construction of massive infrastructure, including buildings and accommodations on the Chinese side.
Mustang, a Buddhist-majority region in Nepal, holds historical importance, as it was a key site during the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. The Korala border crossing, located at an altitude of 15,250 ft, has long been a route for Tibetan refugees fleeing Chinese oppression. In 1960, Mustang became the central base for the CIA-supported Tibetan resistance movement known as the Chushi Gandrung Army, or the Khampa Rebellion, which lasted until 1972. Although the rebellion ended, Mustang has remained a geopolitically sensitive area.
Return of illegal immigrants: Not 1st time, 21 deportee flights landed in Amritsar since 2020
At a time of intense backlash in Punjab over US deportation flights landing in Amritsar instead of other locations in the country, government sources on Wednesday said this was not the first time deportation flights had landed in Amritsar.
Sharing details, official sources said between May 19, 2020 and October 25, 2024, as many as 18 flights carrying illegal Indian immigrants had landed in Punjab’s Amritsar.
The latest three US flights that brought Indians back home — on February 5, 15 and 16 — take that number to 21. On a The Tribune query about why deportees continue to be sent home in shackles despite India vowing to take up the issue with the US, government sources pointed to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Air Operations Handbook, which mandates transport of illegal immigrants in handcuffs ensure no passenger poses a threat to himself or to flight safety.
The US Customs handbook under the section “Restraint Requirements” reads, “In accordance with the Use of Restraints policy, effective November 19, 2012, detainees transported by ICE Air aircraft will be fully restrained by the use of handcuffs, waist chains and leg irons during CONUS and OCONUs fights.”CONUS and OCONUS refer to US military flights that travel between the “Continental United States” (CONUS) – meaning the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC — and locations “Outside the Continental United States” (OCONUS), which includes Alaska, Hawaii, and any overseas military bases or destinations.
Incidentally, amid the raging controversy over inhuman treatment of Indian immigrants on the US flights, the White House today posted a clip on X, showing deportees being chained and shackled. The clip, marked “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight”, shows deportees chained around legs and waist by US cops before being sent on flights to their respective nations. One deportee is seen in the video boarding the flight with chains on legs.
Asked why US deportation flights are landing in Amritsar — an issue repeatedly flagged by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who has accused BJP-ruled Centre of defaming Punjab by sending deportation flights to the state — government sources said, “The reason is higher number of deportees from Punjab. The three US flights that landed in Amritsar between February 5 and 16, brought back 333 Indian immigrants. Of these, 126 are from Punjab. That happens to be the highest,” said an official source.
The government’s break-up list of Indian returnees from the US, shared today, shows 126 of the 333 deportees (37.8%) are from Punjab; 110 (33%) from Haryana; 74 (22.2%) from Gujarat; 8 (2.4%) from UP; five from Maharashtra (1.5%); two each from Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Chandigarh and one each from J&K and Uttarakhand. The break-up further shows that so far 262 men, 42 women, 29 children (18 boys; 11 girls) have returned from the US with their families.
BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, who hails from Amritsar, said the AAP government in the state must stop politicising the issue and apprehend traffickers who played with the lives of lakhs of innocent youth. “Bhagwant Mann needs to answer who has been sending the innocent youth of Punjab illegally to the US and why are they not being caught. Why are there no jobs in Punjab? Which traffickers spoiled their lives and forced them to sell lands and houses. What did Mann do against these traffickers?” he said.
‘Chose Punjab landing as max from state’
An official source said the Amritsar airport was chosen for the landing of the flights as the maximum 126 deportees belonged to Punjab. The three US flights that landed in Amritsar between February 5 and 16 brought back 333 Indian immigrants from that country
Third Edition of India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone-III Underway In Rajasthan
The third edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces exercise, CYCLONE-III, is currently taking place at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. This 14-day military drill began on February 10, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on February 23, 2025.
Key Features of CYCLONE-III
Joint Training Focus: The exercise emphasises various critical skills, including:
Close Quarter Battle (CQB) drills
Survival techniques
Demolition training
Combat medical skills
These high-intensity drills aim to enhance the soldiers’ effectiveness in responding to complex operational scenarios, particularly in desert and semi-desert environments.
The training sessions are designed to improve agility, endurance, and precision among troops from both nations, fostering seamless cooperation during real-world combat situations. The exercise culminates in a rigorous 48-hour validation phase, where participants will conduct simulated Counter-Terrorism operations.
CYCLONE-III serves as a platform for showcasing India’s indigenous defense capabilities while enhancing diplomatic and military ties between India and Egypt. This collaboration not only strengthens tactical capabilities but also reinforces the strategic partnership focused on counter-terrorism and regional security.
