Air raid sirens ring out in many regions of the country early on Thursday

Kyiv, December 29

Multiple regions of Ukraine, including its capital, faced a massive Russian missile attack on Thursday, the biggest wave of strikes in weeks targeting power stations and other critical infrastructure during freezing weather.

Air raid sirens rang out across the country. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russia launched over 120 missiles. There were no immediate reports of any deaths.

Russia dispatched explosive drones to selected regions overnight before broadening the barrage with “air and sea-based cruise missiles launched from strategic aircraft and ships” in the morning, the Ukrainian air force reported.

The widespread attack was the latest in a series of Russian strikes on power and water supplies that have increased the Ukrainian population’s suffering.

Moscow has launched such attacks on a weekly basis since October, while its ground forces struggle to advance.

On Thursday, air defence systems were activated in the capital Kyiv to fend off strikes, according to the regional administration. Sounds of explosions were heard in the city.

At least three people were wounded and hospitalised, including a 14-year-old girl, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. He warned of power outages in the capital, asking people to stockpile water and to charge their electronic devices.

After more than 10 months of fighting, Russia and Ukraine are locked in a grinding battle of attrition. The Ukrainian military has reclaimed swaths of Russian-occupied territory in the country’s northeast and south, and continues to resist persistent Russian attempts to seize all of the industrial Donbas region.

At the same time, Moscow has methodically targeted Ukrainian power facilities and other key infrastructure in a bid to weaken the country’s resolve and force it to negotiate on Russian terms.

While the Ukrainian military reported success in shooting down incoming Russian missiles and explosive drones after earlier attacks, some still reached their targets.

Most cities have gone without heat, internet service and electricity for hours or days at a time.

Anastasia, a medic who took shelter on Thursday at a central Kyiv subway station and gave only her first name, said she was tired of the war.

“We don’t know how long the war will last. It’s hard to be afraid every day and put your life on hold,” she said.

Numerous explosions also took place in Kharkiv, which is located in eastern Ukraine and the country’s second-largest city, and in the city of Lviv near the border with Poland, according to their mayors.

About 90 per cent of Lviv was without electricity, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi wrote on Telegram. Trams and trolley buses were not working, and residents might experience water interruptions, he said.

Ukrainian authorities in several regions said some incoming Russian missiles were intercepted.

Tele 25683476
Mil: 36833 Central Organisation ECHS
Adjutant General’s Branch
Integrated Headquarters
Ministry of Defence (Army)
Thimayya Marg, Near Gopinath Circle,
Delhi Cant-110010
B/49761/AG/ECHS 34 Dec 2022
IHQ of MoD (Navy)/Dir ECHS (N) Air Ha (VB)/DPS
Ha Southern Command (A/ECHS) HQ Eastern Command (A/ECHS) Ha Western Command (A/ECHS) HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS) HO Central Command (A/ECHS) HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS) HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command (A/ECHS) (All Regional Centres)
REIMBURSEMENTOF HOSPITAL STOPPAGEROLL CHARGES
1 Pl refer too
(a) Govt of India, Ministry of Defence letter No 24(8)/03/US(WE}/D(Res) dated 19 Dec 2003.
(b) Regulations for Medical Services of The Armed Forces -2010
(Revised Version).
(c) Govt of India, Ministry of Defence letter No 22D(13)/2020-D(WE/Res-1) dated 14 Dec 2012.(Copy attached)
Existing Policy dated 2. As 19 per Dec Para 2003 2 of all the Ex-servicemen(ESM) Govt of Ihdia, MoD/DESW and their letterdependent No 24(8)/03/US(WE)/D(Res) requiring hospital admission wll in normal course be referred to Service Hospital in station. For this purpose,
DGAFMS will earmark a suitable proportion of beds in all Service Hospitals for ECHS beneficiaries. In case of non-availability of beds /facilities in service hospitals patients will be referred to an empaneled hospital for admission. As per provisions of RMSAF-2010(Revised), only the ECHS beneficiary, his/her spouse and children below the age of 25 years are entitled for treatment in service hospitals. All other dependents who are ECHS beneficiaries such as parents, brothers/sisters, disabled PWD 2016 beneficiaries above 25 years age are accorded medical attention as non-entitled cases in service hospitals. Hospital Stoppage Roll Charges and miscellaneous medical charges are required to be paid paid for
for treatment undertaken in AFMS Hospitals. Such charges treatment in AFMS Hospitals are not reimbursable as MoD /DESW letter No per Para 4 of Govt of India, 24(8)/03/US(WE}/D(Res) dated 19 Dec 2003.

