Ruchika M Khanna,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 7

Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh has been given a clean chit by the Punjab government in the report prepared by it for the Union Home Ministry on the terror strike at the Air Force Station in Pathankot.The state government has also denied that there was any delay on its part in responding to the initial sighting of the terrorists.Having drawn flak for its delay in responding to the initial terror alert, it now seems that the Punjab government is covering its tracks.The Union Home Ministry had asked the state government to submit a report on how the terror strike unfolded and the state government’s initial response, after the terrorists were first sighted by the police officer.The role of the SP, who was transferred from Gurdaspur to Jalandhar as Commandant of PAP, following a complaint, only a few days before the terror strike, was questionable.His theory that he was going to pay obeisance at a dera on December 31 night and that too without a gunman has several loopholes.Besides, the fact that he was let off by the terrorists along with his cook, Madan Gopal, while their third co-traveller, jeweler Rajesh Verma, was grievously injured before being thrown out has raised many questions over the SP’s role. However, the state government’s report sent to the Government of India absolves the police officer of any wrongdoing.The initial timeline of the sequence of events, as revealed earlier this week, had said the police official after being let off had called then Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur, at 3.23 am on January 1, informing him of the incident.The district Police Chief, in spite of an alert sent on December 29, saying 16 militants might have entered the border district, refused to believe Salwinder Singh.This was initially also corroborated by Salwinder Singh himself, who had then claimed that the officer did not take him seriously and asked him to call the police control room. Initially, Salwinder had said nobody responded to his calls in the police control room till 6 am and only a DSP finally came to help him.By this time, injured Verma too was found and it was only then that the police started acting on their complaint of four “Urdu-speaking” armed terrorists having carjacked them.However, the report sent to the Home Ministry now says that there was no delay in the police response to the carjacking by terrorists.It says that the police acted immediately and even the top police brass in Chandigarh had been alerted early in the morning, within minutes of the SP’s call to the Gurdaspur SSP.”By 7 am, ADGP, Law and Order, Hardeep Singh Dhillon had already been dispatched and the police worked on parallel tracts to trace the culprits,” says the report.Interestingly, amid rumours that the police had ordered an internal investigation against four of its officers for delay in responding to the SP’s terror alert, Director General of Police Suresh Arora said no internal inquiry against any police officer had been ordered.”There was no delay on any police officers’ part and immediate search operations to trace the terrorists were launched,” he said.Admitting that the terrorists could have local handlers in the area, Arora, however, said the police was still in the process to identify the local handlers, but the search had so far been inconclusive.

CONTRADICTORY STATMENTS:What report to Home Ministry says

• The state government’s report sent to the Government of India absolves the police officer of any wrongdoing
• The report says there was no delay in the police response to the carjacking by terrorists
• It says the police acted immediately and even the top police brass in Chandigarh was alerted early in the morning, within minutes of the SP’s call to the Gurdaspur SSP
• By 7 am, ADGP, Law and Order, Hardeep Singh Dhillon had already been dispatched and the police worked on parallel tracts to trace the culprits

What SP SalwinderSingh said

• The SP’s theory that he was going to pay obeisance at a dera on Dec 31 and that too without a gunman has several loopholes
• The SP after being let off had called then SSP, Gurdaspur, at 3.23 am on Jan 1, informing him of the incident, but he refused to believe him and asked him to call PCR
• He had said nobody responded to his calls in the PCR till 6 am and a DSP finally came to help him
• By this time, injured Verma was found and it was only then that the police started acting on their complaint of four armed terrorists

Tanda woman accuses Salwinder of bigamy

Seeks rights for ‘their’ son, demands DNA test

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi,Hoshiarpur, January 7

Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh has landed in yet another soup after a woman from Tanda, Urmur, claiming to be his second wife, has opened a front against him seeking her son’s rights.Karanpreet Kaur has claimed that Salwinder Singh married her in April 1994 when he was an ASI in the Amritsar police.”He didn’t allow us to have the marriage photographed from a professional photographer. Instead he got it photographed from a young man accompanying him to whom he introduced as his cousin but we never saw those photographs. He told us that his mother was not well and he would inform her later. After the marriage I repeatedly asked him to take me to his home in Amritsar, but every time he made an excuse and later started quarrelling over the issue,” Karanpreet said.She claimed that she had been residing with him in capacity of his wife at various places of his postings. She had been there with him at Dera Baba Nanak, Amritsar, and other places and he used to stay with her at her parental house till September 1999 when her son was born.She alleged, “After our son was born, he started staying away from me and left us when our son was eight-month old and never looked back.”She added that when he ignored her, she filed a complaint too. “My complaints were heard and statements were recorded but nothing happened after that ever. Once a DIG-level inquiry was also conducted but that too was of no use. I was told to see the DGP, but I could not go as my son was very small,” she added.Her 16-year-old son, Angin Sahilpreet Singh, had also filed a complaint in this regard, which is still pending. Both Sahilpreet and his mother Karanpreet demanded that a DNA test of the SP should be got done to confirm their claim.”Action should be taken against him. Besides, my son should be given all rights,” she said.

