A panel on defence reforms has frowned upon the rejection of compensation claims of service personnel and has recommended that the officials of defence accounts department should be made to serve in tough forward areas to have a first-hand experience of problems faced by soldiers.

A panel on defence reforms has frowned upon the rejection of compensation claims of service personnel and has recommended that the officials of defence accounts department should be made to serve in tough forward areas to have a first-hand experience of problems faced by soldiers.

The panel, which recently submitted its report to the Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, has recommended the immediate release of all held-up benefits of disabled soldiers noting that a short-term deployment of finance officials will help them understand the hardships faced by troops in forward areas.

The Committee, comprising former Adjutant General Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal (retd), former Military Secretary, Lt Gen Richard Khare, defence matters advocate Maj Navdeep Singh, Maj DP Singh and former Judge Advocate General Maj Gen T Parshad has recorded that “it must be appreciated that those posted in operational areas are performing cardinal functions for the nation’s defence and are facing the vagaries of nature and also many other dreadful eventualities which cannot be measured or predicted with a straightjacket formula. All such individuals are integral to the success and sustenance of such operations”.

The Panel has further noted that financial authorities “are bent upon overriding law and decisions, taken by executive authorities and constitutional courts, and even statements made before parliamentary committees”. The panel has provided examples of benefits refused by financial authorities on objections such as death occurred on “line of actual control” and not on “line of control” or by stating that a soldier killed by a leopard while on duty in a jungle area was just a ‘carpenter’ by trade or refusing benefits to those dying due to falls or cardiac arrests in Counter Insurgency operations even in one of the coldest places on earth.

Noting that it was “at a loss to comprehend why negative energy and multiple reams of papers should be wasted on such matters concerning benefits of soldiers and deceased soldiers” the panel has urged immediate reforms.

In the last ten years, benefits to more than 400 deaths and disabilities in operational areas have been rejected or not processed by financial authorities or the defence accounts departments. Defence sources say that the same continues despite the Supreme Court and High Courts having repeatedly ruled that restrictive and perverse interpretation of rules was not warranted and such personnel and families were entitled to higher pensionary and disability benefits.

According to applicable rules, disabilities arising in notified operations, even if due to climatic causes or accidents, qualify for war injury pension while deaths qualify for liberalized family pension. However, the financial authorities have been rejecting all such claims even when approved by executive authorities by illogical interpretation of policies. Officers in the know of such cases say that while no major problem was faced earlier, the tirade of rejections started in 2009 and continues till date.

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/send-accounts-officers-to-forward-areas-to-know-hardships-faced-by-soldiers-mod-panel/#sthash.NJIFDWeC.dpuf

Our Correspondent,Ferozepur, January 15

In an attempt to attract youth to the armed forces, the Golden Arrow Division organised an Army mela here today. Huge kiosks of the 1965 and 1971 wars were set up at the event.Artillery guns, tanks and infantry weapons were also displayed for the students. Major General Vijay Pingale, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Golden Arrow Division, interacted with the students and visitors on the occasion.A medical camp was also set up at the mela for the youth. Army officers also delivered various motivational lectures in the schools of Ferozepur to spread awareness about recruitment in the Army.