3. There are a number of cases where dependent ECHS beneficiaries such as parents,
4. brothers/sisters, 2016 beneficiaries above 25 years age who are not entitled for Service Hospitals are treated in there. treatment in According to Para 297 may (a) these non-entitled patients be treated in AFMS hospitals with permission of Station Commander after with the CO Hospital if accommodation is consultation available on payment of the stoppages. However, prescribed hospital as per Para 4 () of the Govt of 24(8)/03/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 19 Dec 2003 Hospital India, Ministry of Defence letter No Stoppage Rolls and any other charges paid for treatment in AFMS Hospitals will be paid in full by the ECHS member and are not reimbursable.
   Amendments to Existing Policy 2 n order to facilitate Denericiaries, reimbursement of Hospital Stoppaae Roll Charges paid by Er an amendment has been issued to Para 4 of GOI, MoD 24(8)/03/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 19 Dec /DES e 2003 vide Gol/MoD vide its letter No D(WE/Res-1) 22D(1320 dt 14 Dec 2022 as under (Copy attached). attachea).
5. The amendment reads
   Hospital Stoppage Rolls (HSR) and any other charges expended for treatmentak in Militaryl Armed paid by the forces Hospital will be paid in full by the beneficiary and charges beneficiary will be reimbursed by ECHS.”
   Procedure for reimbursement
6. After admission and treatment, the AFMS hospital will levy HSR and charges on the ECHS any other beneficiaries. The hospital will provide a copy of the bill of the HSR and other charges levied from the ECHS beneficiary along with a break up of the bill, the discharge slip and discharge summary.
   The ECHS beneficiary will pay the HSR and any other charges in full to the AFMMS Hospital and take a receipt of the bill having paid.
   8. After discharge the beneficiary will either upload the bills of the HSR on the site ofthe Bill Processing Agencyhttps://www.echsbpa.utitsl.com/ECHS/Beneficiary.or submit the bills to his parent polyclinic for reimbursement.
7. The bills so submitted will be processed as Individual Reimbursement Bills as per procedure.
8. The Bill Processing Agency (BPA) will process the bill and reimburse the bill 100% as applicable to any Govt Hospital. A referral from ECHS Polyclinic will not be mandatory for treatment in Service Hospitals and reimbursement of HSR Charges paid by the ECHS Beneficiary.
   The above policy will be
   letter No applicable from the date of issue of the GO, MoD/DESW 22D(13)/2020-D(WE/Res-1) dt 14 Dec 2022.
9. 
   (SK Gupta) Col
   Offg Dir(Med) For MD ECHS
   Encls: As above
   Copy to:
   MoD/DoESW for info wrt your letter under ref.
   Olo DGAFMS
   DGMS Army
   DGMS Navy for info
   DGMS Air
   CDA
   Internal’
   Ops &Coord, P & Fc, Claim Sec, C& l
   Stats & Automation Sec
   for info.
   for uploading on ECHS Website.
   No. 22D (13)/2020-D(WE/Res-l)
   Government of India
   Ministry of Defence
   (Deptt. Of Ex-Servicemen Welfare)
   Room No. 221, B-wing, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi,
   Dated: 11 December, 2022
   To
   Fhe Chief of Army Staff The Chief of Naval Staff The Chief of Air Staff Subject Procedure for payment and reimbursement of Medical EXpenses de ECHS reg.
   Sir
   With reference to Govt of India, Ministry of Defence Letter No
   24(8)/03/Us(WE)/D(Res) dated 19 Dec 2003, I am directed to convey the sanction of the President on the partial modification in Para 4 ( of Annexure to the above referred letter dated 19 December 2003 regarding treatment at Military/Service Hospital, as under For.
   Hospital Stoppage Rolls and any Para 4 (f Treatment at Military Hospital. other charges expended for treatment in Military Hospitals will be paid in full by the member and is not reimbursable.Read
   Para 4 (f. Treatment at Military/Armed Forces Hospital. Hospital Stoppage Rolls (HSR) and any other charges expended for treatment taken in Military Armed Forces Hospital will be paid in full by the ECHS beneficiary and the charges paid by
   the ECHS beneficiary will be reimbursed by ECHS.
10. This amendment in the policy shall be effective from the date of issue of this letter. This issues with the concurrence of MoD (Fin/Pen) vide their
    32(08)/2021/FIN/PEN dated 20.07.2022.
    ID No. 3.
    Yours faithfully,
    (Dr. P P Sharma) OSD (WE & Copy to IC)
11. PPS to RM
12. PPS to RRM
13. CGDA, New Delhi
14. AG, IHQ of MoD (Army) 5. COP, IHQ of MoD (Navy

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, December 29

The Indian Air Force on Thursday successfully fired the ‘extended-range’ version of the BrahMos Air Launched missile from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

The IAF said it “successfully fired the Extended Range Version of Brahmos Air Launched missile against a Ship Target from a Sukhoi -30 MKI aircraft. The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region”.

