Ravi Dhaliwal,Tribune News Service,Pathankot, January 3

The possibility of the terrorists carrying any RDX or rocket launchers has been ruled out. “No RDX is being carried. The firing had stopped late last evening and we thought we had killed all the five. However, sporadic firing was again heard in the morning. When we checked out the origin of the fire, we came to know that there may be more terrorists lurking in the complex,” disclosed a senior police officer.A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team reached Pathankot early in the morning. The members left for Bamyal immediately after in a cavalcade of private cars. Sources said that the team was accompanied by senior police officials. Amid rumours that RDX or any other explosives might have been planted on the railway line passing through the city, the police made an elaborate check on both sides of the track leading to and from the city. However, after an early morning exercise, no explosives were found planted anywhere on the tracks.The agencies widened their search and the cops and Army personnel could be seen in populated areas of the towns of Pathankot and Gurdaspur. There was a heavy deployment of cops on the Pathankot-Gurdaspur and Pathankot-Jammu National Highways as well.Poignant scenes could be witnessed when a private car, in which wreaths meant for the deceased were being taken, entered the air base.  The crowd immediately turned into an orderly one and people stood on both sides.

JeM militants planning attacks in Delhi?

Tribune news Service,New Delhi, January 3

A day after the Pathankot attack began, two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants are suspected to have sneaked into the national capital and planning high-profile attacks, including taking hostages. The Delhi Police received specific intelligence input about the presence of militants.Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today held a meeting with his senior officers and discussed the matter, said the police. The Delhi Police has sought the assistance of paramilitary forces in securing vital installations in the national capital. The police have been given companies of paramilitary forces in this regard.Security has been strengthened at the Delhi airport, railway stations, bus stands, markets in south and central Delhi and VIP areas. Delhi Police’s special units, Crime Branch and Special Cell, have also been made part of the security arrangements.Bassi also took to Twitter to request the citizens of Delhi to be alert. He tweeted, “Citizens’ vigil against suspicious persons/ objects/ activities is vital to counter terrorism. Report anything amiss at no. 100 or helpline 1090.”Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) MK Meena said, “We have given instructions to ensure round-the-clock checking. Officers’ leave have been cancelled. Counter-terrorism measures have been put in place. Security around railway and metro stations has also been beefed up.”Earlier today, the Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi train was stopped for a search in Ghaziabad and other trains were also halted after the northern Railways was alerted about a possible bomb threat to trains running between Delhi and Kanpur.“We received a call from the railway control room in the morning in which they said that they had received information about a potential bomb threat on a train plying between Delhi and Kanpur,” a police official said.Several security personnel are checking passengers and their luggage at the entry points and the platforms of the railway stations. Extra vigilance has been placed at the areas, where the parcels to be transported by trains are kept.

Security strengthened

• Security has been strengthened at the Delhi airport, railway stations, bus stands, markets in south and central Delhi and VIP areas. Delhi Police’s special units, Crime Branch and Special Cell, have also been made part of the security arrangements
• Vigil was also heightened in several areas, including popular market places, in south Delhi, central Delhi and the VIP movement zone in Lutyens’ Delhi.
• The Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi train was stopped for a search in Ghaziabad and other trains were also halted after the northern Railways was alerted about a possible bomb threat to trains running between Delhi and Kanpur

Jupinderjit Singh,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 2

Security forces and Intelligence agencies are strongly suspecting involvement of a local political leader for helping the group of terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Air Force station.It is suspected that about 10 terrorists had managed to infiltrate on the intervening night of December 31-January 1 from across the border, but the exact entry point is yet to be ascertained.The security establishment is suspecting the joint involvement of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad and Babbar Khalsa in the attack, with the active support of local handlers.Though five terrorists have been killed so far, sources said they had sound information that about 10 terrorists had managed to sneak into India. This is corroborated by reports that some handlers arranged a taxi for them.They said RAW and IB were questioning Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, who was “unusually” let off by the terrorists. “Agencies are zeroing on the local handlers,” said an official.He said the hand of Jaish- e-Mohammad was suspected as they had an expertise in targeting defence bases. Where were five who attacked for 24 hours?If the route taken and exact motive of the three terrorists involved in the July 27 attack at Dinanagar are still unclear, Saturday’s attack raises another key question: where were the terrorists between 3 am on January 1 when a Punjab SP claims to have seen them and 3:30 am on January 2 when they attacked the Air Force station? And why and how did they go untraced?Although the defence spokespersons claimed having intelligence alert about the attack and 140 NSG commandos were in Pathankot by January 1 morning, besides Punjab Police officials led by ADGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon, yet the terrorists remained untraced and managed to attack the Air Force station.Sources said initially the police and other forces were sceptical of the claims of SP Salwinder Singh that he and two others were kidnapped by terrorists. ADGP Dhillon was deputed to question him and prepare for any eventuality.Sources said the terrorists had carefully chosen the Air Force station as it is considered a soft target compared to attacking a military installation. The station, it is learnt, has several vulnerable points in its fenced and walled area.

