Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 7

Four soldiers, including a gallantry award winning Major, were killed in a fierce encounter with infiltrators close to the Line of Control in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipore district on Tuesday. Two unidentified militants were also killed.This is the first major infiltration bid and encounter along the LoC in Kashmir after the conclusion of parliamentary elections in Pakistan and comes just days ahead of Imran Khan being sworn in as Prime Minister.While the massive counter-infiltration operation is still under way at Bakhtoor, Gurez, 170 km from Srinagar, the Army suspects more militants may be hiding in the area. It has pressed into service a team of specialised forces to search for militants in the dense forest area. The Lashkar-e-Toiba claimed its men were involved.The slain soldiers were identified as Major Kaustubh Prakash Kumar Rane, 29, of Thane, Maharashtra; Grenadier Vikramjeet Singh, 25, of Ambala, Haryana; Rifleman Mandeep Singh Rawat, 26, of Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, and Rifleman Hameer Singh, 28, of Dunda, Uttarakhand.Major Rane, who was attached with 36 RR, was recently promoted and awarded the Sena Medal in May 2017 for his role in the same sector.Vikramjeet Singh, a resident of Ambala’s Tepla village, had tied the knot a few months ago. The gunfight began around 1 am when an Army patrol noticed the movement of at least eight heavily-armed militants and challenged them near Army’s Panth post at Bakhtoor.“They fired at the soldiers and in the intense gunfight, a Major and three soldiers of 36 RR were killed,” a source said, adding that two militants were also shot dead in the gunfight.Sources said at least four militants managed to return to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “However, we suspect two militants are still hiding in the area and the operation is under way,” the source said.Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said the infiltration bid was foiled in Gurez by the Army. Gurez is among the toughest routes to sneak into the Valley along the 350-km-long LoC in the region. In the past, militants have waded through the Kishanganga river to infiltrate into Gurez.In May, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 330-MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in Gurez. Pakistan had objected to the project.

133 crossover bids

• 133 infiltration bids up to June this year, 69 successful
• Six militants killed in Gurez sector in three different operations last year
• Three militants killed in lastoperation in Gurez on July 27

Rajouri, August 5

To develop cordial relations between students, staff and parents, the management of Army Goodwill Public School organised an ‘Autumn Fete’ here on Saturday.The function, inaugurated by Maj Gen MV Suchindra, General Officer Commanding, Infantry Division, was attended by more than 600 students, staff and parents. They enjoyed various games organised by the school on the campus.Maj General Suchindra also inaugurated a plantation drive under which more than 1,000 saplings were planted by the students, parents and the staff.“The school also moved a step forward in the direction of digitisation and academic excellence by inaugurating ‘Gramonnati Centre e-Pathshala’ with facilities of tablets, laptops and accessories for the students between Class VI and VIII, especially for hostel inmates,” said a senior Army officer.He said Bansal coaching classes with an e-pathsala facility had been launched so that Class IX to XII students could prepare for the board and competitive exams.“To make the Autumn Fete more interesting, educative and successful, the students of the school also organised a cultural show for the audience,” said a school spokesman. — OC

Our Correspondent

Palampur, July 31

The DAH Division of the Army organised a defence pension adalat at its station headquarters in Palampur on Tuesday. The event was held in continuation with its effort to reach out to veterans and resolve their problems pertaining to pension and their welfare issues.The meet was also aimed at addressing issue pertaining to the ESM (ex-servicemen) and acquaint them with various schemes and programmes for enhancing quality of life of the veterans. The meet was another step towards helping the veterans and Veer Naris register themselves for the preparation of the ECHS smart cards.Brig Charandeep Singh, Station Commander, apprised the ex-servicemen that the application cum-registration facilitation centre, had been made operational at the ECHS Cell, Palampur, and the ECHS Polyclinic, Mandi.He also encouraged the veterans, Veer Naris and widows to get themselves registered on the Indian Army veteran’s portal. During the meet, the veterans were also apprised that 2018 would be celebrated as the year of disabled soldiers. The veterans were intimated to forward the details of disable soldiers and Veer Naris residing in their native areas to the Veterans Sahayta Kendra, Palampur. The meet was attended by a large number of ex-servicemen and Veer Naris, who came from different parts of Kangra and Mandi District.A talk on welfare schemes was also given by Brig SK Verma (Retd), Director, Sainik Welfare, Government of HP, Hamirpur. During the event, the DPDO, Palampur, resolved most of the grievances pertaining to the pension of veterans on the spot.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 30

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur urged NCC officers to join hands with the state government in checking drug abuse, afforestation programme and making the state polythene-free. Efforts will be made to ensure that there are NCC teachers in all schools and colleges having the NCC wing, he added.Interacting with Additional Director General, NCC directorate of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, Major General RS Maan, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was giving special thrust on expanding and strengthening the NCC activities in the country.He said at present, there were 16 lakh NCC cadets in the country and efforts were being made to increase their number to 19 lakh. He said Himachal had 23,000 NCC cadets.Major General RS Maan apprised him of various activities being undertaken by the NCC in the state. He also urged the Chief Minister for enhancing the budget for the NCC.