The first such test of extended-range BrahMos was carried out in May this year.

The missile cap of 300 km range on India was undone after the country was inducted into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) six years ago.

The “extended-range’ version means the missile can travel a distance greater than 300 km. Before India joined the MTCR, the Russian technology of the BrahMos was restricted as MTCR  limits the export of missile technology, which can travel beyond 300 kilometers.

With this, the IAF has achieved a significant capability boost to carry out precision strikes from the Sukhoi against targets on land and at sea over very long ranges. “The extended-range capability of the missile, coupled with the high performance of the Sukhoi, gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields,” The IAF said.

Besides Russia, the US and its NATO allies and countries like Japan and Australia are part of the MTCR which was set up in 1987. 

Sukhoi jets fitted with existing version of Brahmos (300 km range) are based at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu and are mandated for a maritime role guarding the sea lane of communication. In lay parlance, the jets can be used for sea strikes using the BrahMos missile. The air-launched version of the BrahMos weighs about 2.5 tonnes.

The software development and integration of weapon of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers while the Hindustan aeronautics Limited (HAL) carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on aircraft.

The Brahmos has in the past been inducted into the Army and Navy.

AP

Washington, December 29

The US State Department has approved the sale of an anti-tank mine-laying system to Taiwan amid the rising military threat from China.

The department on Wednesday said the Volcano system and all related equipment would cost an estimated USD 180 million.

It’s capable of scattering anti-tank and anti-personnel mines from either a ground vehicle or helicopter.

The announcement indicated Taiwan would be buying the vehicle-borne version, the kind of general-use weapon many experts believe Taiwan needs more of to dissuade or repel a potential Chinese invasion.

To advertise that threat, China’s military sent 71 planes and seven ships towards Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the self-ruled island it claims is its own territory, Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Monday.

The PLA would continue to launch such missions until Taiwan’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party ceases “constantly provoking confrontation and enmity between the two sides,” Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Tan Kefei said at a monthly briefing on Thursday.

“The PLA always…resolutely defends national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Tan said.

In its announcement, the State Department said the Volcano sale “serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.”      

It said Taiwan would have “no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” and that the sale would “not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

Analysts differ over what Taiwan’s defence priorities should be, with some calling for big-ticket items such as advanced fighter jets.

Others argue for a more flexible force, heavily armed with land-based missile systems to target enemy ships, planes and landing craft.

China’s overwhelming numerical advantage in personnel and equipment give Taiwan little choice but to opt for that more “asymmetric” approach, they say. 

Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 29

A day after security men gunned down four terrorists in an encounter at Sidhra in Jammu, Opposition parties, including AAP, Congress and PDP, flayed the claims of the J&K administration and the Central Government regarding normalcy in the Union Territory.

Opposition leaders have said that the government is misleading the country with false claims.

Jammu vulnerable

It is shocking that a hitherto peaceful Jammu has also become vulnerable during the Central rule in the UT. —Harsh Dev Singh, AAP leader

Alarming situation

The Jammu encounter is alarming. The administration should stop making fake claims and take things seriously. —Vikar Rasool Wani, UT Cong chief

tall claims busted

The government claims that it has uprooted militancy, but the spread of terrorism to Jammu belies such claims. —Mehbooba Mufti, PDP chief

Harsh Dev Singh, former minister and senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said the present dispensation had failed to curb the cross-border terrorism. Singh said mere condemnation of Pakistan could no longer satisfy the people of the erstwhile state. “It is shocking that a hitherto peaceful Jammu region has also become vulnerable during the Central rule in the Union Territory. Yesterday’s incident at Sidhra, Jammu, was an eye opener for the government. The earlier terror attacks in different parts of the region have punctured the tall claims of normalcy in the UT,” he said.

“The flawed policies of the government have resulted in unabated bloodshed and mayhem, claiming precious lives,” he added.

