Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 15

Two years after he kidnapped and murdered an Airman, chopping his body into 100 parts and stuffing these into polythene bags, a Bathinda court today awarded the death sentence to IAF Sergeant Sailesh Kumar.

“To be hanged by the neck till he is dead,” Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kanwaljit Singh Bajwa pronounced the sentence. Sergeant Kumar’s wife Anuradha Patel, eight months’ pregnant at the time of the murder, was sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for destruction of evidence.

The ASJ observed the accused, a member of the armed forces, should have shown courage in some other field, “in place of butchery”. He said: “It would be a mockery of justice and the conscience of society would be shocked, if death penalty was not awarded to him as his act was abhorrent and dastardly.

“This is surely a case which falls within the category of rarest of rare cases.”

According to the prosecution, the victim’s wife told the police that Vipin left house at the Bhissiana Airbase on February 8, 2017, but did not return. She and her father-in-law embarked upon a search. On February 21, they overheard two youngsters saying stench was emanating from the Sergeant’s residential quarters and informed the police.

Evidence regarding the motive behind the murder was, however, not placed before the court.

CRIME MOST FOUL

Sergeant Sailesh Kumar kidnapped and murdered an Airman, chopped his body and stuffed parts into bags

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 16

Investigators in the deadly suicide bombing on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy suspect a cross-border link to the explosives used in the attack and have found that the vehicle used in the blast was a Maruti Suzuki Eeco van and not an SUV.

Top sources privy to the preliminary investigations said the explosive used in the blast was mainly RDX that may have been smuggled from Pakistan.

“There are initial leads that suggest that the RDX used in the blast came from across the border in Kathua district. We are working on the leads,” they said. 

The sources said over 100 kg of RDX may have been used in the attack which caused the highest number of fatalities in a single militant attack in J&K since the eruption of militancy. In all, 40 CRPF men were killed when a lone suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammad rammed his vehicle into the CRPF convoy at Lethpora on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

“It has also been established that the vehicle used was a Maruti Suzuki Eeco van. We are yet to find out the owner of the van. The RDX-laden van may have come through a link road and later joined the convoy before hitting it,” the sources said.

The J&K Police have rounded up some men for questioning and are trying to zero in on the overground workers of the Jaish-e-Mohammad who may have helped in carrying out the attack.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team along with forensic experts collected materials at the blast site for evaluation for the second consecutive day.

“The findings will be revealed after the analysis of the material,” an NIA official said.

Maruti van used in Pulwama attack

• Top sources privy to the preliminary investigations said the explosive used in the blast was mainly RDX that may have been smuggled from Pakistan
• Investigators have found that the vehicle used in the blast was a Maruti Suzuki Eeco van and not an SUV
• A National Investigation Agency team along with forensic experts collected materials at the blast site for evaluation for the second consecutive day

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 9

To improve connectivity along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC), two strategically important bridges were dedicated to the nation by the Border Roads Organisations (BRO) onFriday.

These include a 331-m-long Bein bridge at Samba and 121-m-long Dhok bridge in Akhnoor.

The Bein bridge, constructed on the Parole-Rajpura road near the IB, was e-inaugurated from New Delhi by the MoS in the PMO Jitendra Singh along with Director-General BRO Lt Gen Harpal Singh, while the Dhok bridge, constructed on the Akhnoor-Pallanwala road, was inaugurated by MP from Jammu-Poonch Jugal Kishore along with Chief Engineer, Project Sampark, Brig YK Ahuja.

The Bein bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore and was completed six months ahead of the scheduled time. This strategically important bridge will facilitate smooth connectivity and improve the socio-economic development of border villages in the Samba region.

The Dhok bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 7.28 crore and was completed 11 months before its scheduled time. This strategically important bridge will facilitate smooth connectivity and improve the socio-economic development of nearby border villages in the Pallanwala region. This is the third bridge being completed in the last one year on the same road and two more bridges are on the verge of completion.

Terming the construction of the Bein bridge a great achievement by the BRO, Jitendra Singh, through video conferencing, said the roads and bridges were the lifeline of any nation and played a vital role in the socio-economic development of far-flung regions. He praised the BRO personnel for working away from their families in most hostile and difficult areas.

The event was attended by a gathering of local dignitaries, civil administration and public of all age groups from local villages.

