The Forest Department creates a security cordon using a net

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, December 26

A tiger that strayed from a forest area into the human habitation and landed on a wall of a gurdwara in UP’s Pilibhit has become a centre of attraction for the locals.

People have gathered in large numbers to witness the animal at Atkona village that had come out of the nearby tiger reserve forest.

To ensure people’s safety, the Forest Department has created a security cordon using a net.

Police have also reached the spot.

Court of Inquiry begins | Police register murder case

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, December 25

Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited Jammu and Kashmir on Monday and exhorted commanders to conduct operations in the “most professional manner” amid an outrage over the alleged killing of three civilians picked up by the force for questioning following a terrorist attack in Poonch last week that left four soldiers dead.

Editorial: J&K civilian deaths

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who visited the ground zero in Poonch-Rajouri sector where a massive anti-terrorism operation is underway, also asked the troops to remain resolute and steadfast against all challenges.

‘Focus on tech use for search in dense forest’

• The Army Chief laid stress on intelligence-sharing with other agencies and coordination with the J&K Police
• He also asked commanders to focus on the use of tech during search operation in dense forest areas

In a related development, the Army initiated a Court of Inquiry as the police lodged a murder case (under Section 302 of the IPC) against unnamed persons over the death of the three civilians, sources said. The three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were picked up by the Army for questioning after the terrorist ambushed two Army vehicles on Thursday at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Baffliaz in Surankote, Poonch. The three were found dead on December 22.

General Pande’s visit holds importance as there has been anger among locals over the alleged custodial deaths. Sending out a strong message that it has taken a serious note of the death of the three civilians, the Army has also replaced some senior officers in the region after a purported video of the civilians’ interrogation went viral. An Army spokesperson said, “General Manoj Pande visited the Poonch sector and was given an update on the prevalent security situation.” Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, and Lt General Sandeep Jain, GOC of Nagrota-based White Knight Corps, were among those present during the visit.

It has been reliably learnt that the Army Chief laid stress on intelligence-sharing with other agencies and coordination with the J&K Police. He also asked commanders to focus on the use of technology during search operation in dense forest areas. He asked the officers to ensure that the killers of four soldiers do not escape.

Intense combing operations are underway in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch after four soldiers were ambushed in Surankote. The bodies of two soldiers were reportedly mutilated.

The mobile Internet services in both districts remained suspended for the third day on Monday. The militants are suspected to have access to the Internet as they shared the photos of the attack, captured from body cameras, on social media.

Meanwhile, Mohd Sadiq, a relative of one of the deceased civilians, said the three men were picked up by the troops accompanied by policemen Mohd Rafiq and Mohd Rashid along with their sources Jagi and Ganesh in the full public gaze. He sought inclusion of the concerned Army major, policemen and the Army sources in the FIR.

Combing operation on for five days

General Manoj Pande reviewed the anti-terrorist operation going on in Surankote, Poonch, and nearby Rajouri district’s Thanamandi forest belt for the last five days to neutralise the terrorists behind the dastardly attack on December 21

(With inputs)

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, December 26

Daughter Guneet Kaur lit the pyre of father Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt in Jalandhar on Monday.

Lt Col Singh died on Saturday after being in coma for eight years.

Lt Col Karanbir Singh, a Sena medal winner, had been in coma after being injured in an encounter with the terrorists in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir in 2015.

For all these years, his family, including his father Col Jagtar Singh Natt, wife Navpreet Kaur and daughters Guneet and Ashmeet (aged 19 and 10) had been taking turns attending to him in room number 13 of the Officers’ Ward at the Military Hospital.

Lt Col Natt had joined the Short Service Commission in the Guards Regiment in 1998. In 2012, he was relieved after completing 14 years of service. He did LLB and MBA and took up a civil job. But he insisted on going back to the armed forces and joined the 160 TA unit.

Was speaking after the commissioning of stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal

PTI

Mumbai, December 26

The Indian government has taken serious cognisance of the recent attacks on merchant navy ships MV Chem Pluto and MV Sai Baba, and it will take strict action against those behind the attacks by finding them even from the “depths of seas”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

Speaking after the commissioning of stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal, Singh said India had intensified patrolling of the seas after the recent attacks on merchant navy ships.

“The Indian government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto and attack on MV Saibaba in the Red Sea seriously. We will find those who executed the recent attacks on merchant navy ships even from the depths of the seas and take strict action against them,” Singh said.

MV Chem Pluto with 21 Indian crew members was struck by a drone about 217 nautical miles from Porbandar on Saturday following which both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard deployed a number of assets to provide assistance to the ship.

A Gabon-flagged commercial crude oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. Indian officials later clarified that the commercial oil tanker was not an Indian-flagged vessel.

Meanwhile, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said four destroyers had been deployed to counter piracy and drone attacks on merchant ships.

He said P-8I aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, helicopters and Coast Guard ships had been deployed jointly to counter the threats of piracy and drone attacks. 

ਸਰਵੰਸਦਾਨੀ, ਪੀਰ, ਫਕੀਰ, ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਪਿਤਾ,
ਦੁਸ਼ਟ ਦਮਨ, ਕਲਗੀਵਾਲੇ, ਦਸ਼ਮਤ ਪਿਤਾ,ਸਹਿਨ ਸ਼ਾ। ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੇ

Officer got injured in J&K counter-insurgency op

Tribune News Service

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, December 24

Having remained in a comatose stage for over eight years after a bullet hit his lower jaw in a counter-insurgency operation in Kupwara, Lt Col Karanbir Singh Natt breathed his last early this morning at the Military Hospital, Jalandhar.

