Two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in an accident in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar died due to bursting of a water tank at a camp in Nyoma area, 150 km…

Two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in an accident in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar died due to bursting of a water tank at a camp in Nyoma area, 150 km from Leh in southern Ladakh, the official said. They said that a police investigation is underway in the incident which occurred on Sunday.

While the exact cause of accident is still not known, a statement by the Fire and Fury Corps based in Ladakh read, “GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and all ranks salute Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib Subedar Sunil Kumar, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Ladakh on February 16, and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”

Northern Army commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar saluted the supreme sacrifice of the fallen soldiers.

“Lt Gen Kumar and all ranks of Dhruva Command salute the supreme sacrifice of bravehearts Sub Santosh Kumar and Nb Sub Sunil Kumar who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Ladakh,” the northern command wrote on X on Tuesday.

Sources informed that both the soldiers were part of Unit 71 of Engineer Regiment.

Row over martyr’s school reeks of intolerance

An abominable attempt has been made to erase the memory of a martyr — and that too a Param Vir Chakra awardee. Six decades after Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid took on the might of Patton tanks and made the supreme sacrifice in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, his family had to fight a battle of its own to get his name reinstated at the main gate of his school in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. ‘Shaheed Hamid Vidyalaya’ was not good enough for the authorities; they not only renamed it ‘PM Shri Composite School’ but also promptly effected the change at the entrance to the institution. The outraged kin complained to the headmaster, who asked them to approach the local education officer. The glaring omission has finally been rectified, but the whole controversy reeks of religious intolerance and insensitivity.

Havildar Hamid’s award citation mentions in glowing terms that his bravery “in the face of constant enemy fire was in the highest traditions of the Army”. Naam, namak, nishan — these words sum up the code of honour of the Indian defence forces. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy are secular organisations — their officers and soldiers serve the nation with pride irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or gender. The entire country owes gratitude to bravehearts like Hamid, not just the community to

Degrading a war hero simply because he professed a certain religion shows how deep the communal rot runs. Exemplary action should be taken against overzealous officials who stooped so low. They were apparently trying to please their political bosses and chose a soft target. Thankfully, the widespread uproar has exposed their nefarious designs. The incident should serve as a warning to the political leadership and the bureaucracy to desist from chipping away at the military’s apolitical ethos.

Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village,…

Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village, predominantly inhabited by the nomadic Gujjar community, has been at the centre of these developments.

In December 2023, three local men were detained by the Army for questioning following an ambush on an Army vehicle that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers. The deaths of the three men and the circulation of a viral video showing their interrogation sparked significant concern among the government and the Army. In response, the Army adopted the village and initiated various developmental works in the area.

On Tuesday, the Army organised an awareness lecture at Topa Pir village to inform students about opportunities to join the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and Sainik School. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the importance of education and the government’s initiatives to guide students in making informed decisions about their academic and career paths.

“The aim of the event was to create awareness amongst students about the importance and significance of literacy and various initiatives by the government for education and to understand the various degree options available to make informed decisions,” an Army spokesperson said.

During the event, a representative of the Army addressed the students, highlighting the region’s untapped potential. “He also conveyed to the locals that tremendous potential in terms of talented and academically bright students is available in the region, however, due to lack of proper guidance, they fail to harness their full potential. Keeping this in perspective, the interaction was carried out to tap the raw potential from these students and urge them to join Armed Forces through RIMC, Sainik School and other educational institutions, as well as through Pre-Commissioning Training Academies,” the spokesperson added.

The session also discussed modalities for guidance, coaching and assistance for students interested in joining the Armed Forces.

The video has sparked a debate over the responsibilities of governments in handling such sensitive matters

In India, several deportees shared their agonising experiences, stating that they were subjected to physical restraints—both handcuffs and leg chains—throughout their flight from the US back to India, only being unshackled after arrival in Amritsar.

This experience, which they described as traumatic, has raised concerns about the treatment of deportees and the ethics behind such visual representation.

Amid the backlash, the White House on Tuesday posted a video showing immigrants in shackles, preparing to board a deportation flight from Seattle in the United States.

The 41-second video, posted on X, shows a man putting on handcuffs and chains on some immigrants. It also shows a close-up of a man having his handcuffs linked together, a man’s feet in chains as he walks up a stairway to a plane, and a man about to board the aircraft. The video did not show the faces of any of the men.

Before the White House, the video was shared by the Seattle office of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which captioned it “Removal Flight” and wrote, “A group of undocumented aliens are flown from Seattle as part of a process to finalise return to their home countries.”

Also , Elon Musk reposted to the White House tweet, writing, “Haha Wow”

The anti-Naxal Hawk Force of the state police and local police teams take part in the operation that takes place in a forested area near the Chhattisgarh border

Three women Naxalites were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with the police in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, an official said.

