Col Jasjit Singh

Aizawl, May 13

Suspended Commandant of Assam Rifles Col Jasjit Singh, one of the main accused in a case of smuggled gold robbery, was today remanded in police custody for 72 hours by a local court.Singh was arrested on May 5 after eight Assam Rifles personnel, who allegedly waylaid a vehicle on December 14 night on the outskirts of Aizawl and robbed it, claimed they committed the crime at the behest of the Commandant.The Assam Rifles personnel had reportedly decamped with 52 gold bars worth around Rs 14.5 crore, a cellphone and Rs 75,000 in cash after threatening the driver of the vehicle at gunpoint. — PTI

New Delhi: Another money trail has been traced in the alleged multi-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. CNN-News18 has learnt that a crystal dealer, Suraj Prakash Mehra, was in regular touch with AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel.

Mehra was allegedly in touch with Michel and Danish national Christine Spliid when India was finalising the AgustaWestland deal. Documents show that Mehra’s twin children are partners with Christine Spliid and Christian Michel in UK-based company Beetle Nut Home Ltd.

CNN-News18 also tried to track down the names listed on the books of Mehra’s Crystal and Lifestyle. It was found that almost all the addresses of shareholders were completely fake. The company Yogya Infotech which holds 15,000 shares in Crystal and Lifestyle has a bogus address.

Even the company Minarva Buildtech (P) Limited, which holds 25,000 shares in Crystal and Lifestyle, does not exist at the given address.

The home of a minority shareholders Karan Sethi, who is also a director along with Suraj Parkash Mehra in the company, was tracked down. Karan’s father PK Sethi said that came across Christian Michel’s name through TV channels and newspapers. He claimed that Karan is currently in Mumbai.

The address mentioned in the name of Suraj Parkash Mehra was also found locked.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 8

An Army jawan slipped to death today while patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.Sepoy Kishori Lal, a resident of Dhar village of Kishtwar, slipped and fell into a gorge while patrolling the anti-infiltration fence along the LoC, an Army statement said.“The soldier was immediately evacuated by a helicopter to Army Base Hospital in Srinagar. However, he succumbed to his injuries,” said defence spokesperson Col NN Joshi.The slain soldier was involved in reconstructing the anti-infiltration fence damaged due to heavy snowfall this year, he said.“Speedy resuscitation of the anti-infiltration is undertaken every year soon after the snow melts. This is vital to maintain a robust anti-infiltration posture and prevent infiltration of terrorists through the highly treacherous areas along the LoC,” said Colonel Joshi.He said the slain jawan had joined the Territorial Army last year.“Born to a family of farmers, he is proudly remembered by his peers for his indomitable spirit, high camaraderie quotient, commitment towards duty and thrust of achieving higher goals,” the spokesperson said.“He was physically tough and was a natural choice for his team to undertake challenging tasks. He proved it last month when he was part of a detachment which repaired a critical portion of the fence in record time,” the spokesperson added.Paying tributes to Sepoy Kishori Lal, Lt Gen Satish Dua, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Chinar Corps, saluted his courage and selflessness.“Sepoy Kishori Lal volunteered to supervise the work in the most difficult part of the terrain,” the GOC said.The soldier’s body was flown in an Army helicopter from Srinagar to Kishtwar for last rites at his village with full military honours.

Brig BB sharma from Dehradun to take over the responsibility as President Uttrakand Unit of Sanjha Morcha. 
Brig B B Sharma , is from  GRENADIERS, DEC 75 . Commanded 19 GRENADIERS , on LC during Kargil .

Tibri Brigade . Mostly served J&K . Interests Trekking Garhwal & Kumaon Hills .
Coaching Visually challenged children as a volunteer with National Institute of Visually Handicapped , Dehradun
A great social workers and always ready to help ESM faternity.

Sanjha Morcha welcomes him in the folds of the family of Sanjha Morcha and wish him all the best and ensure him full cooperation from all the front.