Calls to Pak alerted agencies

Ajay Banerjee,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 2

Indian agencies monitoring telephone calls to Pakistan intercepted a series of calls between an India-registered mobile number and persons based in Bahawalpur in Pakistan, alerting them about the plan to attack the Pathankot air base.The calls were made in the wee hours of January 1. More  than 24 hours later, the air base was attacked by a group of terrorists at 3.30 pm.Phone calls of Pakistan-based operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a banned terror organisation,  were intercepted, asking the terrorists why the attack had not been carried out so far.The India-registered mobile phone was reportedly ‘snatched’ by terrorists from Salwinder Singh, an SP-rank officer of the Punjab Police on January 1. The SP claims he was kidnapped by armed terrorists who took away his SUV and cellphone.  The SUV was found abandoned at 3.15 am on January 1.  The IAF base was attacked a good 24 hours later, leading to the question if  the JeM had a hideout. The JeM is headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, who was released from prison in exchange of passengers of Indian Airlines flight IC 814  which was hijacked in December 1999. Agencies have found that Pak-based operatives arranged a taxi (Toyota Innova) for the terrorists by calling from a Pakistan number. Security agencies are questioning the driver to find out if he had been serving Pakistan-based smugglers who have links with terrorists.It was after these calls were intercepted that the Army was alerted on the impending threat and its units located near Pathankot took up positions at the IAF base. The National Security Guard (NSG) unit in  Delhi was rushed to Punjab and so were IAF’s own special forces, the ‘Garuds’, deployed in Naxal-hit areas.An IAF spokesperson said: “A group of  terrorists was detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force station. The infiltrators were contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the Technical Zone”.Later in the evening, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met the three Service Chiefs and the NSA.

On a suicide mission, terrorist told mother

• “I am out on a suicide mission. (Silence from the other end.)…I’m on a suicide mission and Allah will take care of all of us”A terrorist to his mother over phone

No intel or security failure, says Rajnath

Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 2

Rejecting suggestions that intelligence and security failure led to the terror attack on the air base in Pathankot, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Had that been the case, such an attempt could not be thwarted.”He, however, said that the role of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) could not be denied and asserted that India would hit back in an equal proportion, if there was any terror attack on its soil. The entire operation to neutralise the terrorists was closely monitored by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. Sources said that the five terrorists belonged to Pakistan’s Bahawalpur-based Al Rehman Trust, as they were continuously being directed by their handlers Maulana Ashfaq Ahmad and Hazi Abdul Shqur.Talking to reporters here, the Home Minister — who attended a high-level security meeting at the Ministry of Defence which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the NSA and three Chiefs of the armed forces — said, “Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan, but also with all our neighbours. We also want peace, but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. We will hit hard.”Meanwhile, intelligence sources said that inputs had been given after the Gurdaspur SP was kidnapped.

