FIVE BOOKED Retired havildar Beant Singh, 35, had objected to ‘overpriced’ liquor

At the behest of Harjinder and Sunny (liquor contractors), their workers beat up Beant to death using sticks. JASWANT SINGH, victim’s cousin

MOGA: Two owners of a liquor shop and their three aides allegedly beat up a retired army man to death at Thathi Bhai village in Smalsar near here on Thursday night, reportedly after the victim objected to liquor being overpriced. Five people have been booked for murder.

The deceased, Beant Singh, 35, of Chida village in Smalsar town of Moga, who had retired as havildar from the army a year ago, had gone to the Thathi Bhai village to buy liquor from the vend owned by Sunny Gill and his partner Harjinder Singh. The liquor shop had been sealed by the excise department recently over non-renewal of licence, still the contractors had been doing brisk business, it is learnt. The contractors’ men were selling liquor at exorbitant rates from a vehicle parked outside the shop.

Smalsar police have booked contractors Sunny Gill, Harjinder Singh, and their aides Sant Ram, Jagdeep Singh alias Giani of Moga, Jeet Singh of Smalsar, for murder. Gill is said to be close to some Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders and he has liquor business interests in Moga, Ludhiana and Sangrur. He reportedly also has shares in the Fastway cable network company in Moga district.

“Beant had insisted on paying the market rate for the liquor he wanted to buy, which the accused didn’t agree, leading to a scuffle. At the behest of Harjinder and Sunny, their workers beat up Beant to death using sticks,” said Jaswant Singh, a cousin of the victim.

Smalsar station house officer (SHO) Bhupinder Singh said all the accused were absconding and police teams were raiding their possible hideouts.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

INS Betwa that tipped over in a dry dock on Monday. — Tribune photo

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 6

The Indian Navy has ordered an inquiry into Monday’s incident in which a warship tipped over on a dry- dock in Mumbai, killing two sailors.  “Rear Admiral Deepak Bali, Flag-Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group, to head Board of Inquiry in (yesterday’s) INS Betwa incident,” a Navy spokesperson said this evening.”Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba visited the Naval Dockyard here this morning and was briefed about the incident and situation on ground,” the spokesperson said.It has also decided to make the warship, INS Betwa, battle-worthy within its ongoing re-fit cycle that ends April 2018.The ship had tipped over in the dry-dock at Mumbai while being undocked on Monday.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)It was undergoing a two year re-fit cycle that started in April 2016.Navy spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said professional salvagers from across the world have been called in to give an assessment on how to lift the ship from its 90 degree position and salvage it.  “We will salvage it. This is the decision made on Tuesday,” Capt Sharma said in New Delhi.The ship costing Rs 600 crore was commissioned in 2004. Since it’s indigenously made the re-fit and any new material can be sourced from India.The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba met the families of the two sailors who were killed when the ship tipped over. (With agency inputs)

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 4

The IAF’s sole Aerostat operating unit, 501 Signals Unit (SU), along with No. 30 Squadron that operates the SU-30 fighter, will be awarded the President’s Standards at a ceremonial parade scheduled to be held at Ambala Air Force Station on November 10.Standards or Colours are presented to a military unit or establishment in recognition of exceptional service rendered by it during war and in peace.Raised in August 1964 and based at Barnala, 501 SU is responsible for defending the airspace over Punjab Sector against the western adversary. It is equipped with French-made high powered radars and aerostats, which are large fixed balloons carrying radars, sensors and electronic intelligence gathering gadgets that can be raised to a height of 15,000 feet for aerial surveillance.Presently commanded by Gp Capt Vineet Jindal, it is also the first IAF radar unit to receive the Standards.Giving details, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal SB Deo said that the 49-year-old 30 Squadron that is based in Pune has a vast operational role ranging from the Andamans to the northern frontier.Raised initially on MiG-21FL and then charged with conversion training of new pilots, it was the first squadron to be equipped with the SU-30. Presently commanded by Wg Cdr Arun Phansalkar, it was involved in six protracted phases of user trials of the SU-30 and has also been associated with integration trials of indigenously developed systems and weapons.