BRIG B B SHARMA WRITES

Dear Col Khera Sir ,

It was a pleasure talking to you . I look forward to working with the Sanjha Morcha and be of some use to the ESM of the state of Uttrakhand . Though Uttrakhand has the largest number of ESM , unfortunately , they are not being looked after due to lethargy and lack of interest of the powers to be .

The important post of Director Sainik Kalyan has been vacant for past 5 years . I have appeared twice for the interview but the vested interests have ensured that the appointment remains vacant .

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 7

The Army today paid tribute to Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav who was killed during an operation in the Keran sector of Kupwara district on Friday.The slain soldier was a member of the Army team that foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Friday.Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said homage was paid to the slain soldier in a solemn ceremony at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar today.“Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua and all ranks of the Chinar Corps laid a wreath to salute the soldier,” he said, adding that a wreath was also laid on behalf of the Northern Command chief.The spokesman quoted the Chinar Corps Commander as having said that such exemplary acts always served as an inspiration to the present and future generations and further steeled the resolve of all soldiers.“A group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate was intercepted by alert troops deployed on the LoC. In the ensuing encounter, Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav sustained gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries,” the spokesman saidMeanwhile, the Army continued its combing operation in the forest area of Keran, nearly 120 km from Srinagar, today. Sources said there was a possibility that the militants might have gone back after the gunfight.“There has been no contact with the infiltrators since Friday,” the spokesman said.

The police alleged that the Commandant of Assam Rifles ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits.

Col Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the Aizawl-based 39th battalion of the Assam Rifles, was arrested today by Aizwal police for allegedly being involved in a highway robbery involving Rs 14.5 crore worth of gold bars smuggled from Myanmar.The police alleged that Singh ordered his men, armed with sophisticated weapons, to waylay a consignment of smuggled gold biscuits in the southern outskirts of Aizawl city on the night of December 14 last year.

The incident came to light when driver of the vehicle, Lalnunfela

filed an FIR at the Aizawl police station on April 21 alleging his vehicle was waylaid by armed people from the 39 Assam Rifles who decamped with 52 gold biscuits worth Rs 14.5 crore.

The eight Assam Rifles jawans, accused of participating in the dacoity on December 14 last and now in custody, reportedly told their interrogators that they committed the crime after receiving orders from the battalion Commandant.

Singh, through his lawyer, today applied for an anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the Aizawl District and Sessions Judge Lucy Lalrinthari and he was arrested in the court premises.

He was suspended by Brigadier T C Malhotra, DIG (Range), Commander of the Aizawl-based 23 Sector of the Assam Rifles today.

When contacted, Brig Malhotra, refused to comment saying the matter was “sub-judice”.

The police had constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 22 to investigate the matter and registered cases including dacoity, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity.

The SIT has already arrested four people, including a former well-known student leader and a businessman on April 23 and 24, who were remanded to judicial custody.

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 1

The 75-km road at the China border, being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass in Dharchula subdivision of Pithoragarh district, will take two more years to complete as a rocky portion of the 25-km stretch on the road is proving to be a challenge. BRO officers told Governor KK Paul’s advisers, who arrived in Munsiyari to review the road construction work at the border last week. The Governor’s advisers, Prakash Mishra and Ravindra Singh, had reached Munsiyari to take stock of the development works in the border region.The construction work on this strategically significant road began in 2003 after a survey work on the aligned portion. The construction agency was given five years to complete the road but it took over 15 years till date and still the road was incomplete. “We have constructed 50 km of the road but the 25-km main hard rocky portion between Lakhanpur and Garvadhar is taking time for levelling. Our directorate has decided to take technical help from private companies in this regard,” a BRO officer told the advisers.Pithoragarh District Magistrate Harish Chandra Semwal said the BRO had planned to four-lane this road for which it had sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. “After the completion of construction work, this border road will not only be strategically significant for security forces but also benefit tourists. Kailas Mansarovar and Chota Kailas pilgrims will be able to reach Lipulekh Pass by buses, avoiding a steep trek to high mountains what they are doing at present,” said Semwal.He added the construction of another road from Munsiyari to Milam at the China border in the district was also in progress. The 55-km road had been completed up to 31 km and the work on the remaining portion had slowed due to the hard rocky portion that had emerged between Rilkot and Lilam villages. “The BRO has also claimed that it will complete the road by 2018,” he said.

