Proposed Jat stir Forces reach Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Hisar, Bhiwani, Jind and Kaithal districts

CRPF personnel deployed at Jat Dharamshala in Hisar on Saturday. Tribune photo

Chandigarh, May 28

In the wake of members of the Jat community threatening to launch a fresh agitation for reservation, security was today beefed up in Haryana as Central forces were deployed in seven sensitive districts across the state.The Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Hisar, Bhiwani, Jind and Kaithal districts, a top police official said.“The deployment has been done as a precautionary measure,” Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mohd Akil said, adding that the police were fully geared up to meet any situation.A sedition case was registered against Jat Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik and 125 others yesterday for allegedly threatening peace and communal harmony in Haryana by instigating people to launch a fresh quota agitation. — PTI

Police on alert

Hisar: Paramilitary forces and the police have been put on alert in the district in view of the threat by Jat groups to resume their agitation from June 5. Hisar Range IGP OP Singh also held a meeting with SPs, DSPs and SHOs of five districts of the range. The IG told the policemen not to get swayed by any kind of divisive propaganda and deal with the anti-social elements belonging to any caste, region or party with a firm hand. He said the police would not let the divisive elements succeed in their designs. — TNSPrinting presses refuse to publish pamphletsJind: Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar Arya today said the police had made all arrangements for the maintenance of law and order in the district. “The police will not allow anyone to disturb peace,” he said, adding the police had increased surveillance and keeping an eye on the movement of suspicious elements.Some Jat leaders alleged the police were threatening villagers for not taking part in the agitation and even printing presses had refused to publish their pamphlets and posters for agitation.

Khap announces do-or-die agitation

Hisar: The Satrol khap has announced to launch a do-or-die agitation for reservation to the Jats community at Narnaund village in the district on Saturday. Addressing a press conference, khap president Inder Singh said that the state government had cheated the Jats on the demand of reservation. He said that the six castes, which were included in the OBC (C) category, would raise their demand jointly. The khap leader opposed the registration of a criminal case against Jat leader Yashpal Malik and insisted that BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini should be arrested first for his utterances against the Jats. TNS

Lahore, June 16

The Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader who telephonically directed the terrorists during the attack on the Pathankot air base has reportedly managed to flee to Afghanistan from Pakistan.“The alleged JeM handler who communicated by telephone more than two dozen times with terrorists in Pathankot before they carried out the attack on January 2 has managed to cross the Afghan border,” said a member of the joint investigation team probing the attack.He said the JeM handler, who is in late 20s, was in the tribal area of Pakistan when he communicated 18 times with the terrorists. “The law enforcement agencies tried to trace him (in the tribal belt), but there are reports that he has managed to escape to Afghanistan,” he said, without disclosing the JeM leader’s identity.He said the investigation agencies have been under “immense pressure” from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to thoroughly probe the matter and come up with “true facts”.Although the counter-terrorism department (CTD) of Punjab Police registered an FIR against the alleged attackers of the Pathankot air base and abettors, not a single person has been charged.The FIR was registered at the Gujranwala CTD police station under Sections 302, 324 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and Sections 7 and 21-I of the Anti-Terrorism Act.The FIR says Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval informed that the attackers had come from Pakistan and “probably crossed the border adjacent to the Pathankot area”.  — PTIhttp://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/jem-pathankot-handler-flees-to-afghanistan/252992.html

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25The first batch of women fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is slated to pass out of the IAF training academy on June 18. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will be chief guest on the occasion.These women pilot have been selected for combat role. At present, they are flying training aircraft, Kiran. After passing out from the academy, they will be sent for one-year training in combat role.The air force has allowed three women in combat stream for five years, on experiment basis. Women pilots in the IAF are cleared for all operational roles, including low-level tactical flying, para drop, air maintenance (northern and eastern sector) and special heli-borne operation. The women pilots undergo jungle and snow-survival course.They have undergone stage-I and stage-II training at the academy and have been assessed for their suitability. Now they will get training in the fighter stream.

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to counter the misuse of social networking sites by militants, the army’s Northern Command on Tuesday joined social media platform Twitter to interact with people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In his first tweet from the handle NorthernComd.IA, Northern Command Generalofficer-commanding-inchief (GOC-in-C) Lt Gen DS Hooda wrote: “Presence of Northern Comd on Twitter is a step towards involving our citizens in activities of Indian Army in J&K.”

