Army men patrol a village in Shopian district during a massive search operation on Thursday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Srinagar, May 5

The National Conference on Friday said the door-to-door search operation conducted on Thursday in Shopian district was indicative of an “unofficial military rule” in the state and termed it as “another low” for the state government.“It is the first clear indication of an unofficial military rule being invoked in the Valley and the return of such operations after nearly 15 years was another low for the PDP-led government,” said NC spokesman Junaid Mattu. — TNS

PANDORI SIDHWAN (TARN TARAN): Pandori Sidhwan village in Tarn Taran district, is known as ‘Faujian Da Pind’.

With around 100 men from the village serving in the army and around as many retired from the army and paramilitary forces makes this village proud. But the recent killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistan army and mutilation of their bodies have made the village residents angry.

As one moves around in the village, one finds that almost every house has a son serving in the army or one who has come back after serving.

The village ground sees a lot of buzz in the morning as numerous youngsters reach their for workouts to prepare for joining the armed forces.

Such is the anger against Pakistan over its recent acts that many villagers staged a protest on Wednesday and burnt an effigy of the neighbouring country. They urged the central government to respond in a befitting manner.

Talking to HT, retired Subedar Gurdeep Singh, whose father and grandfather had served in the forces, said, “It is very painful to see that Indian soldiers are being killed on the border and evewn more shocking is the treatment meted out to their bodies. This has angered our village, which has sent many youngsters to the army. India must punish the enemy and give a befitting reply.”

Joginder Singh, who took part in the 1962 and 1965 wars, said, “Our village has a tradition of sending youngsters to the army. But today, the village is sad and angry. The bodies of Indian soldiers being mutilated by the enemy nation is very painful. Today, the entire village and the nation is pained. The Indian government must hit back in the best way. That will give us some relief.”

Seeking more powers for the army, Joginder said, “Every time our soldiers are killed, statements follow. But it is time to act,” he added.

Another villager, Sukhwinder Singh, who retired from the BSF, said, “We are a bigger nation and we need to act tough so that our soldiers are not treated like this. Pakistan is just taking our humanity as our weakness. It’s time to teach them a lesson. We are a village of soldiers, so we are upset.”

Another soldier, Daljit Singh, who retired in 2012, said, “The ground situation can be exactly judged by a sentry on a post and not the Prime Minister. The government must give a free hand to the army and troops should not be left waiting for orders.”

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2

Andaman and Nicobar Lt Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi has assured an SGPC delegation that three roads in Port Blair would be named after Punjabi martyrs of the freedom movement — Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani and Madan Lal Dhingra.SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar had sent a delegation to Andaman and Nicobar islands following reports that the role of Punjabi freedom fighters — who had been lodged in Port Blair’s Cellular Jail — was being underplayed in the light-and-sound programme held daily in the prison.Akali MP Prem Singh Chandumajra had raised the issue recently in the Lok Sabha, following which a report was sought by the Union Tourism Ministry from the Andaman authorities.In a press note, members of the delegation said they had urged Prof Mukhi to provide due space to Punjabis in the Kala Pani narrative.Delegation members said Prof Mukhi promised that the light-and-sound programme would be revisited within the next six months. The Lt Governor also invited suggestions and proposals to be incorporated in the revised programme.Meanwhile, Chandumajra said he would urge Prof Mukhi to name roads after Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna as well.

Honour for freedom fighters

• Three roads in Port Blair will be named after Punjabi martyrs of the freedom movement — Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani and Madan Lal Dhingra
• SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar had sent a delegation to Andaman and Nicobar islands following reports that the role of Punjabi freedom fighters — who had been lodged in Port Blair’s Cellular Jail — was being underplayed in the light-and-sound programme held daily in the prison

To avenge mutilation of its jawans, forces could use artillery to inflict damage on neighbour

NEWDELHI: Defence minister Arun Jaitley said the sacrifice of the two soldiers mutilated by Pakistan in Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector on Monday “will not go in vain,” with the army calling it a “despicable act” that will be “appropriately responded to.”