Protesting Congress, AAP leaders detained; Govt says implementing policy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 2

Suicide by an Army veteran, Ram Kishan Grewal (70), over One Rank, One Pension (OROP) today turned into a massive political showdown with the Congress and AAP accusing the Narendra Modi government of betraying soldiers on its promise. The BJP hit back, accusing them of doing “politics over deaths”.The Delhi Police detained Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, while they restricted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s movement at a hospital where they had gone to meet the family members of the deceased. Home Minister Rajnath Singh defended the police action, saying: “Whatever has to be done for risk reduction, the Delhi Police will do.” He said the OROP issue had been resolved and “we are implementing it”.Even the Delhi Police officially justified the action of detaining leaders, saying they would not allow anyone to disturb law and order. There is a feeling among officials in the defence establishment that the suicide by the former Army man was the result of unpaid OROP arrears. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar tweeted the list of OROP beneficiaries.Refuting BJP’s allegation of the Congress politicising the issue, former Defence Minister AK Antony said: “Instead, the ruling party had made it a political issue when we were in power. The government must implement OROP in its entirety and remove anomalies, otherwise things will be difficult.”Antony also asked the PM to apologise to the nation and the armed forces for misleading them on OROP. Gandhi, who was detained twice by the police, lamented detention of the kin of the deceased and called the action “shameful”. On his second attempt to meet the family members, Gandhi along with several senior Congress leaders was detained, but was soon released. Congress and AAP workers later staged protests.Kejriwal, who in a Twitter post claimed he was also detained, tore into the Centre by holding it guilty of “deceit” over OROP.BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “The suicide of an ex-Army man is most unfortunate and our sympathies are with his family. But what is even more unfortunate is the politics over his death.”

Govt for thorough probe

The circumstances in which Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide, especially as to who provided him poison and if anybody had provoked him to take the extreme step, need to be thoroughly probed, the government feels. The subedar’s letter to the Ministry of Defence is dated October 31 but he committed suicide on November 1, raising several questions. The government also wants to ascertain who was with the deceased when he took the extreme step, say sources. TNS

Respected Veterans,

Jai Hind.

1.       In Para 4 of my email dt. 28 Oct 2016 reproduced below,

For:  ‘in the face of patently unacceptable behavior by Gen Satbir Singh, the Chairman IESM’;

Read: ‘in the face of patently autocratic behavior by Gen Satbir Singh, the Chairman IESM’.

2.       While criticizing Gen Satbir for his autocratic (taking no account of other people’s wishes or opinions; domineering) behavior, I would say that display of autocratic behavior is part of human psyche; for, not many of us can maintain our equipoise in the face of overwhelming adulation. When bestowed with adulation like the one witnessed at Jantar Mantar at the peak of Relay Fast for Justice by Ex-Servicemen, where a few Ex-Servicemen would shout, ‘Fauj ka General kaisa ho; General Satbir Singh jaisa ho’, time & again, it does tend to encourage people to turn into ‘cult figures’; and that is exactly what happened to Gen Satbir Singh. He turned himself into a cult figure; and that was the start point of his autocratic behavior.

3.       My association with Gen Satbir Singh goes back to first week of Apr 2008, when he gave a call to organize Ex-Servicemen Rallies all over the Country on 27 Apr 2008, in support of our demand for OROP.He has been the leading light of IESM; and his contribution to the cause has been unparalleled. Yet, it is his autocratic behavior, which has brought about, not only his downfall; but also the ruination of IESM. It is sad for people like me and thousands of Ex-Servicemen who with their sweat & blood built IESM brick by brick, to see IESM in tatters.

4.       A word about Lt Gen Raj Kadyan. Suffice to say, ‘Lt Gen Raj Kadyan is no saint’. In his case too, it is his autocratic behavior and insatiable love for ‘Gaddi or Kursi’ ie. to be Life Chairman of IESM; and his fondness for being close to powers that be, with the hope of wangling a post of power & pelf, that caused the split in IESM in July 2013. The trouble started when inspite of repeated requests from Gen Satbir Singh (then Vice Chairman of IESM) and Members of the GB asking Lt Gen Raj Kadyan not to meet the Raksha Mantri all by himself; but to take a few them also alongwith him; he paid no heed. The second reason for the split was Lt Gen Raj Kadyan felt himself marginalized in the GB; and, to strengthen his position and leverage, he tried inducting a few JCOs & OR in the GB during the AGM held in Nov 2012. Rightly or wrongly, Gen Satbir Singh (then Vice Chairman IESM) and other Members of the GB thwarted Gen Kadyan’s designs.

5.       To end, I wish to ask: Is there a way to retrieve IESM from the mess it is in; and, can IESM be rejuvenated? I say, YES; provided both Gen Raj Kadyan and Gen Satbir Singh set aside their ego and bury their differences and unite for the sake of survival of IESM, in the interest of Ex-Servicemen & their families. In order to strengthen IESM as a truly pan India org, both Gen Raj Kadyan and Gen Satbir Singh should participate in the AGM in Nov 2016; for which, Gen Satbir Singh must extend an invitation to Gen Raj Kadyan. It would be ideal to get three senior veterans of the rank of Lt Gen, Vice Admiral and Air Marshal to preside over the AGM. That is what I did during the inaugural session of IESM at NOIDA on 13 Aug 2008, where Lt Gen Guru Bakshi, Vice Admiral Barin Ghose and Air Marshal Virendra Puri were present at my request.