For all these years, his family, including his father Col Jagtar Singh Natt, his wife Navpreet Kaur and his daughters Guneet and Ashmeet (aged 19 and 10 years) had been taking turns to attend to him in room number 13 of the Officers’ Ward at the Military Hospital.

Navpreet said, “He used to look at our faces and we felt as if he wanted to say something. But he never responded. While my elder daughter had idea about what had happened, but Ashmeet, who was just 1.5 years when this incident occurred, kept asking me all these years as to when her dad will finally get up. It was around four years ago that I told her everything. We felt as if my husband got martyred every single day in these eight years.”

Juggling between her home and the hospital daily, Navpreet said she just had two things on mind. “I wanted to give full care to my husband, preparing homemade juices, soup and liquid meals and taking them to the hospital for feeding through pipe. I also had to ensure that my daughters never got neglected. Thankfully, my elder daughter has got enrolled at Sri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi,” she said.

Recalling the unfateful day, Col Jagtar Singh Natt said, “It was November 2015 that my son got hit by bullets fired by a terrorist who had been hiding inside an abandoned hut in the dense forest in Kupwara. My son, too, fired back and killed the ultra, thus saving three of his men. He was airlifted to the Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi. However, he suffered hypoxia and cardiac arrest. He remained there for 1.5 years and was later referred to the Military Hospital in Jalandhar.”

He said, “Leaving my house in Batala with my younger brother, we all came here and settled in Jalandhar, so that we could take care of him. The Army provided us accommodation.”

Lt Col Natt was a Sena Medal awardee. He had joined the Short Service Commission in the Guards Regiment in 1998. In 2012, he was relieved after completing 14 years of service. He did LLB and MBA and took up a civil job. But he insisted on going back to the armed forces and joined 160 TA unit when life took a tragic turn.

f the police and administration also took part in the ceremony before the bodies were dispatched to their hometowns. The ceremony took place at Rajouri.

The Army also announced the names of the soldiers who laid their lives. The soldiers who died include Naik Birender Singh from Chamoli in Uttarakhand, Rifleman Gautam Kumar from Pauri Gharwal in Uttarakhand, Naik Karan Kumar from Kanpur in UP and Rifleman Chandan Kumar from Nawada in Bihar.

Lt General Upendra Dwivedi General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) also laid wreath and interacted with the family members of the soldiers.

General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Vikas Kundal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri Amritpal Singh and other officers also paid floral tributes. The mortal remains were late dispatched to their hometowns. The soldiers of 48 Rashtriya Rifles were killed in an ambush by terrorists at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bafliaz in Poonch.

Meanwhile, the search operation continued even after fourth day of the incident in the forest areas of Rajouri and Poonch. Despite unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), dog squads and security forces personnel, there is no sign of ultras in the area. Sources informed that the security forces may change their strategy to locate the terrorists.

The mobile internet remained suspended even on Sunday to stop rumour mongering in wake of alleged custodial death of three civilians of the area who were picked up by Army for questioning.

Col NS Ahuja (retd)

IT was 1969; my wife and I were recently married. As a young captain with just seven years in service, I found myself in the presence of a living legend — Gen Sam Manekshaw, who later became Field Marshal. Our encounter with him was at a mess party. The atmosphere buzzed with the camaraderie of fellow officers and their spouses. Then, like a gust of wind, in came the flamboyant Manekshaw, full of energy and moving briskly through the crowd to interact with as many officers and their ladies as possible.

His social graces were exceptional, and he had a witty remark for everyone. The party was infused with an air of awe as he regaled us with captivating anecdotes from his illustrious career. In our group, he spent a good five minutes, weaving tales that left us entertained and inspired.

Fast-forward to the brink of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, just before the storm of conflict was unleashed. As the Army Chief, Gen Manekshaw addressed troops and officers, delivering a pep talk that resonated with conviction and valour. He urged us to march into battle, fight gallantly, teach a lesson to our adversaries and return victorious with chests adorned with well-deserved medals. His words were a potent elixir, fuelling our spirits with unwavering determination.

He epitomised the quintessential fauji leader — forthright, courageous and possessing unquestionable integrity. His Gorkha roots shaped his character, and he stood tall as a man of guts, someone who led by example and walked the talk. India’s resounding victory in the 1971 war, which saw the capture of over 93,000 PoWs in a fortnight, is a classic case study of exemplary military leadership.

After retirement, he embraced a life of tranquillity but was often beckoned to share his wealth of experience for motivation and inspiration. His legacy echoed in military circles, a testament to a lifetime dedicated to the service of the nation.

With the release of the movie Sam Bahadur, the legend of Field Marshal Manekshaw is witnessing a renaissance. The celluloid narrative charts his remarkable journey, capturing the essence of a man who transcended the ordinary and etched his name in the annals of military history. It is a befitting tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who served under his command. His legacy, burnished by the silver screen, continues to inspire new generations, ensuring that the tale of Sam Bahadur would endure as a timeless ode to valour and leadership.