The anti-Naxal Hawk Force of the state police and local police teams took part in the operation that took place in a forested area near the Chhattisgarh border, said additional superintendent of police Vijay Dabar.

The gun battle took place in the morning, at a location some 90 km from the district headquarters, and more details were awaited, Dabar told PTI.Hawk Force and the police neutralised three hardcore Naxalites in an encounter near Ronda Forest Camp in Supkhar Forest Range under Garhi Police Station area,” an official statement said.n

Police recovered an INSAS rifle, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and a .303 rifle, it said, adding that some Naxalites were injured in the encounter, but managed to escape.

Twelve police teams are carrying out a combing operation to track them down, the statement added.

The mortal remains of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi, an army man who was killed in Jammu and Kashmir, were consigned to flames in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh on Thursday.

The 27-year-old army man who belonged to Punjab Regimental Centre was among two defence personnel killed after suspected terrorists set off an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector on Tuesday.

The air was thick with grief as the body of the man was cremated at the burning ghat in Khirgaon here in the presence of his teary-eyed parents and other people. Bakshi’s fiancee, an Army doctor stationed in Jammu, whom he was supposed to marry in April, also stood silently among the crowd.

Earlier, Captain Bakshi’s body was received by his family.

His parents, Sardar Ajinder Singh Bakshi and Neelu Bakshi stood still as they watched their only son embark on his final journey wrapped in a tricolour.

The streets were lined with mourners, many of whom knew Captain Bakshi since his childhood.

The town that had celebrated Karamjit’s engagement a few days ago. His uncle Sardar Amarjit Singh Bakshi told PTI, “Karamjit was like Kohinoor for family and friends. A very charming youth who was always there for people.  He had come to Hazaribag for a week and left on January 24 for Akhnoor where he was posted.”

The uncle said the deceased was due to be married in Jammu on April 5. “When we were expecting a celebration, we received such a setback,” his other uncle Sardar Devinder Singh said.

The Army Captain is survived by his mother, father and sister. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore and a large number of Army and Civil officials paid tributes to the fallen soldier at the Birsa Munda Airport on Wednesday. Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled the death of Bakshi and an army jawan in the IED blast.

Family members of Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid have expressed strong displeasure over the removal of the war hero’s name from the main gate of a primary school in Ghazipur where he once studied. After recent paint work, the…

Family members of Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid have expressed strong displeasure over the removal of the war hero’s name from the main gate of a primary school in Ghazipur where he once studied.

After recent paint work, the school in Dhamupur village in the district was renamed ‘PM Shri Composite School’, according to officials. Jameel Ahmed, the grandson of Hamid, said the school was repainted four days ago. ‘PM Shri Composite School’ was painted at the entrance, replacing ‘Shaheed Hamid Vidyalaya’, he added.

When Ahmed and his family raised an objection with headmaster Ajay Kushwaha, he directed them to approach Basic Education Officer Hemant Rao. The family members said Rao informed them Hamid’s name had been painted on one of the school’s external walls. However, the entrance remained unchanged, the family claimed. They filed another complaint on Saturday. While Rao assured it would be done “immediately”, Ahmed claimed that the name was still not displayed at the entrance, as of Monday, leaving the family “deeply hurt”. During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Hamid, displaying extraordinary bravery, destroyed three Patton tanks, forcing the enemy to retreat.

Rao said, “The name would soon be reinstated at the school’s main entrance.”

The school in Dhamupur, part of the PM Schools for Rising India scheme, was reportedly set to be renamed PM SHRI Composite Vidyalaya Dhamupur by authorities.

New Delhi: Days after the education department in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur reportedly removed the name of 1965 war hero Abdul Hamid from a government school’s title, the move sparked backlash from his family and Opposition leaders.

The school falls under the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, and authorities had planned to rename it PM SHRI Composite Vidyalaya Dhamupur, according to local reports.

However, Ghazipur’s Basic Education Officer, Hemant Rao, told ThePrint that the school was merely being repainted and that there were no plans to change its name. He claimed the controversy arose during this process.

Hamid’s grandson had reportedly criticized the removal of his grandfather’s name. Following the backlash, the Ghazipur administration reached out to the family and assured them that the school’s name would remain unchanged, Rao said.

He, however, added that there was, in fact, no official record of the school being named after Hamid. The school has been carrying his name since 2012 in honour of the war hero who was from Dhamupur, he said.

Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers of Indian Army’s infantry regime was commander of a recoilless gun detachment during the 1965 war with Pakistan. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.

Several Congress leaders in the state, such as Members of Parliament Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan and Imran Pratapgarhi, and president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Ajay Rai, slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for excluding Muslims who have fought for the country.