HT PHOTOArmy chief General Bipin Rawat arrives in Srinagar on Monday. Rawat is here to analyse the situation post the mutilation of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control in Poonch.

Army sources said one of the options for the force was to bring artillery to the fight along the LoC to cause maximum damage to Pakistani posts and inflict casualties on the neighbouring army. The army has chosen this option on numerous occasions.

The army had used the Bofors guns to destroy several Pakistani army posts last October following the mutilation of Sepoy Mandeep Singh in Macchil sector in Kashmir’s Kupwara.

In 2015 too, Pakistani provocations compelled India to shed its restraint and lift a self-imposed restriction on deploying artillery against Pakistan army.

Officers who have served in J&K said another option could be to carry out similar cross-border raids at the tactical level to exact revenge for the killing of the two security personnel. “Such counter assaults are not uncommon. Battalions deployed along the LoC have their plans in place for such assaults,” said an officer.

However, serving and retired officers said the scale of the BAT (border action team — an amalgam of terrorists and Pakistan army regulars) action did not merit surgical strikes like the ones carried out last September after 19 soldiers were killed in an attack on army camp in Uri.

“Everyone would know which post the rogue team came from. The army should deploy heavy weapons to flatten that post,” Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a force director general of military operations. As a major general, Bhatia had commanded the 25 Infantry Division in 2007-08. The sector in which the two soldiers were mutilated come under the same division.

Apart from military action, Bhatia suggested that the border trading points along the LoC should be shut to make Pakistan feel the pinch.

BAT action was responsible for Indian soldier Hemraj’s gruesome beheading and the coldblooded murder of five other soldiers in separate cross-border assaults in 2013. Battalion commanders along the LoC are issued directions from time to time to stay prepared for short and swift BAT raids.

However, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) called for action at a “multi-layered level” to turn the heat on Pakistan. He said, “Tactical operations are not causing pain to Pakistan…It has to be dealt with at military, political and diplomatic level. Send their diplomats back, abrogate international treaties…”

Indian Army soldiers patrol near the Line of Control in Poonch district after a ceasefire violation by Pakistan. PTI

New Delhi, May 2Camps of Pakistan-backed militant groups have mushroomed across the Line of Control in Pok, with 20 more coming up since the Indian Army launched a surgical strike on terror launch pads last September, officials said on Tuesday.When the Indian Army had mounted the surgical assault, there were around 35 training camps of various militant groups across the LoC and many were dismantled and shifted deep inside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.Quoting intelligence reports, government officials said at least 20 new terrorist camps have come up in the last four months, while the earlier ones have also returned closer to the LoC, taking their number from 35 to 55.All these camps are “actively operating”, they said.The disclosure by the government came a day after Pakistan Army’s Border Action Teams (BAT), which consist of both army regulars and militants, shot dead and beheaded two Indian soldiers in an ambush they had laid inside Indian territory.In the first four months of 2017, there were 60 infiltration attempts along the LoC in which 15 terrorists managed to enter into Jammu and Kashmir.Quoting intelligence reports, officials said as of now around 160 terrorists are active in the Kashmir valley and their Pakistani handlers have instructed them to intensify attacks on security forces to keep the “pot boiling and the LoC active”.They said since the state government will start functioning in the state’s summer capital Srinagar from May 8 after the ‘Darbar Move’, militant groups were trying to boost the morale of their cadre by intensifying attacks on Indian security forces.Yesterday’s assault by a BAT contingent is part of this strategy, they said. — PTI

The wreath-laying ceremony at the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar on Friday. Tribune photo