ਗੁਰਦਾਸਪੁਰ (ਵਿਨੋਦ, ਦੀਪਕ) : ਇੱਥੋਂ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਬਾਹੀਆਂ ‘ਚ ਬੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਗੰਨੇ ਦੇ ਖੇਤਾਂ ‘ਚ ਇਕ ਪਰਵਾਸੀ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰ ਵਲੋਂ 5 ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਣ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਨ ‘ਤੇ ਜ਼ਿਲਾ ਪੁਲਸ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਬਲਾਂ ਨੇ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਸਰਚ ਆਪਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਖਬਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ‘ਚ ਦਹਿਸ਼ਤ ਪਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਇੰਸਪੈਕਟਰ ਜਨਰਲ ਪੁਲਸ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਰੇਂਜ ਲੋਕਾਨਥ ਆਂਗਰਾ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਖਬਰ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਹਰ ਗੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਸੱਚ ਮੰਨ ਕੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਫੜ੍ਹਨ ਦੀ ਹਰ ਸੰਭਵ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਬੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਮੂਲ ਰੂਪ ‘ਚ ਪਟਨਾ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਰਵਾਸੀ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰ ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਪਿੰਡ ਬਾਹੀਆਂ ‘ਚ ਉਹ ਇਕ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਕੋਲ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਬੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਾਥੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਖੇਤਾਂ ‘ਚ ਕੰਮ ‘ਤੇ ਲੱਗਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਖੇਤ ‘ਚ 5 ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਿਆ।
ਇਨਾਂ ‘ਚੋਂ ਇਕ ਹਥਿਆਰਬੰਦ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ ਆਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦਾ ਨਾਂ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ। ਉਸ ਵਲੋਂ ਨਾਂ ਦੱਸਣ ‘ਤੇ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੌੜ ਜਾਣ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ। ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਹੋਰ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀ ਕੁਝ ਦੂਰੀ ‘ਤੇ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਸਾਰੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਅਦ ‘ਚ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੂੰ ਸੂਚਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।
ਇਸ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰ ‘ਤੇ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਬਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਬੀਤੀ ਰਾਤ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਜ ਸਾਰਾ ਦਿਨ ਪਿੰਡ ਬਾਹੀਆਂ, ਤਲਵੰਡੀ ਵਿਰਕ, ਭੁੱਲੇਚੱਕ, ਗੁੰਝੀਆਂ, ਪੰਧੇਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਆਸ-ਪਾਸ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਤਾਂ ‘ਚ ਸਰਚ ਆਪਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਚਲਾਇਆ। ਲੋਕਨਾਥ ਆਂਗਰਾ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਲੋਕ ਅਫਵਾਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਬਚਣ ਅਤੇ ਜੇਕਰ ਕੋਈ ਝੂਠੀ ਅਫਵਾਹ ਫੈਲਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਣ।

Can’t distrust Pak so soon on Pathankot: Rajnath

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India has no reason to “distrust” Pakistan “so early” regarding its assurance of taking effective action on the inputs received about the Pathankot attack. As per reports from Pakistan on Monday, “some suspects” have been detained from the country’s Bahwalapur district. Earlier, India identified Masood Azhar as the mastermind of the attack.

Don’t overreact on Pathankot: Musharraf to India

short by Smrithin Satishan / 11:28 am on 12 Jan 2016,Tuesday

Former Pakistan President General (Rtd) Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said that India “shouldn’t overreact” to Pathankot terror attack as “terrorism is prevalent” in both the countries and Pakistan too “has been a victim”. Musharraf added that India treats terrorism as a “one-sided issue” which “angers” him as India “can’t just bulldoze” Pakistan every time something happens.

Tribune News Service,Srinagar, January 12

The centenary ofthe Srinagar-based Chinar Corps was observed here today. A defence spokesman said keeping in mind the sombre atmosphere due to state mourning following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the event was restricted to a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial.“The wreath-laying ceremony was organised to pay tribute to allmartyrs who made the supreme sacrifice while ensuring safety and security of the country,” the spokesman said. The General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua, addressed Army men at Badami Bagh Cantonment.The Chinar Corps was raised at Port Saidin Egypt on January 12, 1916, under Lt Gen Sir Henry Home. The corps moved to France and fought valiantly during World War I from 1916 to 1918, after which the corps was demobilised.During World War II, the corps was raised again on March 20, 1942. It made a deep impact by its heroic performance as part of Allied forces during the Burma campaign. After the war, the corps was demobilised once again.The spokesman said the history of Chinar Corps was synonymous with the history of Jammu and Kashmir due to close linkage with post-Independence events in the state.“In the last 100 years, personnel of the Chinar Corps have served with distinction in all theatres, winning 4,303 individual awards in 404 unit awards,” the spokesman said.Lt Gen Satish Dua released “First Day Cover”, a special commemorative stamp and a book on gallantry and distinguished service awardees of the Chinar Corps.