Yet another controversy

• Karanpreet Kaur claims that SP Salwinder Singh married her in April 1994 when he was an ASI in the Amritsar police
• She claimed that she stayed with him at various places of his postings and he used to stay with her at her parental house till September 1999 when her son was born
• She alleged he left her when their son was eight months’ old

Tribune News Service,Gurdaspur, January 5

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today visited the families of Havildar Kulwant Singh and Subedar Major Fateh Singh, both of whom lost their lives in the Pathankot anti-terror operation.The minister flew in from Pathankot in a helicopter this evening. He was accompanied by officials of the civil and police administration. He first went to Chak Sharif, the native village of Kulwant Singh and then Jhanda Gujran village where Fateh Singh lived.Interacting with the media, Parrikar said Gurdeep Rana, the elder son of Fateh Singh, who was at present posted with the 15th Dogra regiment at Sikkim, would be transferred to Tibri cantonment area, near the village. He also promised that his daughter would be given a job in the defence services.It’s business as usual, but Pathankot residents still waryPathankot: “Is the operation over?” This was a question on everyone’s mind as life went on as usual in this town on Tuesday. On Monday as firing continued at the Air Force station, children were seen flying kites on the terrace of their houses in a colony near the airbase. They were not bothered about the gunshots and presence of a large number of security personnel and media OB vans. Other than few closed shops along the Air Force station’s main gate, there was business as usual in the town. Raju, a two-wheeler mechanic, chose to open his shop this evening. He said: “We have suffered enough loss of income. How long could we afford to keep our business shut?” He asked: “The media has more information. The operation has been declared to be over, but are there reports of more terrorists in the area?” Buses, trucks and other vehicles plied as usual on the national highway. The only semblance of the terror attack was the number of police barricades on the way. The markets were open well past 9 pm. Even the policemen seemed restless. “We are stuck here for three days,” said a policeman deployed at the entry of Pathankot. At a naka near Garshankar, policemen said: “We heard in the morning that the operation is over. But TV channels were giving conflicting reports. We are still wary of the developments.”Free meal for copsA number of social workers served food round-the-clock to scores of mediapersons. Villagers supplied food to policemen deployed along the roads leading to the town. A large crowd gathered outside the Air Force station main gate. People appeared amused as TV anchors speak through their microphones. Police, media kept at bayThe Punjab Police and the media are kept at bay by the armed forces even as an anti-terror operation has been on inside the IAF airbase for the past three days. Officers of the armed forces have even admitted to be comfortable in handling the operation without the help of the police and the press. Despite the top brass of the state police making the city its base camp in view of the attack, the Army commanders relegated the police force to the sidelines. The IAF commandoes manning the main gate of the base have strict instructions not to allow anybody inside. They have also been told to remain tight-lipped about the operation. Similar is the case with the media. Starved of any concrete information, both electronic and print media are reporting the matter based on speculation, conjecture and assumptions. For the first 48 hours, not even a single piece of information trickled out of the station. It was only on the third day that a press conference was organised. — Jupinderjit Singh & Ravi Dhaliwal

How 6 entered base a mystery

Unanswered questions about why terrorists went undetected

Ruchika M Khanna,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 5

How the six terrorists entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot remains a mystery, even as the operation ended today with the killing of all of them.No tell-tale signs of a breach in the 26-km boundary wall of the air base have been found, it is learnt. The wall all along, except near the air strip, is several feet high and cannot be easily scaled. “The height of the boundary wall is lower near the air strip. But the distance between the air strip and non-technical area, where the fidayeen were spotted and where the entire gunbattle took place, is several hundred feet. It seems unlikely that they could have managed to travel that distance without drawing attention on January 1,” a source said.Investigation is being conducted to ascertain whether the wire that is used for fencing even over the small drains that run out of the Air Force Station had been stretched beyond its normal size, so as to allow entry. So far, nothing concrete has been established.The investigation has so far been pointing towards the fact that the terrorists were hiding in the forest area near the Air Force Station before they entered, since mobile phone signals had been detected from the area.Though it was cordoned off, the security forces were waiting for the break of dawn to enter this area and engage the terrorists. How this cordon was breached is another question that seeks answers.Official sources maintain that they were in a state of preparedness and had specific inputs of a strike at the air base. They maintain that the Air Force station had been asked to increase patrolling and activate its Quick Reaction Teams by around 4 pm. Even the barracks of the Defence Services Corps (DSC) had been vacated at night. However, the patrolling does not seem to have achieved its purpose.Officials are now banking on the NIA probe to fill in these gaps in the sequence of events.

