Searching questions posed by the US, Germany, Belgium and the UK

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 11

At least 10 countries have expressed serious concern over India’s dealings with human rights mechanisms. Posing questions at India’s fourth Universal Periodical review of the state of human rights at Geneva, searching questions were posed by the US, Germany, Belgium and the UK on the need to enact anti-torture laws, ratify rigorous anti-discrimination laws and policies, and adopt legislation that criminalises hate speech, prevents communal violence, and protects human rights defenders.

The report present at the UPR has also commented on the living standards of minorities. “Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims fared worst in terms of economic conditions. In urban centers, Dalit Christians were engaged in descent-based work. In rural areas, they remained landless and largely dependent on the dominant caste community for their livelihood,” it said.

The UPR is responsible for ensuring the implementation of all the recommendations that the final outcome entails.

But the Human Rights Measurement Initiative says India has performed worse than average in upholding the 13 Basic Human Rights including religious freedom and tolerance towards religious minorities.

Germany posed questions on the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act), reintroducing the Communal and Targeted Violence Bill of 2011, anti-conversion laws and child labour. It however welcomed the non-discriminatory delivery of public goods and services.

The UK also asked questions on rights and interests of minorities besides reducing the scope for death penalty and measures to protect journalists and the media from undue interference and harassment?

The US was the most searching, asking questions on concerning trends in the press freedom, Foreign Contribution Regulation Action (FCRA), constitutional rights of religious minority groups, AFSPA and the law on banning hijab in educational institutions. It also expressed concern over the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, National Security Act, Public Safety Act, and sections (124A, 499, and 500) of the Indian Penal Code as they have been applied to free speech advocates, activists, and faith leaders.

11-member delegation visits Khalsa College, school

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 9

An 11-member delegation of the UK Army, led by Major General Celia Jane Harvey, visited Khalsa College and Atam Public School today.

Also Read

• Sikh prayer books issued to UK military personnel after 100 years
• UK army delegation visits Golden Temple

The delegation met the functionaries of the Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) and also toured the historic college along with cultural centres.

Major General Harvey remembered the heroes of the battle of Saragarhi while touring the Sikh History Research Centre.

“Sikhs are a part and parcel of the United Kingdom Defence Forces and are entitled to wear turban and other articles of faith. The role of Sikh soldiers during the two World Wars was exemplary and many European countries owe their freedom to the brave soldiers from Punjab,” she said.

The prayer books have been printed in three languages in durable and waterproof material to withstand the rigours of military life, says a BBC report

London, November 10

Daily Sikh prayer books, called the Nitnem Gutka, have been issued to Sikh military personnel in the UK for the first time in 100 years, a media report said on Thursday.

Also Read

• UK army delegation visits Golden Temple
• Sikhs part & parcel of British defence forces: UK Major General

The prayer books have been printed in three languages in durable and waterproof material to withstand the rigours of military life, said the BBC report.

While the British Army Gutka has a camouflage cover, the Royal Navy and RAF Gutka have a navy blue one.

Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, who is in the British Army and has spent two years campaigning for the return of the books, said on Wednesday: “The Army has been providing Christian religious texts for many years and I saw the opportunity there to open the door for the Sikh faith to provide Sikh texts.”

The Nitnem Gutkas were printed in Wiltshire and placed on a throne in a purpose-built vehicle for Sikh scriptures.

They were transported to the library of the Central Gurdwara in London, where they were officially issued to military personnel on October 28, the BBC reported.

Also the chairperson of the UK Defence Sikh Network, Major Singh Virdee, who uses his Nitnem Gutka three times a day, said: “For Sikhs our scriptures are not just words, they are the living embodiment of our guru. We draw moral strength and physical strength from reading the scriptures every day, it gives us discipline and it grows us spiritually,” he said.

Nitnem Gutkas were first issued to military personnel more than a century ago, along with other articles of the Sikh faith, but have never been issued again since.

There is an original military-issued Nitnem Gutka in the National Army Museum’s archives in London. IANS

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

It was a trip down the memory lane for aircrew that had flown the AN-12 aircraft, once the workhorse of the IAF’s transport fleet, as they got together for a reunion here today.

A large number of pilots, navigators, flight engineers and technical officers attended the event along with their spouses. Among them were several veterans of the 1971 Indo-Pak war as well as widows of officers.

Among the senior-most officers present were Air Marshal AK Goel and Air Vice Marshal HP Singh. Besides other places in India, a few officers now settled overseas especially reached here for the reunion.

Procured from Russia in 1961, the Antonov AN-12 was a four-engine turbo-prop that had maintained the vital air bridge to Ladakh for over three decades, besides performing other transport and communication duties.