A ceremonial border personnel meeting of Indian and Chinese troops marked the International Labour Day in eastern Ladakh on Sunday. A Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 1

The Armies of India and China today expressed resolve to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with their senior commanders holding two border meets in Chinese and Ladakh region as part of efforts to build cordial ties.Both Armies, which met on the occasion of International Labour Day, agreed to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides during two ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings (BPM) on the Chinese and the Indian side today, a defence spokesman said here.The meetings took place at Chinese BPM Hut of Moldo and TWD Garrison in eastern Ladakh, the spokesman said.“The delegation parted amid feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC,” he said.The Indian delegation at Moldo was led by Major General Sudhakar and the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Zhan Peng Zhung. At TWD, Lt Col RC Barthwal, SM and Col Song Zhan Li led the Indian and Chinese delegations, respectively.The meetings were marked by saluting the national flag of China by the delegation members. This was followed by ceremonial address by delegation leaders which comprised of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The meeting reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level along the border.Thereafter, a culture programme showcasing vibrant Chinese culture and tradition was organised.Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment.

OROP notification: “The indefinite relay fast has been suspended now as we will be taking the legal recourse. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that proverbial gun was been held to the head of the government by virtue of our presence at Jantar Mantar. (Reuters)

Addresing armed forces veterans staging protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Jethmalani said he would fight their case in the Supreme Court. “I am 93-year-old and I can die any day but I assure you that it will not happen before I get you justice from the Supreme Court,” Jethmalani said. (Reuters)

OROP notification: Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the protesting veterans, claimed a case will be filed by Jethmalani on OROP demand in the Supreme Court in next 3-4 days and he will not charge any fee. He said four more cases have been filed in the armed forces tribunal. (Express photo)

OROP notification: “These cases pertain to rulings for jawans, war widows, arrears since 2006, payments for honorary ranks, rounding off of disability pension, and payments of reservists,” he said. The veterans’ protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 320th day today.

OROP notification: Protesting ex-servicemen tonight suspended their 320-day-old agitation for complete implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) as senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani assured them of leading their legal battle in the apex court. (PTI)

OROP notification: “Now that we have suspended the agitation, we believe that Parrikar will now keep his promises made to us,” said Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson of the ex-servicemen movement. (PTI)

NeW DELHI: Protesting ex-servicemen suspended their 320-day-old agitation for complete implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) on Friday as senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani assured them of leading their legal battle in the apex court.

“The indefinite relay fast has been suspended now as we will be taking the legal recourse. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said that proverbial gun was been held to the head of the government by virtue of our presence at Jantar Mantar.

“Now that we have suspended the agitation, we believe that Parrikar will now keep his promises made to us,” said Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson of the ex-servicemen movement.

Addressing armed forces veterans staging protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Jethmalani said he would fight their case in the Supreme Court.
“I am 93-year-old and I can die any day but I assure you that it will not happen before I get you justice from the Supreme Court,” Jethmalani said.
Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the protesting veterans, claimed a case will be filed by Jethmalani on OROP demand in the Supreme Court in next 3-4 days and he will not charge any fee.He said four more cases have been filed in the armed forces tribunal.  “These cases pertain to rulings for jawans, war widows, arrears since 2006, payments for honorary ranks, rounding off of disability pension, and payments of reservists,” he said.The veterans’ protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 320th day today. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had in September last year announced implementation of the long delayed OROP for ex-servicemen but the veterans have been continuing with their protest demanding “complete” implementation of the scheme.