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 28

The security forces are zeroing in on a newly infiltrated Lashkar-e-Toiba group for the fidayeen attack on the Panzgam artillery garrison in the frontier Kupwara district that left a Captain and two soldiers dead.While the Army on Friday intensified the combing operation to track down an injured militant involved in the attack, the investigation has revealed that three fidayeen who stormed the camp belonged to the Lashkar.“Lashkar is behind the fidayeen attack,” a senior defence official said. However, no militant group has so far owned responsibility for the attack.The officer said it was yet not clear whether the militants involved in the attack were fresh infiltrators or were active in or around the area for some time. “The infiltration possibility is being checked,” the officer said.However, sources said the three-member fidayeen group might have crossed the Line of Control during night earlier this week along the Doomari ridge in the Keran sector. The Army investigators were analysing the GPS sets and maps that were recovered from the two slain militants.The Army carried out a search operation around the Panzgam garrison and the thick forest area from where the militants are believed to have entered the highly fortified Army base after cutting the fence wire.“Many Army units are combing various areas to nab the injured militant,” a source said. All health centres across the district are being kept under watch as the injured militant might be brought for treatment.Meanwhile, the state government imposed restrictions in some parts of Kupwara on Friday to foil protests over the death of a civilian, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, in the alleged Army firing on protesters seeking the bodies of the two slain militants on Thursday.“The situation was normal across Kupwara and there were no report of any violent incident,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain.

Tributes paid to three bravehearts

Srinagar, April 28

Rich tributes were paid here today to three Army personnel, including Captain Ayush Yadav, who lost their lives in an encounter with militants at Panzgam village of Kupwara district on Thursday.Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu laid wreaths on the bodies of Captian Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gurjar and Naik Botta Venkata Ramana at the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar this morning and paid rich tributes to them.Officers from the civil administration and other security forces were also present at the wreath-laying ceremony.“The Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and remains committed to their dignity and well-being,” a defence spokesman said.The spokesman said Captian Yadav, hailing from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was survived by his parents.He said Subedar Bhoop Singh Gurjar of Rajasthan had joined the Army in 1992 and was remembered as a true patriot. He is survived by his wife and two children, he added.Naik Botta Venkata Ramana hailed from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and is survived by his wife and two children, the spokesman said. TNS

Raipur, April 24

At least 25 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and six wounded today in a Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. A paramilitary patrol, 99-personnel strong, sanitising the area for a road to be laid, was attacked at 12:25 pm in Kala Pathar area of south Bastar, close to the Chintagufa-Burkapal-Bheji axis, the hotbed of Naxal violence that has seen a series of such attacks in the past. All troops belonged to the 74th Battalion, sources said. Reinforcements, including CoBRA commandos, have been rushed to the site.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“We have lost 25 men.

We are still to account for all personnel. A search is on,” said a senior CRPF officer. While 11 bodies were recovered first, 12 more were found during combing operations, he said. A jawan died on way to hospital. The company commander, Raghubir Singh, an Inspector-rank officer, was among those killed. An injured jawan, brought to a hospital here, said they were attacked by 300 Maoists. “The Naxals first sent villagers to check our position. I also saw some women Naxals. They were all in black uniform and carried sophisticated weapons, such as AK assault rifles.”  A considerable number of Naxals are believed to have been killed in retaliatory action, according to the CRPF.  Officials said the ambush set up by the Naxals was as deadly as the one on March 11 in Bheji area of Sukma district in which 12 personnel had died. Another survivor said the Naxals, who were in hiding, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed hand grenades, taking the patrol by  surprise. The wounded troopers, who were airlifted and hospitalised, were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector RP Hembram and constables Swaroop Kumar, Mohinder Singh, Jitendra Kumar, Sher Mohammed and Latoo Oraon. The incident comes at a time when the country’s largest paramilitary force is without a full-time chief.  Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi reviewed the situation in the aftermath of the attack at North Block.A “distressed” Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, cut short his Delhi visit and rushed to Raipur. “Strongly condemn attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh; condolences to families of deceased and prayers for injured,” President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sent Minister of State Hansraj Ahir to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation. “Extremely pained to know about the killing. My tributes to the martyrs and condolences to their families,” he tweeted. — PTI

Force without regular chief for 2 months

• The CRPF remains headless for almost two months now with the government yet to appoint its regular Director General (DG), even as the country’s largest paramilitary force lost 38 personnel in line of duty in two major ambushes during the period. Post K Durga Prasad’s retirement on February 28, the Union Home Ministry appointed Additional DG Sudeep Lakhtakia to hold the charge in “additional” capacity. While officials in the Home Ministry say the appointment of a full-time DG is expected soon, those in the CRPF maintain there was “no word” yet. A senior Home Ministry official said a panel of eligible IPS officers had already been prepared but there was no finality on the name of the next DG for the nearly 3-lakh-strong force so far. PTI