SP: I averted major strike

Ravi Dhaliwal,Tribune News Service,Gurdaspur, January 5

Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh on Tuesday claimed that had it not been for his revelations about terrorists, there would have been a major strike in the area. He, however, refused to comment as to why the police did not take him seriously. The officer was abducted along with his friend Rajesh Verma, a Gurdaspur-based jeweller, and his cook Madan Gopal. Salwinder said his captors called up some people from his mobile phone and talked to them for a few minutes in Urdu before dumping him. He said he had spoken to several senior officers, including DGP Suresh Arora, after he was freed. Salwinder replied in the affirmative when asked whether intelligence agencies had questioned him. “The IB and state police officers have been questioning me regularly. I have been repeatedly asked to recount the sequence of events. I was sure that the men were terrorists after I saw their bags containing arms and ammunition,” he said. “After I was freed, I rang up the control room and my seniors and informed them about my abduction. My information has prevented a major terror attack,” he claimed.

Heightened checking now on Dinanagar-Kathua road, but laxity did prove very costly

Jupinderjit Singh & Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service,Kohlian, January 5

The Dinanagar-Kathua road, which is a route to riches for many who transport sand and gravel from the Ravi to other parts of the state, has seen much action in the past few days.Teams of state police, Intelligence Bureau, BSF, Army, NSG and NIA are often seen tracing the route followed by terrorists on this stretch from where one section leads to about 8 km away to Bamial village on the Indo-Pak border and another to Kathua via Narot Jaimal Singh (about 6 km).The Tribune team, in a bid to trace the series of events which led to the abduction of SP Salwinder Singh and his associates, travelled on the route. Amid zero visibility on the potholed road and scary surroundings of the 2,200-acre Raipur-Kathlore forest spread across Punjab and Jammu areas, our car was stopped by an ASI and his team of six.They entered our names, phone numbers and vehicle registration number in a register. They allowed us to proceed only after authenticating our identity.Only four days ago, a police team on this and at least three other such barriers let a Mahindra XUV pass without checking or making an entry in the register, thinking the vehicle belonged to a senior police official.They even saluted the XUV occupants with no clue that the persons inside were terrorists and the SP was in their captivity.At Kathlor bridge barrier, the same thing happened. The XUV zoomed past. “We were alerted by our colleagues on other nakas that SP Salwinder Singh was travelling on an SUV probably to check barriers at night,” said a head constable at the bridge naka, admitting he was so wrong.The SP and his two companions were reportedly returning from Khwaja Peer shrine in Taloor on December 31 when they were abducted by the ultras.Taxi driver Ikaagar Singh too was confronted by terrorists while he was on his way to Kohlian. Ikaagar was found dead near banks of the Ravi at Kohlian village.At a third barrier in the middle of nowhere bright torch lights suddenly erupted with three policemen signalling us to stop. Once again they took time to verify our antecedents. They seemed over-suspicious. As one of the team members entered details in a register, more policemen appeared and insisted on checking the car’s boot again. “Our strategy is that only three persons remain visible to an approaching vehicle while another three-four remain out of sight to provide cover in case of any exigency,” a policeman said.On learning about our destination, which was still about 8 km away from that point, the policemen advised us against going further, saying that the area was not only unsafe but finding the way would be difficult at midnight with no sign boards or anyone to ask for directions.Despite having a local guide with us, we took a couple of wrong turns and had to retrace our steps. The terrorists, on the other hand, managed to find their way to the Air Force station in the dark.Rs 25 lakh, job for martyrs’ kinGurdaspur: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and a government job each for the next of kin of Subedar Major Fateh Singh and Havildar Kulwant Singh, who were killed in the Pathankot attack. Interacting with the media during his Sangat Darshan in Qadian, the CM said it was a modest effort by the state to pay tributes to the brave hearts who had made the supreme sacrifice for the country. — TNSPak must act against rogue elements: CaptAmritsar: State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said while the talks between India and Pakistan should continue, Pakistan must make it a point to initiate action against the rogue elements who have owned up the responsibility for attack on the Pathankot airbase. The Amritsar MP also said instead of putting the NSG in charge of the operations in Pathankot, it should have been handled by the Army. — TNSSecurity up at Amritsar jail Amritsar: The Amritsar Central Jail authorities have beefed up security on the premises as a number of hardcore convicts are lodged there. There are 74 foreign inmates. Of these, 13 are undertrials, 21 convicts and 40 interns. Since the jail is located near the Indo-Pak border, the authorities have shot off letters to the Police Commissioner, PAP and the Punjab Home Guards to enhance the security of the jail. — TNS