6.       In the AGM, before commencement of AGM proceedings to elect new office bearers and new members of the Governing Body, Gen Raj Kadyan and Gen Satbir Singh should shake hands and both of them must step down from the Chairman’s post. And while stepping down, Gen Raj Kadyan, as a gesture of goodwill & magnanimity should announce withdrawal of all Court cases aginst Gen Satbir Singh, Gp Capt VK Gandhi and Wg Cdr CK Sharma and the case from the office of Registrar of Societies, Gurgaon, de-recognising IESM faction led by Gen Satbir Singh; and thus put an end to all bad blood.

7.       IESM being a pan India org, I suggest, a Veteran from the West (Punjab/Haryana/Rajasthan) be elected as Chairman and a Veteran from the South be elected as Vice Chairman; so that next year, the AGM is held in the South and the Vice Chairman elected this year is automatically elevated as the Chairman next year. And in the AGM next year there would be a requirement of electing only a Vice President, who should preferably be from North (not NCR). For the sake of convenience, two Veterans from NCR or from States around NCR (within a striking distance of overnight journey), be elected as Gen Secy and Dy Gen Secy. And again for the sake of convenience, two Veterans from NCR, be elected as Treasurer and Joint Treasurer.

8.       A ‘Working Group’ based at Delhi comprising a Working President and a Vice President be elected from Veterans based at NCR, for close interaction with the PMO, MoD, Service Chiefs, etc.

9.       Neither Gen Raj Kadyan nor Gen Satbir Singh should stand in the elections, for any post. They should be honoured by inducting them as Patrons.

Regards,

Col Rajan

On Thursday night, Parrikar was informed by an aide that the rank parity issue had not been addressed totally. Tribune file

AjayBanerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 28  Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will set up a three-member committee to advise the ministry and resolve the rank parity issue that has led to raised tempers in the armed forces.On Thursday night, Parrikar was informed by an aide that the rank parity issue had not been addressed totally as some facts had not been brought out. Parrikar, not completely satisfied with the turn of events in the past one week, has now decided to set up the committee that will take 10 days to study all documents, including the decision of the Group of Ministers in 2009 ratified by the union Cabinet, sources said on Friday afternoon.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Sources said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is keen to go totally by the Warrant of Precedence (WoP)–a guiding document of the government that laid down which rank in civil and military had to be given what protocol, status etc.Under the WoP, a major general is equal to a joint secretary in the government. As per an MoD letter issued on October 18, a major general was equated to a principal director. On Thursday afternoon, the MoD issued a clarification saying it had only reiterated previous instructions, including the last one in 2005, and not lowered the rank parity.The fact that the 2009 GoM decision and ratification by the cabinet had corrected this anomaly probably was missed in the decision-making of the MoD in the past one week.Since October 18, the forces have informed Parrikar that this anomaly had been added and the rank parity letter issued on October 18 had actually lowered the status of the forces.The MoD on Thursday said, “The present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities.”The forces opine that there cannot be multiple parameters on rank-parity–one for ‘functionality’ and another on the Warrant of Precedence.

India’s armed forces have embarked on a shopping spree for modern assault rifles, body armor and helmets, providing a potential boost to global arms suppliers.

The 1.3 million-strong military is abandoning its two decade-old Indian made rifles and seeking to outfit its infantry with more up-to-date equipment, scouting for a new model on the global market for 185,000 assault rifles. The Ministry of Defence also needs to buy hundreds of thousands of helmets and tens of thousands of bullet proof vests.

The moves are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s $250 billion push to modernize India’s armed forces, as infantry continue to face the brunt of deadly attacks in disputed border areas such as Kashmir and the north-east.

Plans to buy new equipment from overseas, however, have been held back by bureaucratic delays and the military’s desire to balance the needs of troops against efforts to have equipment built domestically under Modi’s “Make in India” program, a key plank in his drive to boost local manufacturing.

“It’s encouraging that they’re going ahead with this, but it’s discouraging that it’s not made under ‘Make in India,’ ” said Anit Mukherjee, a former major in the Indian Army and assistant professor at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “The fact that it took 10 years for Indians to go ahead and say, ‘we’re importing’ means the bureaucracy is still holding back modernization of the armed forces. That’s problematic.”