Pratapgarhi Monday posted a video of the new name being painted on the school building and wrote, “After the news that the name of Param Vir Chakra awardee Veer Abdul Hamid School in Ghazipur was being changed, the education department was forced by the voices raised on social media to name the school again after Veer Abdul Hamid.”

In July last year, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had visited Dhamupur to release two books—Mere Papa Paramvir, about Abdul Hamid, and Bharat Ka Musalman.

The Indian Army showcased an advanced kamikaze drone at the Science and Technology Expo held at IIT-Jammu on February 17, 2025. This drone emphasizes both surveillance and attack capabilities, marking a significant advancement in India’s military technology.

Key Specifications

Payload Capacity: The drone can carry between 150 to 300 grams, specifically designed to transport explosives such as RDX.

Flight Duration: Without Mini Drone: Up to 30 minutes.

With Mini Drone: Approximately 15 to 20 minutes, allowing for kamikaze attacks where the mini drone is deployed to strike a target.

Operational Features: Equipped with a small camera, it can operate effectively in both day and night conditions, featuring a zoom capability for enhanced surveillance.

Operational Mechanism: Defence personnel explained that once a target is identified at a distance, the main drone will deploy the mini drone carrying the payload, which will then crash into the target. This method is referred to as a “suicide drone” due to its self-destructive nature upon impact.

This demonstration comes amidst criticism from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi regarding India’s drone policy, where he compared domestic capabilities unfavourably with Chinese technology. However, industry experts defended India’s advancements, highlighting the growing domestic drone industry with over 400 companies contributing to technological innovations.

Smit Shah, the President of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), expressed his discomfort and that of the drone community regarding comments suggesting a lack of understanding of drone technology in India]. This statement was made in response to a video shared by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, where Gandhi criticised the government’s drone policy and showcased what appeared to be a Chinese-made drone.

Shah emphasised that there are over 400 companies in India, along with approximately 40 to 50 drone component companies, that are diligently working to advance the drone industry. He felt compelled to speak out against Gandhi’s remarks, which he viewed as belittling the entire industry, especially when someone with significant public influence uses a Chinese drone to suggest that India lacks understanding and domestic production capabilities.

Shah highlighted the progress in the drone industry, noting that since 2021, the government has focused on regulation, technology, and adoption to establish India as a global drone hub. He also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s decision to display a DJI drone, which has been banned in India since 2022, and raised concerns about whether Gandhi had the necessary drone pilot license and clearances for operating the drone in a restricted zone.

The introduction of this Kamikaze drone reflects India’s strategic focus on enhancing its military capabilities through advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aligning with global trends in modern warfare.

ANI

Tuesday, 18 February 2025 | Biswajeet Banerjee | Ghazipur

The name of Param Vir Chakra awardee Shaheed Veer Abdul Hamid was removed from the main entrance of a primary school in Dhamupur village, sparking protests from his family and locals. Following their objections, the martyr’s name was restored-but only on an external wall, not the main gate, leading to further controversy.

The school, previously known as ‘Shaheed Abdul Hamid Vidyalaya,’ was renamed ‘PM Shri Composite School’ after a recent repainting, according to officials. Jameel Ahmed, Hamid’s grandson, stated that the name was erased during the repainting work four days ago. When the family raised objections, headmaster Ajay Kushwaha directed them to approach Basic Education Officer (BSA) Hemant Rao.

Rao later assured the family that Abdul Hamid’s name had been inscribed on one of the school’s external walls, but the entrance continued to bear only the new name. Dissatisfied with the response, the family lodged another complaint on Saturday, demanding that the martyr’s name be reinstated at the entrance. Despite assurances from officials that the matter would be addressed immediately, as of Monday, the name remained missing from the main gate, leaving the family “deeply hurt.”

Abdul Hamid is revered for his bravery during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, where he single-handedly destroyed three Pakistani Patton tanks, forcing the enemy to retreat. His valor earned him India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously to his wife, Rasoolan Bibi.

In response to growing criticism, BSA Hemant Rao said: “Shaheed Abdul Hamid’s name will soon be reinstated at the school’s entrance, and it has already been inscribed on an external wall.”

However, locals and the martyr’s family remain dissatisfied, insisting that his name be prominently displayed on the main gate as well. “If the government truly respects our war heroes, they should ensure that their legacy is honored properly,” said a local resident.

The issue has now taken a political turn, with the Congress party strongly opposing the name change. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai condemned the move in a Facebook post, calling it an “insult to the country’s heroes” and vowing to fight against it. “The Yogi government has changed the name of a school that was dedicated to one of India’s greatest warriors. This is unacceptable, and we will not remain silent,” he said.

The party has announced a protest at Sarju Pandey Park, Kachheri, on February 17 at 1 PM. Congress leaders, including State Secretary Fashat Hussain, will participate in the demonstration, and a memorandum addressed to the Governor will be submitted to the District Magistrate.