Take proactive steps to fortify Punjab border

PUNJAB, which shares a 425-km-long international border with Pakistan, has witnessed a nearly four-fold jump in hostile drone activity in a year. Over 250 drone activities have been reported in the state in 2022; this figure is far higher than those recorded by other states/UTs bordering the neighbouring country — Rajasthan, J&K and Gujarat. Drones are being heavily used to smuggle arms, narcotics and fake currency into Punjab from Pakistan. BSF personnel have been successful in seizing the payload of arms and drugs, though very few unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been shot down. The drone activity has seen a sharp rise in the winter, when fog engulfs the region and impedes visibility.

It is commendable that the BSF has initiated steps such as establishing a special centre to train personnel in tackling the aerial threat, implementing operational protocols and upgrading technical capability. However, the high frequency of drone activity despite increased surveillance makes it obvious that the smugglers remain undeterred. The troops need cutting-edge technology to deal with the menace. Ahead of Independence Day this year, a counter-drone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation had been installed near the Red Fort area. It can reportedly detect and deactivate drones within a radius of 4 km. Those involved in defence R&D must factor in the ever-improving capabilities of drones being used by anti-national elements. The easy access to these UAVs is another cause for concern.

The attack on the Jammu Air Force Station in June last year, when low-flying drones had dropped improvised explosive devices, was a wakeup call for India’s security establishment. The possibility of drones being deployed on a major scale for cross-LoC terror strikes cannot be ruled out. The Russia-Ukraine war has seen the use of reconnaissance and strike drones. The latter include exploding drones and those that fly for 3-10 km and hit targets. In the worst-case scenario, the ISI and its terror assets can up the ante with these lethal UAVs. India’s armed forces need to be well equipped to deal with any such eventuality.

What is Sikhism ” ??

• A Religion, which grew from Death and Destruction
  -A Religion, whose Master gave such a physical identity that they could not merge and thus left no option but to Fight in face of adversity.( sava lakh se ek ladaoon )
• A Religion, whose followers during Mughal period had a price for each killed, today is 5th Largest Religion in the World.
• A Religion,whose First Master at time when Earth was believed to be riding on a Bull , declared presence of Countless Stars and Sky’s ( Lakh patala pataal , Lakha Aakashaan Aakaash )
• A Religion,whose First Master highlighted importance and equated Earth-Air and Water , to ones Parents and wanted it to be treated so for future sake of Generations to come.
• A Religion, whose name means Disciple , constant learning and thus humility.
• A Religion, who recognises Human race as one and in its Daily Prayer wishes well for everyone.( Sarbat Da Bhala )
• A Religion, who believes in One God across all Religions.
• A Religion, which welcomes Death just as it welcomes Birth.
• A Religion,which has shown strength of Mind over Matter.
• A Religion,which picks up shoes of every visitor to Gurudwara , irrespective of caste creed financial strength
• A Religion, which wears arms to Protect and Defend and never to Annex.
• A Religion,which provided equal rights to women before any Goverment came forward.
• A Religion, which sacrificed its own KIN to defend rights of other religion & opressed, whose 10th Master is Prayed to with Title , Sarbans Daani ( sacrificer of self and his own ) for sake of the Religion.
• A Religion, whose own gave water and medicine to those who were injured in battle and were the enemy.
• A Religion, to whom eldest child of the family was converted into.
• A Religion, which sacrificed more than any other towards Independence of India.
• A Religion, whose Gurudwaras have 04 entrances , wanting all to come in.
• A Religion , whose Holy Scripture ( Guru Granth Sahib ) is compilation of verses by Enlightened Men from all Walks and All Religions
• A Religion, which had ( till proportional recruitment was introduced) highest ratio in armed forces in respect of total population.
• A Religion , who serves millions of Free Hot Meals daily , across the Globe to anyone coming into Gurudwara , who have to sit as one irrespective of any Caste- Creed , Religion or Economic Status.
• A Religion, in their Ardaas , who prays for Mind and Ego to be low but higher intelligence.
• A Religion, with these thoughts makes me Proud , Humble and Never Ever Arrogant
  Thank you O, our 10 Masters who made us what we are today and forever. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

WHY I AM A SIKH!!