Have strategic importance

• Two strategically important bridges were dedicated to the nation by the Border Roads Organisations on Friday
• These include a 331-m-long Bein bridge at Samba and 121-m-long Dhok bridge in Akhnoor

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Grenadiers Infantry Regiment, one of the oldest Sword Arm, has the distinction of giving to the Indian Army five bravest among the braves; three of them were awarded the Param Vir Chakra and two Ashok Chakra. Even peace-time gallantry award tally of the Grinders (as Grenadiers are commonly referred to) speaks volumes of these brave men. One of its Grinders Naik Jardish Ahmed is among the very few in the Indian Army to have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra twice and another Grinder Devinder Singh Bhati is the youngest Shaurya Chakra awardee in the Indian Army till date.

Devinder was the fourth generation soldier; the earlier two generations were also Grenadiers. He grew up listening to the stories of valour of Indian jawans from his father and grandfather and knew he was destined to follow into their footsteps. And he chose to be a Grinder like his grandfather and great grandfather.

 Devinder, son of Havildar Giri Raj Singh, was born in Kaurali village of Faridabad district on June 10, 1980. He was so impatient to join the Army that he didn’t even complete his senior secondary education and passed all preliminaries to become an Army jawan. And on October 28, 1998, he became Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati of 14 Grenadiers. 

The Kashmir valley has been the hotbed of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir but the Jammu region has also not remained unaffected. Areas around Poonch, Mendhar, Riasi and Udhampur have often been used by militants to cross over to the Kashmir valley. 14 Grenadiers Battalion was deployed near Udhampur in 1999 when militants were suspected of having their hideouts in hamlets around there. It was during one cordon and search operation around Udhampur that Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati of 14 Grenadiers laid down his life while gallantly fighting the militants, an act of valour for which he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. The battle account of his bravery is recorded in digest of service of 14 Grenadiers.

Bhagwan Devi, mother of Devinder Bhati, recalls: “Jatey jatey mera beta mujhe mere doodh ki taqat ka ahsas kara gaya. Bola maa, maine tera doodh piya hai, dekhna ugrawadion pe main kitna bhari padta hun”. 

Havildar Giri Raj Singh, father of Devinder, had only this to say to his son while seeing him off at the Kaurali bus stop: “Beta nirbhay hokar apni duty karna. Pura Kaurali gaon tere saath hai”. And the last words of Devinder to his father were: “Pita Ji, main Bhati Rajput hun, voh bhi chodah Grenadier ka. Aisa kuchh karke lautunga ke gaon ke mere sarey dost mujhe salute marenge”.

And not only his friends, the entire Kaurali village lined up and saluted the mortal remains of Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati, the youngest Shaurya Chakra awardee in the Indian Army.

As a mark of respect, the alma mater of this brave heart is now Saheed Devinder Singh Bhati Government Senior Secondary School, Kaurali, Faridabad.

The account of his bravery in digest of service of 14 Grenadiers reads…

Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati was part of a column, which was carrying out a cordon and search operation in Thinmarg village near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir on October 12, 2000 .The area of operation was extremely rugged and with steep gradients at an altitude of over 13,000 feet. Grenadier Devinder’s column reached its location after an arduous march in extreme cold conditions and deployed its stops during daylight hours. After it got dark, a group of six terrorists attempted to break through Devinder’s portion of the cordon. The stops came under intense and automatic fire by the terrorists from a dominating position. The terrorists even lobbed hand grenades to silence the stops. Grenadier Devinder rushed to cover the stops but in the process was hit by bullets and splinters of grenades. Ignoring his grave injuries, he asked his cordon to take cover and engaged the terrorists in a fierce combat, killing two of them.

Though Devinder had sustained severe injuries, he remained alert and proceeded to dislodge the terrorists who were bringing down devastating fire. Defying apogee of human endurance, Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati charged towards the terrorists and sprayed the area with bullets, killing one more. Despite sustaining mortal injuries, the super human effort of Grenadier Devinder Bhati ensured that all the terrorists were killed in this operation. He attained martyrdom after sustaining 22 bullet injuries.

For his raw courage, exemplary determination and supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army, Grenadier Devinder Singh Bhati was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)

In a letter to Sunil Arora, Admiral Ramdas expressed concerns on ‘recent instances’ of parties using armed forces’ for political gains.