Ajay Banerjee,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, December 29

The public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been preferred over the private sector to partner Russian helicopter giant Kamov in producing military helicopters in India. This will be another major defence project with Russian help in India after the MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets, T-90 tanks and Brahmos missiles.HAL-Kamov will produce 200 copters at a cost of nearly Rs 6,500 crore or Rs 32 crore per copter. It will be an inter-governmental deal like the ones earlier for the Russian Sukhoi-30-MKI fighter jets in India or the T-90 tanks. The HAL is owned by the Ministry of Defence and has previous experience at making copters.Earlier, there was talk of a private sector company walking away with the Russian co-production offer. Sources said HAL pipped other private sector aspirants because of its ongoing partnership with French engine-maker Turbomeca for its indigenously developed copter, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), called the Dhruv. The Kamov 226-T is also fitted with Turbomeca engines, but a different variant. Past experience also weighed in its favour.HAL in the past has licensed-produced the French origin Cheetah/Chetak Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).The twin-engined Kamov 226-T will replace the single-engine Cheetah/Chetak, usually deployed for surveillance, dropping small loads and for rescue, including of troops posted at forbidding heights such as the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge region.The twin-rotor Kamov 226-T light will also be used for armed reconnaissance, to direct artillery fire on enemy positions and fly in quick reaction teams for special missions. It has a flight ceiling of 18,700 feet — covering almost the entire Siachen Glacier and has a superior carrying capacity.The three services and the Coast Guard currently have 430 Cheetah/Chetaks helicopters. They are based on the 1950s’ designed Alouette Aérospatiale 315B Lama of France and lack modern avionics like instrument landing and omni-directional and ranging systems.The forces need some 800 LUHs over the next decade. The gap will be filled by Kamov 226-T and HAL’sDhruv. The Kamov-HAL joint venture will have an annual production capacity of 30-40 helicopters.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had in February announced a two-pronged plan to ramp up chopper production in India. Speaking at the Aero-India show, he said the first part was to ramp up capacity at HAL and, the second, to invite foreign participation to collaborate with Indian companies.The first part of expansion of HAL will kick off this Sunday — January 3 —when Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for HAL’s new helicopter manufacturing facility at Tumkuru, 100 kms from Bengaluru. HAL currently produces just 20 ALH copters every year against the requirement of 100-120 annually. The second part of plan will take off after Kamov-HAL starts producing the LUH.

ਰੋਹਤਕ— ਫੌਜ ਮੁਖੀ ਬਣਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਆਰਮੀ ਚੀਫ ਜਨਰਲ ਦਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੁਹਾਗ ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਨਾਲ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਆਪਣੇ ਜੱਦੀ ਪਿੰਡ ਬਿਸਾਨ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ। ਜੱਦੀ ਪਿੰਡ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਿਲ ਵਿਚ ਕਈ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸੀ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਫੌਜ ਵਿਚ ਕਈ ਅਫਸਰ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਬਿਸਾਨ ‘ਚ ਅਜੇ ਤਕ ਕੋਈ ਧੀ ਫੌਜ ‘ਚ ਅਫਸਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਣੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੀਆਂ ਧੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਫੌਜ ਵਿਚ ਅਫਸਰ ਬਣਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੈਂਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਦੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਰਹੇਗੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਧੀ ਕਰੇਗੀ।
ਫੌਜ ਮੁਖੀ ਬਣਨ ਤੋਂ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਦੇ ਬਿਸਾਨ ਸਥਿਤ ਆਪਣੇ ਜੱਦੀ ਪਿੰਡ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਸੁਹਾਗ ਨੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕਈ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਸਾਂਝੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਕੂਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਿੱਪਲ ਅਤੇ ਕਿੱਕਰ ਦੇ ਦਰੱਖਤ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਜਨਰਲ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਤਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਅੱਜ ਤਾਂ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਸਹੂਲਤਾਵਾਂ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਗੋਂ ਕਿ 100 ਫੌਜ ਮੁਖੀ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਣੇ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿਚ ਜੋਸ਼ੀਲੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਫੌਜ ‘ਚ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਲਈ ਉਹ ਭਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਹਰ ਉਸ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿਚ ਭਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ, ਜਿੱਥੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਜੋਸ਼ ਹੈ। ਤਕਰੀਬਨ 3000 ਦੀ ਆਬਾਦੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਬਿਸਾਨ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ 130 ਲੋਕ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਫੌਜ ਵਿਚ ਬਨ, ਜਦਕਿ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ 250 ਰਿਟਾਇਰਡ ਫੌਜੀ ਵੀ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਛੋਟਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਹੈ। ਸੁਹਾਗ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੰਮੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਉਡੀਕ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਆਰਮੀ ਚੀਫ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਆਵੇ। ਮੈਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹਾਂ।