“I look forward to positive interaction through this forum,” he tweeted next.

The army has earlier reached out to the masses in Jammu and Kashmir through Twitter and Facebook to generate awareness about public welfare initiatives such as Operation Sadbhavna. However, with the new Twitter handle, people can directly interact with the senior most army officer in the state. ‘FLEDGLING FIRST STEP’

Appreciating the move, Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), who is a former army commander of the Northern Command, said: “This is a positive development and the army must make the most of it.”

An avid user of social media himself, he said, “It is important that the army’s social media outreach be used effectively to share basic information, if not everything.”

Similarly, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain (retd), a former commander of Srinagarbased 15 Corps, sees this as a “fledging first step” but adds that this should have happened “some light years ago”.

“Physical outreach has limitations and time constraints. Social media is the enabler which facilitates interactive outreach to millions at the press of a button,” said Hasnain. “There is much to be learnt about strategic communication where your message reaches the people you want it to reach. Being on social media is insufficient; being there with the right focus, aim and intent is the necessity,” he said.

The officers said that the initiative should not remain limited to the Northern Command headquarters. “It must go down to the corps and divisions,” Hasnain said.

War memorial inaugurated by RM at Hoshiarpur on 15 Jun.
Credit goes to Brig Manjit Singh  Chairman Sanjha Morcha for initiation.approval of design .laying foundation  during his tenure as Director Sanik Welfare Punjab  .
His dream has come true for ESM of Hoshiarpur and the Martyrs.
Well conceived idea of Brig Manjit. Weldone 

Maj Gen SC Mohanty flags off a high-altitude mountain expedition of the Army to the Spiti valley, in Dehradun on Monday.

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 13

Major General SC Mohanty, General Officer Commanding, flagged off a trekking expedition at Clement Town here today. It consists of 14 members of the Golden Key Division.The expedition aims to enhance the spirit of adventure among Army personnel and establish rapport with locals in the rich and diverse high-altitude valleys of Himachal Pradesh.The expedition will pass through the Spiti valley via Tabo and culminate at Kiato on July 9. Enroute, the expedition will negotiate the arduous and inhospitable features of Langza (14,850 ft), Kibber (13,730 ft), Ladarcha (14,355 ft) and Dhar Lung Wooh (15,400 ft).The multi-dimensional expedition will meet locals enroute and provide humanitarian aid by distributing essential commodities and medicines.The expedition team will also re-connect with the local veterans and motivate the young and aspiring youth by undertaking motivational talks on becoming a better citizen, joining the Army, women empowerment and conservation of environment.http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/community/14-member-army-team-begins-trekking-expedition/251181.html

Serving and retired officers at the Western Command museum in Chandimandir on Sunday. A tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

A museum showcasing the history and military heritage of the Western Command was inaugurated at Chandimandir today. The function was attended by a large number of veterans, including eight former chiefs of the Commander, serving officers and civil dignitaries.The museum is not only a repository of documents, archives and memorabilia, but also an embodiment of the rich heritage, valour and sacrifices made by the soldiers of this frontline operational command.It consists of four blocks. The Russell Block encompasses the genesis and evolution of the command and its various formations, while the Cariappa Block is dedicated to the valour. The Sinha Block is exclusively designed to accommodate a well-stocked library-cum-visitors room, a souvenir shop and an audio visual room. The exterior landscape of the complex has on display war trophies such as a Pushpak Aircraft used in 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars and a captured Pakistani Patton tank.Certain noteworthy contributions are the heritage railway locomotive and saloon from the Indian Railways, replicating and commemorating the historic association of this Command wherein the Western Command Headquarters (then known as Delhi and East Punjab Command) operated from the Viceroy’s Train during the Partition.  Immediately outside the Sinha Block are two imposing miniature battleship models contributed by the Indian Navy.Later, a coffee table book on Western Command, “Ever Westwards”, was released. It covers the journey traversed by the Western Command since its raising in 1947.