Afghan security personnel stand guard near the site of attack in northern Afghanistan. AFP

New Delhi, April 22

India on Saturday strongly condemned the terror attack on an army base in northern Afghanistan, saying it is a stark reminder of the need to immediately dismantle safe havens sustaining terrorism from outside that country’s borders.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The External Affairs Ministry, in a statement, said India remained steadfast in its support to Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism.

At least 140 soldiers were killed and wounded in a coordinated Taliban attack on the army base near the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday.

“The terrorist attack is a stark reminder of the need to immediately dismantle the safe havens and sanctuaries that support and sustain terrorism in Afghanistan from outside its borders,” the MEA said, in an apparent reference to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

It said the government and the people of India extend their deepest condolences and stand with the government and people of Afghanistan at this difficult moment.

“India remains steadfast in its support to Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism and bringing perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice, wherever they maybe,” the statement said. — PTI

In all, 20, 295 candidates register for Army rally

Aspirant take various physical test during the Army recruitment drive at the Dholewal military camp in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan.

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 18

An Army recruitment rally commenced at the Dholewal Military Station, Ludhiana, under the aegis of the Headquarters Recruiting Zone (Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir) today.The rally is for candidates from Ludhiana, Moga, Roopnagar and SAS Nagar (Mohali).Brig JS Samyal, Deputy Director General, Recruitment (Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir), said 20, 295 candidates had registered for the ongoing rally in Ludhiana. He said there was a 30 per cent increase in the candidate registration than the previous year.He said: “The candidates are being screened for drug intake by the medical officers. Selected candidates would then undergo a written test on May 28 and those who clear the test will be dispatched to various training centres.”Brig JS Samyal said the recruitment process was computerised and absolutely transparent, involving independent and separate board of officers. He exhorted the desirable candidates not to fall prey to touts and undesirable elements and participate whole heartedly to meet their aspirations of serving the nation by joining the Indian Army.Recruiting Director Col Kamal Kishore and other Army officials were present.

ulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was one of the most consequential political figures of Pakistan, shifted the focus of the country from clergy to the economy. He gave Pakistan its constitution and confidence as a nation. He was hanged on April 4, 1979.

Bhutto: An aristocrat and a populist.

The Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in Simla. His daughter Benazir Bhutto and India’s Foreign Minister Swaran Singh look on.

Nusrat Bhutto after her husband’s execution.