Tribune News Service

The Mughal forces, Hilly Rajas’ forces had laid seize to Anandgarh Fort, Anandpur Sahib for about 8 months, in 1704. The Mughals and Hilly Rajas wanted Guru Gobind Singh to leave the fort they swore on Gita and Quran to give a safe passage to Guru. The Guru decided to leave the fort. Guru Sahib, four Sahibzadas, Mata Gujri, Guru’s Mahil (wives), five Panj Piaras and a few hundred Sikhs left Anandpur Sahib on the chilly night of 20 December 1704 towards Ropar. In the intervening night of 20–21 December, the rnemy breached the vows and attacked Guru’s entourage at a site on Sarsa rivulet some 25 km from Anandpur Sahib. Guru’s family separated. This spot is now known as Parwar Vichhora. Mata Gujri with two younger grandsons, accompanied Guru family cook, Gangoo, a Brahamin, to his village, Saheri near Morinda. Guru’s Mahil left with Bhai Mani Singh, towards Delhi. Guru Gobind Singh with two elder Sahibzadas, 5 Panj Piaras and 40 Sikhs proceeded towards Chamkaur and reached there, in the afternoon of 21 December. Both are in Ropar Distt.(Pb.). The famous Chamkaur battle, took place on 22 and 23 December 1704, where two elder Sahibzadas, 3 Panj Piaras and 40 Sikhs laid down their lives. Mata Gujri and two younger Sahibzadas were arrested by Morinda Police at Saheri village. From there, they were handed over to Suba Sirhind. They were imprisoned, in the Thanda Burj (Cold Tower). A farcical Trial began, in the Kacheri, (Court) of Suba Sirhind. It lasted for three days. On 27 December 1704, a heinous and cold-blooded crime was committed in the Sarzameen of Sirhind. Guru Gobind Singh’s two younger sons, Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh aged 7 and 9 years were bricked alive and later killed in the presence of the Assembly of Shaitans, presided over by Suba Sirhind, Wazir Khan. Two younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri were cremated by a devout Sikh, Diwan Todar Mal, at a spot, know known as Joyti Saroop Gurudwara.

Samat Bikrmi dates and year: Leaving of Anandpur Sahib,5 Poh 1761, Battle of Chamkaur 6, 7 and 8 Poh 1761, Saka Sirhind 11,12 and 13 Poh 1761.

Chhotte Sahibzade (Punjabi: ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦੇ) of Guru Gobind Singh attained martyrdom on 26 December 1705 at a very young age. This is known as Saka Sirhind. Every year on 26 December, Shaheedi Jor Mela is organised at Fatehgarh Sahib, to commemorate the supreme sacrifice at the place of their martyrdom.

Following are series of events related to Saka Sirhind:

• Eviction of Mata Gujri, Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh from Anandpur Sahib siege.
• Arrest of above three at Morinda and hearing at Sirhind.
• Arguments at Sirhind Court.
• Sher Muhammad Khan defended young Sahibzadas.
• Declaration of Innocence of Sahibzadas, by Qazis and other officials.
• Provocative arguments by Diwan Sucha Nand Brahmin and young Sahibzadas to support prosecution.
• Found guilty of keeping ideology rebellious to Mughal Government and religions.
• Punishment – Bricked alive
• Aftermath

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 25Keeping in view the huge rush at the historic Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara during the Jor Mela from December 26, the district police have decided to install 40 CCTV cameras to keep a tab on anti-social elements during the fair.About 3,500 police personnel would be deployed in town as more than 3,510 lakh devotees are expected to pay obeisance during the three-day Shaheedi Jor Mel to be organised to commemorate the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive in Fatehgarh Sahib.Senior Superintendent of Police Jatinder Singh Khaira said the town had been divided into five sectors and each sector would be headed by an SP-rank official. He said 10 check barriers, 51 nakas and 19 free parking lots have been set up for the smooth conduct of the fair. He said 12 Superintendents of Police, 28 DSPs and 89 Inspectors would be deputed for the security of devotees during the three-day fair.