Local Rifles

The army currently uses the INSAS, or Indian Small Arms System, rifle, introduced in the late 1990s and built by the state-owned Ordnance Factory. Yet the Indian and Nepalese soldiers issued with the guns complained the 5.56mm rifles were unreliable, prompting the ministry to go to the global market for their replacement.

To identify possible vendors, the ministry last month issued a request for information. It said it wants a larger, more deadly 7.62mm model that will “shoot to kill.”

India needs 65,000 rifles within 28 months of signing the contract and has asked global manufacturers to reply by November 7, the ministry said. India plans to issue a tender for procuring rifles in April 2017.

This is India’s second attempt since 2011 to procure assault rifles for its infantry. The 2011 tenders were issued to Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, Italy’s Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., Swiss Sig Sauer Inc., the Czech Republic’s Ceska zbrojovka and Israel Weapons Industry Ltd. But it was canceled in 2015 after the rifles offered up by the global manufacturers did not meet the multi-caliber requirements of the army.

Procurement Delays

Apart from assault rifles, the army also sought to buy light automatic rifles and machine guns, as well as sniper rifles. Initially, it planned to buy 43,000 carbines off the shelf from international companies and build 120,000 others at ordnance factories in India.

But a tender issued four years ago to buy the carbines was canceled earlier this month over procedural issues, according to a senior army officer who asked not to be identified discussing information that is private.

The rifle procurement is part of the army’s efforts to modernize personnel equipment, including body armor and helmets. It needs over 350,000 bullet-proof vests, and earlier this year decided to buy 50,000 units of body armor to meet emergency requirements. The army has also inched closer to procuring 150,000 lightweight helmets.

Delays in procuring basic equipment should concern policy makers as infantry troops take on the brunt of India’s current operations, according to Srinath Raghavan, a former infantry officer and senior fellow at New Delhi’s Centre for Policy Research.

The “Make in India” program, where foreign firms team up with local ones, is helping to address that, he said. But there were still tensions between the army’s urgent requirements for modern equipment and the slow pace of defense sector joint ventures, meaning at least some equipment must be bought “off the shelf”.

“The fact that you can’t even design your own small arms system reflects very poorly on the military ecosystem in India,” he said. “The military innovation cycle is dysfunctional and broken down and it should be a matter of huge concern.”

• Assault rifles, helmets and bullet-proof vests on the list
• Bureaucratic delays reveal ‘dysfunctional’ innovation cycle

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-27/modi-seeks-shoot-to-kill-hardware-in-military-modernization

URGENT

FOR KIND ATTENTION OF ALL CITIZENS 

AND IMMEDIATE ACTION PLEASE 

Noble Citizens of Bharathvarsh,

Jai Hind.

Please click on the link below and read Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s letter dt. 21 Sep 2016 addressed to Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Chairman Rajya Sabha, submitting a Resolution and Private Members’ Bill for discussion during the Winter Session of Parliament regarding numerous nefarious and inimical activities of Pakistan by way of training & pumping terrorists into India; so that, at the end of the discussion Rajya Sabha can pass a resolution, declaring Pakistan a Terrorist State.  

http://rajeev.in/rajeev_writes/Winter_Session_Parliament/Letter_to_Honble_Chairman_Hmaid_Ansari_Sep212016.pdf

or

http://bit.ly/2dmq98w 

May I request you all to click on the following link and sign the Petition;

https://www.change.org/p/parliament-of-india-pass-resolution-to-declare-pakistan-a-terror-state?recruiter=602639591&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

and also pass on this email to all your friends & relatives for their signatures, on Priority. We need one lakh signatures before commencement of winter session of Parliament.

Having signed the Petition, may I request you all to PLEASE confirm the same to:

Shivani Sharma Dasmahapatra <shivani.dasmahapatra@gmail.com>, 

Col SS Rajan <colonelrajan44@gmail.com>,

Regards,

Col Rajan

Bangalore, 9449043770 

CLICK LINK BELOW TO OPEN pdf  FILE OF RAJIV CHANDRASEKHAR

Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s letter dt. 21 Sep 2016 to Mohd Hmaid Ansari Hon’ble Chairman RS

This photo shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter last year shows him meeting soldiers. File photo

New Delhi, October 23

Amid heightened tension on the border, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a campaign through which people can send their Diwali greetings and messages to soldiers guarding the nation’s frontiers to boost their morale.

People can send messages under the #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign on the Narendra Modi App, through MyGov.in, and also through All India Radio. Doordarshan shall also be mounting a programme to share people’s emotions with the Armed Forces.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Prime Minister, who is leading the campaign, said in a tweet: “I sent my #Sandesh2Soldiers. You could also do the same. Your wishes will certainly make our forces very happy”.