In 1964, when some of the weapons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were brought back from England, an Englishman, in complete Sikh form, accompanied them. Out of curiousity, someone asked the Englishman what inspired him to adopt the Sikh form. Was it due to respect for the weapons or was there some other reason? The explanation given by him at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi is something that should be of interest to all readers.
“My name was A. David. I happened to be commanding a Sikh Regiment during World War II. My Regiment suffered very heavy losses fighting the Germans. Most of the Sikh jawaans (soldiers) of my Battalion were killed.
Only a few survived and we were all surrounded by the Germans. As there were very remote chances of our survival, I called the Subedaar major of the Battalion and informed him about our precarious situation. Death was facing us and there was no chance of survival. I suggested to him that the jawans should individually attempt to escape from the enemy encirclement and save their lives.
The Subedaar Major replied, “We cannot bring ignominy to the Sikh Regiment by running away from the battlefield.” However, he suggested that they should perform an Akhand-Paath ceremony and take action as per the Divine Hukam (Holy Command). Accordingly, necessary security arrangements were made and the Akhand-Paath ceremony was completed without interruption. After the supplicatory prayer (Ardaas), the Divine Hukam from the Holy Scripture was explained to me by the Subedaar Major and the religious teacher (Granthi).
The Guru’s instruction as per the Divine Hukam was that we should not abandon the battlefield; victory will be ours. Then I conveyed to them the miracle that I had witnessed during the supplicatory prayer.
While standing with my eyes closed during the Ardaas, a fully armed Sikh on horseback with a unique grandeur appeared in front of me and ordered “Follow me.” I pointed out the direction in which the fully armed Sikh went after giving the order and asked them about the identity of the warrior. The Subedaar Major said that from the description I had given, he seemed to be none other than Sri Guru Gobind Singh himself!
So, we got ready and launched an attack in the direction pointed out by the Guru. After a short while, we were able to break through the German encirclement and save ourselves. We then got in touch with the Brigade Commander on wireless and requested for additional help.
After the war, I reflected upon the incident and the divine personality who had saved our lives from the impregnable enemy encirclement in a desperate situation by ordering me to follow him.
I made up my mind to follow him for the rest of my life. I resigned from the Army and along with my daughter, embraced Sikh Dharam with the initiation ceremony of the Khalsa. Now my name is Devinder Singh and my daughter’s name is Surjit Kaur. This is due to the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh that he made us his disciples.”

Extracted from Daily Sikh Updates/9th October 2013 at 08.36
Originally published by Manvir Singh

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜੀ ।

PTI

Bijnor (UP), December 28

An FIR has been lodged against four persons in Badhapur police station of Bijnor district for allegedly assaulting a Sikh youth and forcing him to convert to Christianity by cutting his hair, police said on Wednesday.

Mahendra Singh, who belongs to the Sikh community and is a resident of Champatpur village of Thana Badhapur area, filed a complaint alleging that four persons—Balveer, Mangal Singh, Chhindar and Amrik—of his village had forcibly cut his son Gurpreet’s hair, assaulted him and forced to convert to Christianity.

Station House Inspector (SHO) Anuj Tomar said that an FIR was lodged against the four persons on the basis of the complaint.

“FIR has been lodged under sections 295 A (hurting someone’s religious feelings), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (use of criminal force), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and the matter is being investigated.

PTI

Beijing, December 27

Days after it faced nationwide anti-government protests against its stringent zero-Covid policy, China in a major shift of its coronavirus response policies has announced that it will scrap quarantine for international travellers from January 8 as it reopens its borders and comes out of international isolation after nearly three years.

Downgrades virus management

China’s National Health Commission has announced that Covid-19 management will be downgraded from Class A to B from next month. It will fall in the same category as less-severe diseases such as dengue fever

Companies welcome Beijing’s decision

Foreign firms welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travellers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity

The National Health Commission (NHC) has announced that Covid-19 management will be downgraded from Class A to B from next month, in the same category as less-severe diseases such as dengue fever. China will cancel inbound quarantine for international arrivals starting from January 8, 2023, it said.

Earlier, passengers coming from abroad had to mandatorily stay in over two weeks of quarantine in government accommodations, which was gradually reduced to five days with three days of observation. These announcements come at a time when the country is grappling with a sudden spurt in coronavirus infections fuelled by the Omicron variant after the Xi Jinping regime relaxed its stringent zero-Covid policy earlier this month following a wave of anti-government protests.

Officials argue that the Omicron variant was not as lethal as the Delta strain, which caused massive casualties all over the world.

Covid has been managed as a top category ‘A’ infectious disease since 2020, putting it on a par with bubonic plague and cholera, South China Morning Post reported. Under Chinese laws, authorities must impose the toughest restrictions such as quarantine and isolation of the infected and their close contacts, and lockdowns to contain those diseases.

At the border, the infected must be isolated and those who might be infected quarantined, depending on the incubation period. The NHC also stopped announcing daily Covid cases from Sunday.