Jammu, July 27

To honour the sacrifices of brave soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil war, the 19th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on Thursday at Shradhanjali Park, Udhampur, with solemnity and dignity.Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Northern Command, along with a large number of personnel andcivil officials, paid homage to the martyrs by lighting candles.The day is a special occasion for the Army as it is the anniversary of the rarest battle which was fought and won in the most adverse and challenging conditions.Observing Vijay Diwas was a humble tribute to the martyrs and an acknowledgement of their valour andsacrifice, a Northern Command spokesperson said

Jammu, July 28

Amid a spike in terror attacks on security forces in Kashmir, the police are set to purchase 50 bullet-resistant bunker (BRB) vehicles with a higher level of protection from gunfire.The J&K Police have recently floated tenders for the purchase of the 50 BRB 4X4 vehicles with NIJ-III level protection that would shield them against fire from self-loading rifles (SLRs) and AK-47 rifles.The NIJ-III level is a standard set by the US-based National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for body armour.Hundred militants and 43 security personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the first six months of this year, the government informed the Rajya Sabha recently.Sixteen civilians were also killed during this period, which saw 256 incidents of violence.The police will get 50 bullet-proof bunker vehicles for protection of security personnel against terror attacks in insurgency-hit areas of Kashmir, a senior police official said on Saturday.The BRB vehicles should have specifications to give protection against fire from SLRs and AK-47 rifles on four sides at 90 degree angle of attack from 10 metre and roof at 45 degree of the attack from 10 metre, the official said.The NIJ standard “Ballistic Resistance of Body Armour” is a minimum performance standard developed in collaboration with the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).The NIJ level-III protection is tested to stop 7.62mm full metal jacket lead core rifle ammunition.The bullet resistant glasses should have the required thickness with finest optical quality minimum distortion to be used as transparent armours, which must be capable of withstanding NIJ level-III protection, he said.The official said the vehicle must give protection against 8 kg of TNT and equivalent and its underbelly shall be protected against blasts of two hand grenades.The vehicle must be able to accommodate 10 people in a bullet-proof single cabin, the official said.As per the specifications, the fuel tanks of the vehicles should also be bullet-proof.When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir last year, he had announced a package of Rs 500 crore for the modernisation of the Jammu and Kashmir Police under the PM Development Programme and that is under procurement.Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir recently said in the Rajya Sabha that in 2017, 342 incidents of “violence” were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 213 militants were killed. A total of 80 security personnel and 40 civilians were killed last year, Ahir said. — PTI

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow , July 17

On the second death anniversary of former Indian hockey captain Mohammad Shahid on July 20, his widow Parveen plans to meet the PM in New Delhi and return his awards. She is hurt at the government not keeping its word on naming a stadium or tournament after him.Shahid, one of India’s finest hockey players known for his dribbling skills, was the national team captain in 1985-86. He scored the goal that helped India win the gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was decorated with the Arjuna Award in 1980–1981 and Padma Shri in 1986.Speaking to The Tribune, Parveen said when her 56-year-old husband passed away in Gurgaon two years ago, she was promised by then Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel that an all-India tournament would be named after him. “Several important persons visited my house in Varanasi and promised me help. One of the promises made was that the Diesel Locomotive Works stadium in Varanasi would be re-named after my husband, who was a Class I officer with the Indian Railways.“A board with my husband’s name was hung at the DLW stadium. I was told a senior minister would formally rename the stadium. But nothing happened. The board too has been removed”, she complained. After numerous written complaints to the PM’s office in Varanasi and several futile attempts to meet the PM, who represents the Varanasi constituency, Parveen has finally decided to return the awards which, she says, mean nothing.Varanasi District Magistrate Surendra Singh, who met her on Tuesday, took note of her grievances.

Her grouse

Mohammad Shahid’s widow Parveen says govt hasn’t kept word on naming tourney/stadium after him. She now plans to meet the PM. One among India’s finest hockey players, Shahid captained the Indian team in 1985-86.

Our Correspondent

Kangra, July 15

The Commander of Rising Star Corps, Lt Gen YVK Mohan, on Saturday launched a plantation drive. As many as 2,700 saplings will be planted in the Yol Cantonment area.Lt Col Devender Anand, defence spokesperson, said the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Rising Star Corps, led the drive by planting a sapling at ‘Tank Trophy’ on the Brigade Bazar road in Yol Cantonment.He said the GOC highlighted the importance of plantation in the wake of global warming and ecological imbalance.Lt Col Anand said the ‘Go green’ drive aimed at encouraging people to plant more and more trees.