About the museum

• The museum is not only a repository of documents, archives and memorabilia, but also an embodiment of the rich heritage, valour and sacrifices made by the soldiers of this frontline operational command

India, US, Japan begin naval exercises in disputed waters
meanwhile, in bay of bengal: A Coast Guard helicopter hovers close to a Korean ship at the fifth edition of the Indo-Korea exercise ‘Sahyog-Hyeoblyeog’, at the Bay of Bengal in Chennai on Friday. PTI
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 10
India today joined the US and Japan to conduct week-long Naval exercises in the disputed East China Sea, around 5,000 km from here. The Navy personnel of three nations will practise submarine hunting and validate procedures at sea.
In other words, collectively countering any adventurism by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. The move comes at time when Chinese submarines routinely foray in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian ocean.
Japan is hosting the exercise called ‘Malabar’ near the Okinawa islands — located 370 km east of the Senkaku islands — controlled by Japan but claimed by China. It was only last year that Japan was made a permanent member of the ‘Malabar series’ of Indo-US exercises.
Both Japan and China have overlapping claims in these waters and even impose their respective air defence identification zones (AIDZ) over the islands. The US stands firmly with Japan on the matter and in December 2013 even sent its fighter jets to fly over the Senkaku when China unilaterally imposed an ADIZ of its own.
Sources said the exercise was aimed at ‘strengthening’ India, Japan and the US naval cooperation. Specialists from the three forces will sit down to formulate procedures at sea and validate the same during the sea-phase of the exercise that will include scenarios of anti-submarine warfare, air defence and anti-surface warfare.
More than 100 assets — warships, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft with capacity to spot submarines, amphibious plane, specialised helicopters — will be part of the sea-phase of exercise.
The US will lead the way with its 1,00,000 tonne nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS John C Stennis, over 20 major warships, about 50 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, the Boeing P8-A, and over 100 aircraft, including Boeing Super Hornet ship-deck based fighters.
India is fielding its stealth frigates INS Shayadri and INS Satpura, fleet tanker INS Shakti and missile corvette INS Kirch. Apart from this, a detachment of Indian Marine Commandos (MARCOS) will participate in the exercise. Japan will field the JS Hyuga —a flat deck helicopter carrier with onboard copters; amphibious plane the ShinMaywa Industries and the PC 3 Orion planes.

East China Sea tension

• Japan is hosting exercise ‘Malabar’ near the Okinawa islands — 370 km east of the Senkaku islands — controlled by Japan but claimed by China
• Japan was made a permanent member of the ‘Malabar series’ of Indo-US exercises last year
• Both Japan and China have overlapping claims in these waters and impose their respective air defence identification zones over the islands. The US backs Japan

Talking about the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the US on June 8th, state department spokesperson John Kirby said in a press briefing, that the ties between the two nations represented a ‘special relationship’.

Every full-term prime minister since 1984 has addressed a joint meeting of the House and Senate.

Ahead of his key address at a joint meeting of the US Congress next month, the Barack Obama government has asserted that it is looking forward to continue to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on all fronts to strengthen ties between two nations.

Talking about the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the US on June 8th, state department spokesperson John Kirby said in a press briefing, that the ties between the two nations represented a ‘special relationship’.

He will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005. The first-ever Indian premier to make such a speech was Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, followed by PV Narasimha Rao in 1994 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000. Prime Minister Modi will be the fifth, speaking 11 years after his predecessor, Congress leader Manmohan Singh. Every full-term prime minister since 1984 has addressed a joint meeting of the House and Senate.

DEHRADUN: In the run-up to the passing out parade at Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Commandant’s Parade was held on Thursday to mark the end of training of 565 Indian and 45 foreign gentleman cadets from six friendly foreign countries.
Lt Gen S K Saini, who took over as the 46th commandant of IMA, reviewed the parade and complimented the gentlemen cadets on their “excellent’ drill movements. Congratulating the cadets on successful completion of their training, Saini said, “Army is one of the most outstanding institutions in the country and all of you have made the wisest and the most honourable choice of joining this organization irrespective of the hardships that you will have to endure in the future.”
Saini urged cadets to uphold the traditions of the Indian Army and keep the trust that people of the nation have on them.
The passing out parade for the cadets will be held on Saturday and is likely to be attended by Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, General Officer Commanding-in Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Jaipur based South Western Command.