Salaam alaikum – Ultra replies to call on abducted SP’s phone

Pathankot, January 2

“Salaam alaikum” was the reply when the gunman of the Superintendent of Police, who was thrashed by suspected Pakistani terrorists, called up on his mobile number after the news of the SP’s abduction along with his associates spread. However, after the gunman told the call receiver that the mobile phone belonged to SP Salwinder Singh, the call was disconnected. It was the last conversation which was made on the SP’s phone, which is believed to be used by the terrorists to make calls to Pakistan. “After we got alert about the incident (SP’s abduction), I tried making call on SP sahib’s number. Around 3.26 am, the call got connected. When I said ‘hello’, the reply from other side came ‘Salaam alaikum’. I asked ‘aap kaun’ (who are you)? The receiver said ‘aap kaun’? Then I told him this is my SP sahib’s number. The call receiver said ‘SP sahib kaun’ (who SP sahib?). Then he disconnected the line,” said SP’s gunman Kulwinder Singh. “I continued to say ‘hello, hello’ but the phone line  was disconnected,” Singh said. “It was the last call made on SP sahib’s phone number,” said Singh, who is SP Salwinder Singh’s gunman for the last  about five years.SP’s driver Rajpal Singh said, “After I got information from the control room about the incident, I also tried calling SP sahib’s both mobile numbers. But I failed to connect it.” Yesterday, Punjab Police had not ruled out the possibility that suspected militants had used SP’s mobile to make a call to Pakistan.Suspected Pakistani terrorists in Army uniform had  abducted and thrashed the Superintendent of Police and his two associates before dumping them some distance away and speeding away in his vehicle in the wee hours of Friday near Kathlore bridge here. SP Salwinder Singh, who was recently transferred as  Assistant Commandant, 75th Battalion, Punjab Armed Police  (PAP), said he and his friend Rajesh Verma, along with his cook Mohan Lal, were coming back after paying obeisance at Narot Jaimal Singh last night when four-five men signalled them to stop their vehicle.The SP added that they were overpowered by the suspected militants who drove away with them in their SUV.  The SP and Lal were dumped after some distance while Verma was thrown off the vehicle after some time with injury marks on his body.  — PTI

Arteev Sharma,Tribune News Service,Jammu, December 29

Centre invites global bids for 14.08-km-long Zojila tunnel, set to be the longest in South-East Asia

To meet the long-pending demand for an all-weather road to Ladakh, the Centre has taken the first step for construction of South-East Asia’s longest Zojila tunnel connecting Kashmir’s Sonmarg with the Gumri area in Kargil district.For the execution of the project, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, headed by Nitin Gadkari, has invited international bids for Expression of Interest. The bids will be opened on January 14 next year.The 14.08-km-long tunnel will be constructed in seven years with an estimated cost of Rs 9,090 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to J&K last month, had announced Rs 80,000-crore economic package, which included allocation for the construction of the Zojila tunnel.The project holds strategic importance in view of Ladakh sharing its vast borders with the aggressive China. The tunnel will be built on the design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) (annuity) basis.The proposed tunnel will pass through Zojila, which serves as the gateway to the Ladakh region. The pass, located at an altitude of about 12,000 ft (3,530 metres), is the fourth highest pass in the country. Out of the 30-km stretch from Sonamarg in Kashmir to Gumri near the Zojila, a 10-km run is tough covering steep ravines and vertical mountains prone to avalanches. “The tunnel will be completed within seven years and its concession period will be 22 years comprising seven years of construction and 15 years of operation period,” an official source said.“It is expected that the work on the project may begin in the next couple of months once the procedure for Expression of Interest gets completed. It is a dream project not only for Ladakhi people but also for entire country as it will provide round-the-year connectivity to Ladakh, which remains cut off from other parts of the world for almost six months due to closure of two vital highways — the 434-km-long Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway and the 474-km-long Manali-Leh road — due to the accumulation of snow in harsh winters,” a source said. The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road traverses through two major mountain ranges. It first crosses through the Himalayas at Zojila and then the Zanskar mountain range at Fatula to enter into Ladakh. Apart from its tough topography, the mighty Zojila witnesses a maximum standing snow of around 5-6 metres every year.The all-weather road has remained a major election issue in Ladakh, which faces shortage of essential commodities when both highways to the region remain closed in winter.In July, the National Highways Authority of India had drilled a hole through the final section of the country’s longest 9.2-km-long road tunnel between Chenani (south end) and Nashri (north end) on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Zojila tunnel: Proposed lifeline for Ladakh

• Length: 14.08-km(between Sonamarg in Kashmirand Gumri in Kargil)
• Total cost: Rs9,090 crore
• Construction time: 7 years
• Concession period: 22 yrs
• Strategic importance: Ladakh shares vast borderswith China
• Significance: To ensureround-the-year connectivity of Ladakh with rest of the country

About the project

• Zojila tunnel will be a single tube bi-directional tunnel with a parallel egress tunnel (to serve in emergency).
• It is being built on design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) (annuity) basis. The concession period for the project will be 22 years, including 7 years of construction and 15 years of operation time.
• Under the DBFOT basis, the successful bidder will design, build, finance, operate and transfer the project to the govt after the concession period.