A second terror attack in six months shows how vulnerable Punjab’s preparedness is to meet any threats of militancy revival. Dinanagar and Udhampur had made it clear that terrorists wanted to shift their area of operation from Kashmir to Jammu and its neighbouring Punjab areas. An advance intelligence alert about a possible terror strike in the Gurdaspur area was available. Yet the state that had suffered so heavily due to terrorism was found wanting. Well-equipped and well trained at one time to tackle militancy, the Punjab Police seems to be taking it easy now, pandering to the whims and fancies of politicians in charge of police stations.   Reports suggest terrorists used established drug trafficking routes to infiltrate and carry out their deadly activities. Though the state political leadership keeps denying this, the Central agencies probing terrorist activities may expose political and police patronage provided to drug peddlers. The Pathankot attack should have normally prompted a security rethink. Instead of recognising and accepting the obvious lapses — delay in acting on actionable intelligence provided by the Centre and distrust of an SP-rank officer’s claims of being kidnapped by militants — the Punjab leadership is busy demanding a greater BSF presence in the state. The BSF failure is evident. What about the second line of defence the Punjab Police is supposed to provide?  In his meeting with the Union Home Minister the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio, has emphasised that the Pathankot and Dinanagar attacks should be treated as “acts of disguised foreign aggression”. It means: fund the war against terror. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has praised the Punjab Police for its “prompt inputs and zero-time coordination with the Central forces”. A collective failure is being covered up with laudatory noises. Six terrorists sneaked into the state, had a free run for quite some time, killing a youth and kidnapping an SP along with two others before gunning down seven security personnel at the airbase. Tackling terror in Punjab is the primary responsibility of the state government with help from the Centre. There is a failure. And there is the blame the state and Central leadership cannot run away from.

During the meeting, Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag appreciated Vijender Singh for turning professional and congratulated him for three consecutive wins in 2015.

New Delhi: Indian professional boxer Vijender Singh on Tuesday met Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh at his residence here.

During the meeting, the Army chief appreciated Vijender for turning professional and congratulated him forthree consecutive wins in 2015. During the hour-long meeting, Gen Dalbir Singh also felicitated Vijender.

“It’s an honour for me to meet the Army chief General Dalbir Singh. He is very fond of boxing. He told me that he is following my career from the days I started amateur boxing. I am happy that he is also following my professional bouts,” said Vijender.

“He appreciated my decision of turning professional and winning three consecutive bouts. I would like to thank him for the felicitation. It’s a big motivation for me, getting honoured by the Chief of Army Staff. He also wished me for my next fight, scheduled to be held in Liverpool, on February 13.”

Vijender, who is on a two-week vacation in India, will be flying back to England later this week.

Amaninder Pal,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 6

Besides protection of strategic assets and families of soldiers residing at the Pathankot Air Force station, the safety of 23 trainee fighter pilots from other countries was a major concern for the Indian security establishment when terrorists attacked the air base on the intervening night of January 1 and 2.Trainee fighter pilots belonging to Afghanistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Myanmar were present at the Pathankot air base on that day.This was revealed by Lt Gen KJ Singh, Army Commander, Western Command, today. The safety of those pilots was a top priority for the security establishments involved in neutralising the terrorists, he said.Listing the “successes” achieved during the operation, he said, “There has been no collateral damage… Around 3,000 families (11,000 people) live in that air force station. No harm was caused to them. More importantly, there were 23 foreign trainee pilots from four friendly nations. All of them are safe.” There would have been a crisis situation had the terrorists taken hostage even one of them, he said.He also defended the decision to deploy the National Security Guard (NSG) to deal with the situation. “The decision to call in the NSG was taken by the appropriate authority, including the Services chiefs. There could have been a hostage crisis. Besides 3,000 families of Air Force personnel, some foreign trainees were also present there. What if even a single foreign trainee was taken hostage? The NSG is specially trained to deal with such situations,” he said.“Had the air base suffered any damage in the terror attack, it would have been very difficult to fly in the NSG there. That was the main reason that the force was inducted at a very early stage of the operation,” he said.He said the operation was a “complete success”. On disposing of terrorists’ bodies, he said of six, two bodies are completely charred. The other four could be booby traps. A hand grenade hanging with the body of a terrorist is visible. “We have yet to decide whether to destroy these or not,” said Lt Gen KJ Singh, army commander, western command.

Operation named ‘Dhangu Suraksha’

• Lt Gen KJ Singh said the operation to neutralise militants who attacked the Pathankot air base was codenamed “Dhangu Suraksha”. Dhangu is the name of the area where the Air Force station and certain other Army assets are located

Army was alerted on January 1 afternoon

• Lt Gen KJ Singh said the Army received a specific alert on January 1 afternoon. The Army received alert around 12 hours after Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh and his two associates were “abducted” by the terrorists