SOME OF YOU TUBE SONGS IN HONOR OF SAHIBZADA: THOS WHO ARE INTERESTED TO LISTEN: HOMAGE TO SAHIBZADAS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqVwCej9lhI

Dasi Kalgi Waleyan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxfl_CARps&list=RDO2zJv6u8bPs&index=3

Miss Pooja – Putt Gobind Singh De – Proud On Sikh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3QzSVN8e6k

Nikhil Bhardw,jTribune News Service,Jalandhar, December 23

Making Jalandhar proud, a city youth, 23-year-old Jai Deep Singh, has been commissioned in the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a flying officer in the fighter stream. Jai is one of the four selected from Punjab and as many as 209 from across the country selected for flying the fighter plane in the Air Force.A resident of Defence Colony and son of Tajinder Singh, a local businessman dealing in medicines, Jai was commissioned in the IAF on December 19 by the Chief of the Army Staff in Hyderabad. Jai is set to join on January 3, 2016 as a flying officer in the ‘Hawk Aircraft Base’ based in Bidar, Karnataka.Jai, a student of St. Joseph’s School and Police DAV School, had cleared the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam in 2011 after class XII following which he joined the NDA the same year. After undergoing three years of intensive training in Pune and one year of rigorous training in flying all kinds of aircraft, including transport planes, helicopter and fighter jets, he was commissioned in the IAF in the fighter stream.Jai was ranked 113th in the NDA of the 350 candidates selected. Jai had also scored merit positions in class X and class XII exams.Jai, whose grandfather Mahinder Singh was the caretaker, Parliament House, credited his family for the success. He said after rigorous training, 48, including him, were commissioned in the IAF as a fighter plane pilot while the rest were given other assignments in the IAF including flying transport aircraft, helicopters or ground duties.He also credited Squadron leader Rahul Basoya for training him in the fighter stream.Jail, who received the inspiration to join the Army from a Hollywood blockbuster ‘Top Gun’, said he had been nurturing a dream to join the Air Force since childhood and now his dream had come true.An elated grand-father Mahinder Singh and grand-mother Satwant Kaur said, “We had been wishing for Jai to join the Army and we had motivated him but Jai had something else in mind. He wanted to join the IAF, that too in fighter stream. We are feeling proud as our son would serve the country and bring fame to the family as well as the nation”.Jai’s father Tajinder and mother Harjit Kaur said, “It is a proud moment for us as our son made it to the IAF”.

New Delhi, December 21Seeking to make defence acquisition process simpler and transparent, the government today launched a new “Make in India” website that will provide an interface with industry and promised to finalise the new revised defence procurement procedure by January.Stating that it is an “uphill” task to change mindset, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today rued that “process” had become more important than the goal itself and asserted that the government is in the process of creating a level playing field with more transparency.“The last 10 years have seen that procedure has become more important than the target. The target is to provide modern equipment to the armed forces in a timely manner,” he said.The minister said the ministry he had inherited was “full of mistrust” but the situation has changed to a large extent.He hoped the website (www.makeinindiadefence.com) would act as an enabler for the industry to get the latest news and notification regarding various aspects of the defence production. “They (officials) should ensure that the portal works,” he said.On the much awaited new Defence Procurement Procedure, Parrikar said that the document is in the final stages of finalisation.He said that the Defence Acquisition Council would meet either in the last week of December of the first week of January to finalise the DPP which will focus on ‘Make in India’.He said the aim is to have 40 per cent of defence procurement under ‘Make in India’ initiative from the current 30 per cent and raising it to 70 per cent indigenisation in the next five years. The portal provides information related to all policy and procedural issues relevant for defence manufacturing industry.It provides link to industrial promotion policies and programmes of various states and UTs. The portal also gives an opportunity to an individual company to seek clarifications or ask questions. Defence Ministry officials said these would be answered within three working days.“And if the matter is related to a third ministry, then an interim reply would be given and full answer would be given later,” an official said. — PTI