The Army jawans today averted a major tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir, when it recovered an explosive device planted under a bridge in the Poonch area.

The Army jawans today averted a major tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir, when it recovered an explosive device planted under a bridge in the Poonch area.

Army bomb squad defused the 5 kg Improvised Explosive Device(IED) kept in a pressure cooker.

Army spokesman said terrorists had used TNT in the explosive device.

Simran Sodhi,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, December 25

PM Narendra Modi’s whirlwind round of diplomacy has left many surprised. From Russia to Kabul and to Lahore, the PM managed to grab headlines but then by now, that is pure Modi style. The Russia visit was announced in advance and in the public gaze. The Kabul part of the trip was kept out of public scrutiny, owing to security concerns, and that is understandable. But stopping in Lahore, just on the basis of a phone call Modi made to Sharif in the morning, is somewhat hard to digest.While the BJP has gone on record to state that there were no back-channel negotiations for today’s Modi-Sharif meeting, for anyone familiar with the nuances of diplomacy, it’s almost unbelievable. Sources within the government admit that this must have been decided in advance, since a prime ministerial visit is not undertaken on whims and fancies. Which brings us back to the moot point: what is the thinking behind this hurried, nation-hopping diplomacy?Russia was an annual summit and the key defence agreements reached had been fleshed out weeks and months in advance. Modi’s visit to Kabul was more symbolic in nature, inaugurating the Parliament building that India has financed and gifted to the Afghan people as a symbol of friendship and cooperation. But why this sudden decision to stop in Lahore and meet Nawaz Sharif? From a government that said terror and talks cannot go together, the Paris handshake has led to an acceleration of relations, which have every possibility of a boomerang and hitting us unaware. The two PMs, under international pressure, had a brief chat in Paris on November 30. Next, National Security Advisers (NSA) of the two sides met in Bangkok on December 6 and then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj flew to Islamabad on December 8 to attend a multilateral conference. And then the announcement came of resumption in the ‘comprehensive composite dialogue’. So far, it has been all rapid-fire diplomacy but clearly the government has had a change of heart and talking with Pakistan is back on the table.The speculation since then was afoot of Modi visiting Pakistan next year to attend SAARC summit. But the calculations probably were that by then, things could again go back to the no-talk zone. So a ‘surprise’ visit by the PM gets thrown in. It also happens to be great convenience that it is Sharif’s birthday today and Modi had called to wish him and then he said “come over”, and the PM agreed.The two PMs met and held talks and Modi becomes the first PM to visit Pakistan after AB Vajpayee in 2004. Apart from that, what is achieved? It’s another great photo-op but in terms of diplomacy, which would include tough negotiations over the outstanding bilateral issues, this really amounts to nothing.

Bhanu P Lohumi,Tribune News Service,Shimla, December 23

Hundreds of tourists thronging the city for Christmas and New Year went into raptures as the Queen of Hills experienced the season’s first snow.The sky was clear in the morning but icy cold winds swept across the region, bringing down the temperature to minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.The snowfall lasted one-and-a-half hour, covering roads and rooftops. Kufri on the outskirts of Shimla received 5-6 cm snow.“Hotels have been booked and in a day or two, the occupancy will be 100 per cent,” said Additional General Manager, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation Development (HPTDC), Vijay Sharma.The Tourism Department has planned winter carnival with a plethora of activities to entertain the tourists and make their stay enjoyable while most of the posh hotels are organising gala nights on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.Higher reaches in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba also witnessed snowfall, aggravating the cold conditions in the adjoining areas.Mercury hovered around the freezing point. Keylong and Kalpa in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts recording a low of minus 9.9 degrees Celsius and minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.Manali recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, Una minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Solan 0.4 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar and Palampur 1.0 degrees Celsius. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region in the next two days with rain and snow in mid and high hills on December 26 and 27.The hills turn white Manali recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, Una minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Solan 0.4 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar and Palampur 1.0 degrees Celsius. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region in the next two days with rain and snow in mid and high hills on December 26 and 27