“This Diwali, let us remember our courageous armed forces who constantly protect our Nation. Jai Hind,” he said.

“When 1.25 crore people stand with the soldiers, their power increases by 1.25 crore times,” the Prime Minister said.

As part of the campaign, the Prime Minister has shared through social media, a special video, featuring his appeal to the people to send messages to the brave Armed Forces personnel.

Within hours, the video has generated tremendous interest on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.The great respect and admiration that the nation has for our Armed Forces, will find expression this festive season, through the campaign being led by the Prime Minister, the PMO said in a release.

A special module has been launched on the Narendra Modi App, which enables people to send greetings or their hand-written messages to the Armed Forces.

The #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign is expected to generate increased interaction between the people and the Armed Forces.

The campaign comes against the backdrop of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launch pads in PoK and the heightened border tension.

Earlier this month, at an event in Bhopal, the Prime Minister had focused on the human element of the jawans. His appeal to people to applaud jawans when they meet them, has also created a buzz on social media.

This is not the first time that Modi is focusing on the armed forces. He spent his last two Diwalis as the Prime Minister with the Army. — PTI

A 45m-tall steel sword at War Heroes Memorial in Amritsar. Vishal Kumar

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 23

Helping visitors get a soldier’s perspective of the battlefield is the focal theme of the Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum that was inaugurated in Amritsar today, conveying the message that if the call arises the sword should be unsheathed.The centerpiece of the memorial is a 45-metre-tall steel sword that emerges from a water body. “Water signifies purification of things and sword evolving from it denotes that it is only to be used for righteous action and protection of the distressed and not for any evil purpose,” Rakesh Kapoor, whose Delhi-based architecture firm designed the memorial, said.“The underlying theme is that we are pure at heart but ready to pick up arms if need be. The sword also represents the spirit of Punjab, which has borne the brunt of foreign invasions over centuries,” he added.At the base of the sword are four lions facing the four cardinal directions, which depict strength and alertness. “The expression of the lions has purposely been kept neutral so that they can reflect the visitor’s own thoughts and the viewer can develop a notional relationship with them,” he said. The lions also represent India’s national emblem and the visitor can also relate them with the nation as a whole.Motivation is an important aspect of the museum and a gallery is devoted to this theme. A lot of planning also went into giving visitors a realistic feeling of war zones.A cafeteria in the complex has been designed to look like a bunker while some other areas have a distinct military ambience where visitors can walk back in

Stand up and salute defence personnel: Badal to DCs, SSPs

Announces ex-servicemen helpline at war memorial opening

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 23

Asking Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police in the state to accord due recognition and respect to defence personnel and veterans, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed them to stand up and salute them whenever they visited their offices.Addressing a vast gathering of ex-servicemen and civilian dignitaries after inaugurating the Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum here, he said the administration should never be complacent on this account as defence personnel and ex-servicemen constituted one of the most revered sections of society. He also announced a tele-helpline at the Secretariat to redress grievances of ex-servicemen.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Patting the Narendra Modi government and the Army for the cross-LoC surgical strikes by terming these the “right decision at the right time”, Badal said a country without a strong and effective military was a hollow nation. “History has shown that countries that have had a good military leadership have always been strong. Alexander the Great and Maharaja Ranjit Singh are examples of this,” he said.Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Vijay Sampala also complimented the government for the surgical strikes. Sukhbir said the intake into the armed forces from Punjab, which had witnessed a decline, had picked up. “Only four cadets from Punjab had joined the National Defence Academy five years ago. The figure is now 20,” he said.Sukhbir said contrary to perception, there was no mass drug abuse by the youth in the state. “Medical tests at an Army rally revealed that only 1.26 per cent of the aspirants tested positive for narcotics, which was about half the national average,” he said.Others present were former Army Chiefs Gen JJ Singh and Gen Deepak Kapoor and former Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal SK Sareen, various Cabinet ministers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission secretary Richard Hill and WW-II veteran Col Thomas Conway.

COMMENTS

LAST MINUTE LARGESS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL’S in  his Last 4 Months Rule

Pretty Shameful.

The decorated Solider Birig Chandpuri MVC ,VSM a living legend standing behind Dy CM And a minister not in first Row. What help it can provide when IZZAT not granted  to a Decorated Solider at War Memorial.

 

HELPLINE

1. More than 9 years of Rule less than 4 months left there was no helpline now at fag end the govt announces HELPLINE making fool of veterans. 
3.  badal orders DC and Police officers to salute the Defence personnels but himself not recognising Brig Kuldeep Chandpuri a Decorated and living Legend of 1965 war backseat.