The ongoing exercise highlights the commitment of both nations to operational excellence and their readiness for joint missions in challenging environments.
ANI
Concerned Over Pakistan Army, ISI Presence In Bangladesh’: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has expressed concerns regarding the presence of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Bangladesh. Dwivedi mentioned that India is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate actions when required.
Reports indicate that the ISI is seeking to re-establish its presence in strategic areas of Bangladesh, potentially threatening India’s security. These areas, including Cox’s Bazar, Ukhia, Teknaf, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sherpur, were part of East Pakistan before Bangladesh’s formation in 1971. Before 1971, the Pakistan army had a presence in these strategic areas and supported insurgent groups active in northeastern states like Nagaland and Mizoram, creating challenges for India.
In an interview with ANI, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi referred to Pakistan as the “epicentre of terrorism,” emphasising India’s concern that Pakistan should not be able to use its territory to send terrorists into India. He stated, “I had used the word epicentre of terrorism for a particular country (Pakistan). Now those countrymen, if they go to any other place and they happen to be our neighbour, as far as I am concerned, I should be concerned about it. That they should not be able to use that soil to send terrorists to India. That is as far as that is concerned”
The ISI’s efforts involve collaborating with pro-Islamist and pro-Jamaat factions within the Bangladesh Army. This has raised concerns about potential infiltration and the use of these bases as training grounds for insurgent groups targeting India.
General Dwivedi told ANI that Pakistan’s agenda extends beyond Kashmir and is focused on fuelling an anti-India stance. He stated that “the idea of India is their major criticality” and that an anti-India stance is the common agenda that unifies Pakistan. Dwivedi added that Pakistan will continue to emphasize Kashmir to maintain this agenda.
Dwivedi’s statements came in response to a question about whether Pakistan has accepted Kashmir as part of India. He used an analogy from the movie ‘Guide’ to illustrate Pakistan’s position, saying they are stuck in their stance like a madman who refused to eat until it rained. Dwivedi also referenced Robert Kaplan’s book ‘Revenge of Geography,’ questioning whether both sides of the Indus could ever be one.
ANI
HAL Light Utility Helicopter All Set For Induction: A Big Milestone For Defence Self-Reliance
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is poised for induction into the Indian Armed Forces, marking a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of military self-reliance. This helicopter was showcased prominently at Aero India 2025, where it impressed attendees with its advanced capabilities and indigenous design.
The LUH is entirely designed and manufactured in India, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative. All components are produced at HAL’s facility in Tumkur, Karnataka, ensuring complete domestic production and reducing reliance on foreign technology.
Technical Specifications:
Maximum Speed: 235 km/h
Operational Range: 350 km
Service Ceiling: Capable of flying at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet, making it suitable for high-altitude operations like those in Siachen.
Payload Capacity: Can carry up to 500 kg or accommodate 10 personnel.
Operational Roles: The LUH is versatile, designed for various missions including troop transport, cargo movement, reconnaissance, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a 3-ton class helicopter designed for various missions, including emergency medical services, troop transport, utility, search and rescue, and reconnaissance. It features a fully-powered flight control system and a glass cockpit with a Smart Cockpit Display System (SCDS). The LUH also incorporates a state-of-the-art Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).
It is powered by a single 750 KW rated Shakti-1U turboshaft engine derived from Safran Ardiden, co-developed by HAL and Turbomeca. it has a four-bladed foldable hinge-less main rotor and a four-bladed composite bearing-less tail rotor. The hinge-less rotor system ensures high agility and manoeuvrability.
The helicopter supports a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system along with a backup fuel control system. The flight control system and autopilot software are supported by Safran Electronics.
It features a skid-based landing gear arrangement. LUH is the only helicopter in the 3-ton class to have foldable rotors. HAL plans to increase the indigenous content to over 60 percent with supplies from many Indian companies.
LUH has a glass cockpit configuration called Smart Cockpit Display System (SCDS) which is equipped with 3 Smart Multi-Function Displays (SMFD).
HAL is also developing the HTSE-1200 to replace Shakti-1U engines with an indigenous solution.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is the latest helicopter design to flow from the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. The Dhruv is a utility helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Its development started in 1984, it first flew in 1992, and it entered service in 2002. The LUH appears to be a smaller version of the ALH, using a single engine. The LUH is a 3-ton helicopter, while the Dhruv is a 5.5-ton helicopter and looks nearly two-thirds its volume.