New Delhi: Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (retired) has asked immediate intervention of the Election Commission in stopping political parties from using the Pulwama attack, Balakot air strike and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s operations to influence the electorate.

In an open letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Admiral Ramdas expressed concerns on “recent instances” of parties using armed forces’ heroics for political gains.

“With elections due in a few weeks from now, it is particularly important that there should not be any misuse of these recent events by any political party to send triumphalist or jingoistic messages which can influence the electorate,” he said.

In his two-page letter, the former Navy chief said the armed forces have always prided themselves on belonging to a structure, an ethos and an environment which have been both apolitical and secular.

“And it is in this context that as a responsible citizen and a proud veteran of the Indian Armed Forces, I share our collective sense of dismay and deep concern at how some political parties are brazenly pushing their agenda using images, uniforms and other examples, showing pictures of the armed forces with political figures, in public spaces, in media, election rallies and so on,” he said.

The former Navy chief said it was completely unacceptable since it has the potential to destroy the very foundations and value system of the armed forces, drawn from the vision, the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

He said he could not circulate the open letter for more signatures “although many veterans are duly agitated by these attempts to compromise the integrity and secular nature of the Indian Armed Forces”.

“We, therefore, urge the Election Commission to immediately intervene and send a strong message to the political parties that there should be no misuse of the photographs as indeed any other material/reports or other information pertaining to the armed forces for electioneering in any way,” he said.

Jammu, February 13

A 30-year-old soldier allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at an Army camp here, a police official said on Wednesday.

Sepoy Sandeep Singh, a resident of Punjab, was on guard duty at a post in a transit camp at Panama Chowk where he shot himself in the head on Tuesday, the official said.

His colleagues rushed to the scene on hearing the gunshot and found him dead on the spot, he said.

The body was handed over to the Army for last rites after completion of the legal formalities, the official said. The motive behind Singh taking the extreme step is yet to be ascertained, he said. PTI

Gen. Bipin Rawat issued the direction after visiting the forward locations along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir and several border posts in Rajasthan.

New Delhi: Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has directed army personnel deployed along the border with Pakistan to remain prepared for all eventualities in close coordination with the Indian Air Force, officials said.

Gen. Rawat issued the direction after visiting the forward locations along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir and several border posts in Rajasthan.

During the visit, the Army Chief was briefed on the prevailing security scenario and preparedness of the formations to deal with any eventualities.
“The Army Chief expressed his complete confidence in the capabilities of the Indian Army to thwart any nefarious design of Pakistan,” the Army said.

He praised high state of morale of troops and instructed them to remain prepared for all eventualities in close coordination with the Air Force,” it said in a statement.

In Rajasthan, Gen. Rawat visited forward locations like Barmer and Suratgarh to review the operational deployment. Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan on February 26.

Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on February 27. However, the IAF thwarted their plans.

The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers

Nation’s sovereignty intact because of Indian Army: Mishra

ITANAGAR, Feb 3: Governor BD Mishra hailed the role of the Indian Army in defending the nation’s sovereignty.
“It is because of the Indian Army that the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the nation are intact,” said Mishra during a meeting with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Gen Bipin Rawat, at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday.
The governor conveyed the goodwill of the people of Arunachal Pradesh to the general for the latter’s gesture to increase
vacancies for Arunachalee youths in the army. He also mentioned the initiative of the 17th battalion of the Rajputana Rifles in Gelemo village in Upper Subansiri, where they opened a primary school.
Handing over a report about the Pay Back to Society Group (PBSG), Mishra commended Gen Rawat’s good gesture to help the PBSG.
The COAS praised the people of Arunachal Pradesh, saying they have always helped the Indian Army in a big way. He also said there are many “very good” officers from Arunachal in the armed forces.
The army chief felicitated four meritorious students, Mihin Ronya (Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic College), Miti Perme (DNGC), Rajiv Ranjan Ray (NERIST) and Joychen Kenglang (NIT).
The governor’s wife Neelam Misra presented a short film on loin loom weaving to Army Wives Welfare Association president Madhulika Rawat, for the benefit of the army wives.
Students from the Donyi Polo Mission School for the Hearing and Visually Impaired, RGU, the NERIST and the NIT, and artist Mibi Nyodu presented colourful cultural programmes depicting the cultural heritage of Arunachal.
Earlier, in the afternoon, the general and his wife planted a palm tree in the Raj Bhavan premises. (Raj Bhavan)