Manali hoteliers eye profit

• Higher reaches of Kullu, Mandi and tourist spot Manali today experienced another spell of snowfall. Nearly 1 cm of snow was recorded in Manali
• Lower reaches were lashed by intermittent rain, intensifying the cold wave
• Christmas is round the corner and snow has cheered the tourism industry
• Shyam, an entrepreneur at Manali, said the number of tourists was up and there were a good number of bookings for Christmas and New Year
• Sunil, a tourist from Delhi, said he was delighted to see the snow and had extended his stay till Christmas. He said they visited the Solang Nullah on Tuesday and it was a fun-filled trip
• Many hotels have started offering packages for Christmas and New Year. Manali Hoteliers’ Association vice-president Budhi Prakash Thakur said various events and parties would be organised at many places. He said huge rush was expected this season
• Higher reaches in Mandi, including the Chauhar valley, Thunag in Janjheli, Shikari Devi, Kamrunag and Rohanda, Chindi, Pandar and Chowki in Karsog, also witnessed fresh snowfall

Kuldip Bhatia,Ludhiana, December 21

Low temperature during winter is a major reason for increased pains in the joints and bones, as the body tends to circulate less blood to peripheral areas towards the requirement of conserving warm blood around the heart.Dr NK Aggarwal, Chief Consultant at the Joint and Spine Centre while addressing an expert advice session here said: “With the onset of winter, joint pain is inevitable. One needs to take extra care of one’s joints and bones when the temperature drops as the cold weather can exacerbate joint pain and cause serious problems if left unattended.”“Joints become inflexible, which leads to pain. Joints need exercise as it helps in lubricating it to prevent pain. Bring your workout indoors and don’t overdo it. Choose low-impact aerobic moves that are easy on joints, such as walking and yoga or tai chi, which enhance your range of motion. Lifting weights can also help because it builds joint-supporting muscles,” he said.Dr Aggarwal advised that caffeine-fuelled drinks be swapped with water, adding that diluted juice as alcohol, tea, coffee, cola and other fizzy drinks reduce the amount of calcium absorption and weaken bones.“Other things that may help include over the counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen. TENS pain relief units can offer temporary relief from mild pain. One can also stock knee supports, joint patches and gels, deep freeze cold spray and heat sprays,” he said.

Things to do

• Follow a healthy diet by including plenty of fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals and dairy products
• It is important for joint and knee patients to indulge in foods rich in Vitamin K, D and C, as they play an important role in the production of cartilage and help the body absorb calcium for stronger bones. Include oranges, spinach, cabbage and tomatoes in your diet
• Lose weight for the knees, as knees take three to four times your body weight when you walk
• Warm baths are beneficial for keeping your joints warm as well as relieving stiffness and pain caused by arthritis
• Adequate supply of calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones. In the absence of natural sunlight, you could take calcium and vitamin D supplements for a few months

According to CAG, of the 181 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters flown by the Army Aviation pilots, 51 are 40 years old or older and 78 between 30 and 40 years old.

Months after a group of wives of Army Aviation pilots approached Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, complaining about the sorry condition of choppers flown by their husbands, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled the Defence Ministry for the old assets.

The CAG, in its report tabled in Parliament on Friday, said 52 per cent of Army Aviation helicopters are more than 30 years old and only 40 per cent available for operations. “The helicopters held are old and aging, with 52 per cent of the fleet more than 30 years old. The effective availability of helicopters for operations gets further reduced to 40 per cent of the authorisation due to low level of serviceability of the existing fleet,” the report said.

According to CAG, of the 181 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters flown by the Army Aviation pilots, 51 are 40 years old or older and 78 between 30 and 40 years old.

CAG said against the desired 80 per cent serviceability, the Chetak and Cheetah choppers have been operating at a mere 65 per cent serviceability. “Despite these shortcomings, Army Aviation could not replace its fleet of Cheetah/Chetak helicopters being used for reconnaissance and observation… We observed that against 18 schemes approved in 11th and 12th Service Capital Acquisition Plan, contracts in respect of only four schemes could be concluded in nine years period, so far,” it said.

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/cag-pulls-up-defence-ministry-for-aging-choppers/?utm_source=inshorts&utm_medium=inshorts_full_article&utm_campaign=inshorts_full_article#sthash.6we3n9Ue.dpuf