AN-12s were used to rush reinforcements to Ladakh during the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. They took part in the famous para-drop at Tangail during the 1971 war and were also used as bombers. AN-12s also undertook sorties during the Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and the Operation Cactus in the Maldives in the late 1980s.

The aircraft served with No 25 Squadron, earlier based at Chandigarh, and No 44 Squadron, now based in the city, both of which were raised on AN-12s. These were formally retired in June 1993, with the last sortie from Chandigarh to Air Force Museum at Palam in New Delhi being flown by Wg Cdr Satish Bhatia (retd).

Gifts ‘Gutka of Nitnem’ and Sikh literature published by DSN

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 9

A delegation of British army officers today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Also Read

• Sikh prayer books issued to UK military personnel after 100 years
• Sikhs part & parcel of British defence forces: UK Major General

Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, a British army officer associated with the Defence Sikh Network (DSN), UK, presented “Gutka of Nitnem” (daily Sikh prayers) prepared by the DSN and literature published regarding Sikh identity and turban in the British army to SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami.

The British army delegation has come to Amritsar to participate in the event being organised in memory of the martyrs of the Battle of Saragarhi.

Dhami said “Nitnem Gutka Sahib” was a part of the uniform of amritdhari Sikhs working in the British army.

“Gurbani scriptures were given to Sikh soldiers by the British army even during the World War and the DSN was making efforts along similar lines,” he said.

The DSN had also worked to publish literature on Sikh identity and turban, besides making a major contribution to determining the different colours of turban for the three branches of the British army.

Washington, November 9

America’s top general estimated on Wednesday that Russia’s military had suffered more than 1,00,000 soldiers killed and wounded in Ukraine, and added Kyiv’s armed forces “probably” suffered a similar level of casualties in the war.

“You’re looking at well over 1,00,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded. Same thing probably on the Ukrainian side. A lot of human suffering,” Army General Mark Milley told the Economic Club of New York.

He added 40,000 Ukrainian civilians were also probably killed in the conflict since Russia’s invasion began in February.

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, November 9

5 bike-borne miscreants intercepted him near Chambal village

An Army man was robbed by five armed miscreants near Chambal village on Monday evening. The victim, Daljit Singh, a resident of Jatta village said after withdrawing Rs 10,000 from an ATM near Naushehra Pannuan village, he was heading towards his village on his motorbike bearing registration No. PB-46 Z-1226.

When he reached near Chambal village five motorcycle-bound miscreants intercepted him and while pointing a gun at him demanded all the valuables he was carrying.

The robbers threatened to kill him if he did not oblige. The victim said he handed over his wallet to the robbers that included Rs 10,000, smart military card, Aadhaar card and driving license. The robbers also took his motorbike and cell phone at the time of fleeing.

The Sarhali police have registered a case under Section 379-B of the IPC. ASI Jaspreet Singh, in charge, police post Naushehra Pannuan, said the accused had not been identified so far.

Our Correspondent

J

jammu, November 9

A soldier died due to accidental fire from his service weapon in Poonch on Wednesday, an Army official said.

It is not known as to how the rifle went off and killed the 27-year-old. The incident occurred in Mankote. The matter is being investigated.

27-yr-old was active for one year; had quit service due to drug addiction

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

The police have nabbed a former Army man for burglary. The suspect has been involved in incidents of theft across the tricity for the past one year, say police.

The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Harvinder Singh, alias Karan, alias Fouji, a resident of Phase VII, Mohali.

Complainant Sudha, a resident of Sector 51, had claimed they had gone to their hometown in Punjab on October 25. Upon return on October 29, they found their house ransacked. Jewellery worth several lakhs along with Rs 95,000 in cash were found stolen. The police were informed about the incident and a case was registered at the Sector 49 police station. During investigation, the suspect was arrested.

The police said during interrogation the suspect revealed he had been committing thefts across the tricity since 2021.

Three scooters, a motorcycle, an LCD television, two cameras, nine LPG cylinders and 92 coins of different countries, stolen from different places, were recovered from him.

Inspector Jai Parkash Singh, SHO, Sector 49 police station, said the accused had joined the Army in 2015 and was posted in Jammu Kashmir. “He left the job due to drug addiction and later started driving a cab. To get his daily fix, the suspect took to crime,” the SHO added.

The suspect was produced in a local court, which remanded him in police custody.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel undergoing the commando course carried out helicopter induction operations at the Basic Training Centre in Bhanu near Chandigarh today.

As many as 118 commandoes, including 18 women, were trained in slithering, which is a means of descending from hovering helicopters with the help of ropes. This technique is used for rapid induction of troops in difficult terrain. An Mi-17 belonging to the Border Security Force was used for the purpose.

The trainees belonged to the 98th Commando Course and 4th Commando Course (women). On the completion of training, they will be posted to Indian missions abroad, anti-terrorist and anti-naxal operations or VVIP security duties.