IT was on April 4, 1979, that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in Rawalpindi District Jail at 2 am by hangman Tara Masih. The Jail Superintendent Yar Mohammed, then Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi Saeed Mehdi, CSP the then SSP Rawalpindi Jehanzeb Burki, PSP  and SP  (Special Branch) Raja Mehmood, along with the C.O. of 17th Punjab Regiment Lt Col Rafi Alam were were witness to his death.When his body was buried at Garhi Khuda Baksh in Larkana District of Sindh (Pakistan), it marked the end of the life of a popular political leader of Pakistan. Leadership is generally thought to be a desirable trait, except when a leader becomes too conscious of his or her position and refuses to acknowledge any rank and file, but imposes and implements his own philosophies. Under this category, however, there happen to be such leaders who built states and empires, and have marvellous achievements to their credit. Leadership in fascist ideologies may take on a special role, but in normal terms it is seen as an embodiment of the people and the nation. Bhutto was one leader who was hugely liked by people but vaultingly  dictatorial in exercise of power. Born on January 5, 1928, to Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto and Lakhi Bai. His family owned 1. 21 lakh acres of land which was spread over 39 villages in Larkana, District of Sindh. His mother, Lakhi Bai, (his father’s third wife) was a Hindu from Pune. Bhutto was educated in Bombay’s Cathedral High School, University of California at Berkeley and later Christ Church College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. He returned to Pakistan in November, 1953 and was taken into Ayub Khan’s cabinet in 1958 at the age of 30. He held the portfolios of  National Resources, Fuel and Power and Kashmir Affairs. Later on, he also became the Foreign Minister. He was opposed to the Tashkent agreement with India and resigned from the Cabinet in January, 1966 as Foreign Minister. He mobilised students, youth, labour and farmers against Ayub Khan’s  regime and started a country-wide agitation.  After the defeat and surrender of the Pakistan army on December 16, 1971 at Dacca he took charge as the Chief Martial Law Administrator on December 20, 1971. He had supported the Pakistan army’s crackdown in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) with gleeful sadism. Bhutto was handsome and dapper, with Rajput lineage. He had a glad eye and responded to overtures from beautiful women. Bhutto came to Shimla for negotiations on June 28, 1972 and signed the Simla Agreement with Indira Gandhi.  DP Dhar recalled that he was at his diplomatic best and recited many Urdu couplets during the talks with  Indira Gandhi, including, “Dushmani shauq se karo magar yeh gunjaiysh rahe, phir kabhi dost ban jayain toh sharminda na hon.” (Be enemies by all means but never take it to a level, where in case you become friends again, you feel ashamed.)He gave much thought to military reforms and had read on how Hitler and Mussolini had dealt with rebellious generals as well as how Napoleon had accomplished all that he did. He had closely seen Iskander Mirza,  Ayub and Yahya and knew the “mind” of the Pakistan military and its temptations and blindspots, its singular strengths and weaknesses. He ruled like a medieval monarch and was imperious, rather arrogant, in his conduct. He was idiosyncratic and had a behaviour disorder. He would  humiliate and insult a colleague or a general in public. Bhutto began Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme with zeal. He held the World Islamic summit in June, 1974 at Lahore  during the post-oil crisis phase. Bhutto has a number of historic achievements to his credit. Bhutto’s foundation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was a setback for the reactionary forces in a country long dominated by the Right. The slogan of “Food, Shelter and Clothing” shifted the focus of Pakistan politics from theological to economic issues. This focus has never shifted back. Bhutto nationalised the economy, which was yet another blow to the capitalist West. During his tenure, there was a massive transfer of resources towards the dominant rural economy by setting higher prices for agricultural products. The Constitution of 1973, passed unanimously, is yet another lasting legacy of Bhutto. He established the Pakistan Steel Mills, Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila, Port Qasim Authority, Quaid-i-Azam University, Allama Iqbal Open University, Karachi Nuclear Power Plant — thus, fortifying the prosperity and integrity. Using his expeience as a Foreign Minister, Bhutto cemented Pakistan’s relations with Afro-Asian and Islamic countries. It was in September 1976 that the then US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger warned him of grave consequences if he ever put his nuclear weapons programme on track. “You would be a horrible example for others to see,” Kissinger had threatened. Bhutto held the 1977 elections which were allegedly rigged, leading to a nation-wide agitation by all opposition parties under the banner of the Pakistan National Alliance.  More than 300 persons were killed in police and army firings and on July 5, 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq conducted Operation “Fair Play” and imposed martial law in Pakistan. General Zia had come  from an Arain Muslim family (Kamboj and Sainis converted to Islam)  of Jalandhar and his father Akbar Ali was a head clerk in the Ministry of Defence Services in British India. His frugal background notwithstanding, Zia had graduated in History (Hons) in 1944 from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He was commissioned into the 2nd cavalry in June, 1945.Bhutto was tried in a sham, nay charade, trial in the high court and the supreme court of Pakistan, leading to his death by hanging. Bhutto would be assessed as a third world leader who wanted to do a lot of things for his poor country but wittingly or rather advertently tread on a path which annoyed super powers and regional giants, leading to his ultimate removal from power and the world. Bhutto used to say that a leader must know the aspirations of the people and on the basis of those aspirations give the people a bold direction. A deception in this contract is most fatal.  However, legacy of ZA Bhutto still haunts and irritates Pakistan’s powerful establishment because he repeatedly said the more the dominance of the army, the shorter the life of Pakistan. The writer is an IAS officer of the Punjab Cadre.