The HAL Rudra, also known as ALH-WSI, is an armed version of the Dhruv. Nearly 100 Rudras are flying, and 75 more are on order. The HAL Prachand is a multi-role light combat helicopter (LCH) that evolved from the experience gained from the Rudra. Nineteen Prachand helicopters have been built and are in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army (IA), with 156 more planned. The Prachand LCH is India’s first indigenously developed combat helicopter with ground attack and aerial combat capabilities. It can destroy enemy defences, conduct search and rescue missions, engage in anti-tank operations, and perform scouting missions.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was designed and developed by the Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWR&DC), a division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The LUH is intended to replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in service with the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The need to replace these aging helicopters was recognized as an impending need during the 1990s and 2000s.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has achieved several milestones. In January 2019, the LUH successfully completed cold weather trials. Between August 24 and September 2, 2019, high altitude hot weather trials were also successfully completed. By February 7, 2020, three prototypes had cumulatively performed over 550 flights, and the LUH received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). The Army completed its Initial Acceptance Trial on October 7, 2021, and HAL LUH is now ready for induction by the Indian Armed Forces.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is nearing the final stages of its development and certification process, with significant milestones achieved recently.
The Indian Army requested a final demonstration trial before the LUH enters mass production. This trial was completed on September 9, 2020, and included evaluations of envelope expansion, performance, flying qualities, payload capacity, and landing capabilities at high altitudes in the Siachen Glacier region.
As of January 2025, the flight control system software from Safran Electronics is undergoing certification. Once this is completed, the LUH will be ready for production. The aircraft has already met all Preliminary Joint Services Qualitative Requirements (PJSQR) set by the Armed Forces.
The LUH showcased its capabilities with an acrobatic display at Aero India 2025, further demonstrating its readiness for operational deployment.
The Indian Armed Forces have plans to procure between 175 to 400 production variant helicopters. A contract for 12 Limited Series Production (LSP) variants has been approved, with expectations for delivery to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The mass production will take place at HAL’s new facility in Tumkur.
The LUH is designed to replace aging helicopters like the Chetak and Cheetah, addressing a significant gap in the Indian Army’s light helicopter fleet.
Induction Timeline And Production Plans
HAL has set an ambitious target to produce over 1,000 LUH helicopters over the next two decades. The initial deliveries are expected to commence soon, with the first six helicopters being delivered in phases from December 2024 through June 2025. This induction will gradually replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently used by the Indian Air Force.
Significance
The LUH’s induction is a crucial step towards enhancing India’s military capabilities, particularly in challenging terrains. It reflects a broader strategy to bolster indigenous defense production and reduce dependency on foreign military equipment. The successful development and impending deployment of the LUH signify India’s commitment to advancing its aerospace sector and achieving greater self-reliance in defence technology.
HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter represents a significant leap forward for India’s defence capabilities, showcasing indigenous innovation and reinforcing the country’s strategic objectives in military aviation.
This piece was written by Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) for First Post
The Forgotten Martyrs of Ajnala: The Battle for Last Rites and Justice
The year was 1857, and Bharat was ablaze. The great uprising—what the British tried to dismiss as a mere “mutiny”—was, in truth, a war for independence. From Delhi to Kanpur, from Lucknow to Jhansi, the sons of Bharat rose as one, determined to reclaim their land from foreign rule.
Among these warriors were the 282 soldiers of the 26th Native Bengal Infantry, stationed at Mian Meer (now in Pakistan). They had taken an oath to fight for Bharat, to stand against the tyranny of the British. And so, when the moment came, they killed their British officers and began their march toward Delhi.
But fate had other plans.
As they followed the Ravi River, moving through Punjab, the locals aided them, feeding them, hiding them, guiding them on their way. But treachery lurked in the shadows. A British informer betrayed their location to Frederic Cooper, the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar.
And so began the dark chapter of the Ajnala Massacre.
Betrayal, Slaughter, and the Well of Death
Cooper, an Englishman desperate to make a name for himself, assembled a regiment of British forces and marched toward Ajnala. There, in the dead of night, they ambushed the unsuspecting soldiers.
Some warriors were killed on the spot, their blood staining the soil they had fought for. But 282 were captured alive.
They were crammed into a small, suffocating room. There was no air, no water, no escape.
By morning, 35 of them were dead, their breath stolen by the crushing weight of their comrades. They had suffocated in the darkness, fighting till their last moment for a breath of air.
But Cooper was not done.
He dragged the remaining 247 out, their hands tied behind their backs. He lined them up in groups of ten, and without hesitation, ordered their execution.
The British officers stood at point-blank range and fired into their skulls. But even in their death, the warriors did not break. Some clutched tightly to their murtis of Bhagwan Shiva and Hanuman, their faith giving them strength even in the face of death.
For the British, bullets were too precious. So, in an act of pure cruelty, some soldiers were shot with stone bullets. These were not meant to kill instantly—they were meant to shatter bones, rupture flesh, prolong agony. And then, the final horror—the well.
The lifeless and dying bodies were dragged across the bloodied ground and thrown into a deep well—a pit of darkness that would become their unmarked grave. Some were still gasping for breath, their bodies broken but their spirits unyielding. The British, not satisfied, poured lime and charcoal into the well, ensuring that the bodies would decay faster, erasing all evidence. Then, silence. The massacre was complete. The British erased their names, wiped them from history, and ensured no one would remember. But history, like truth, cannot remain buried forever.
Alam Beg, a soldier from Kanpur, escaped Ajnala’s massacre but was later captured. The British reserved a fate worse than death for him—execution by cannon. His severed head was taken as a trophy to England, where it was later found in a British pub, forgotten, with a chilling note on his eyeball socket: “I am Alam Beg. I revolted against the British government. I am a traitor.” His family, traced to New Delhi, still waits to perform his last rites. But the British refuse to return his remains.
The Man Who Refused to Forget: Surinder Kochhar’s Obsession For 150 years, the Ajnala Massacre remained hidden. No history books spoke of it. No memorial stood for the martyrs. Then, in 2003, fate intervened. Surinder Kochhar, a journalist from Ajnala, was wandering the streets of London when he stumbled upon an old book in a second-hand shop. He flipped through the pages, and then—his heart stopped.
Ajnala.
The book was written by Frederic Cooper himself, the very man who had ordered the massacre. And in its pages, he boasted of his crime. Kochhar could not believe what he had found. He bought the book, returned to Bharat, and began searching for the well. But history had been buried too well. There were no records. No official acknowledgment. No map marking the location of the well. Yet, history is never truly forgotten—it lingers in whispers, in the memories of the old. Kochhar spoke to elders, and some remembered. “Our ancestors spoke of a well… a well of bones… the British killed them and dumped them inside.” And so, the search intensified.
By 2013, after years of relentless pursuit, Kochhar found the well. But there was one problem—a Gurudwara had been built over it. Removing a religious structure was no easy task. Kochhar met with the Gurudwara committee, pleading with them to move the structure, explaining the truth.
Finally, after much struggle, they agreed to shift it 100 meters away. But even then, no one listened. Kochhar wrote to the Indian government, the Archaeological Survey of India, the Prime Minister’s Office—no one responded. So, he took matters into his own hands.
The Digging: A Moment of Truth On February 28, 2014, Kochhar and his volunteers began digging. But after six feet, there was nothing. The volunteers wanted to stop. And then, Kochhar made his legendary statement: “If the remains do not come out, bury me and my family right here.” The digging continued. And then—the bones began to emerge.
90 skulls
170 jawbones
Over 5,000 teeth
Coins, medals, murtis of Bhagwan Shiva and Hanuman
The truth had been found.
But this was not done scientifically. So there was a lot of damage. Additionally, if the ASI and Government had acted, the well could’ve been turned into a live museum.
Science vs. Lies: The Fight for Truth The British had tried to erase them. And now, so-called historians with an agenda tried to distort the truth. They said: “These were victims of 1947 Partition.” “These were British soldiers killed by Indians.” “These were random villagers.” But science crushed these lies. DNA testing by Dr. Gyaneshwer Chaubey, Dr. J.S. Sehrawat, Dr Niraj Rai and Dr. K. Thangaraj proved:
The remains belonged to South Asians from the Gangetic Plains.
They matched the soldiers of the 26th Native Bengal Infantry.
Forensic evidence showed they were executed at point-blank range.
Truth had won.
The Struggle to Perform the Last Rites Even after 150 years, the fight is not for revenge but for dharma. My professor, Dr. Gyaneshwer Chaubey, and his team of scientists are still working tirelessly to trace the families of these martyrs. Their goal? To give them their last rites according to Sanatana Dharma (for Hindus) and Islam (for Muslims). But the British government continues to deny our requests for their names. They meticulously keep all records, yet refuse to release this one. This is a continuation of their colonial grip on our minds. They wiped out the names so that we would forget. They still refuse to acknowledge the 1857 war as a national uprising.
The Fight for Justice Is Not Over
As Veer Savarkar wrote in The Indian War of Independence 1857: “The war begun on the 10th of May 1857 is not over… nor can it ever cease till our Motherland stands free!”. It is time for all Bharatiyas (Hindus and Muslims) whose forefathers fought together in the 1857 war, to come together.
We must demand that the Indian government put pressure on Britain. The British meticulously document everything—then why are they not releasing the names? This is not just a fight for history. This is a fight for dharma, for justice, for Bharat. The war is not over until we do not stand free of the colonial burdens. It will be on until the last rites are done.
China Air Show۔ US worries about China are not baseless. OMG! What the hell
