The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse

New Delhi: As many as 122 members of the Bangladesh armed forces arrived in Delhi Tuesday evening to participate in the 2021 Republic Day parade. Their participation in the annual parade is meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation from Pakistan.

The contingent travelled to India in a special C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The three-hour long flight departed at 5.30 pm Tuesday.

Announcing their departure, the Indian Army had earlier tweeted, “Together we Fought, Together we March. Tune in on 26 Jan 21 for the splendid parade. #friendship #Goldenjubilee #Republicday2021.”

Also Read: The liberation of Bangladesh — the Indian armed forces’ finest hour

Last month, the Modi government had kicked off celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. On 16 December 2020, the anniversary of the day Pakistan surrendered to India in the war, Modi lit the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ — or the ‘golden victory flames — from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial in New Delhi, marking the beginning of the golden jubilee celebrations.

Several events are planned to commemorate the milestone, including events across the country where war veterans will be celebrated. Other programmes include seminars and band displays.

In addition, the defence ministry had said last month that four flaming torches will be carried to various parts of India, including to the villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees of the war.

While the Bangladesh contingent will join the celebration this year, the Republic Day parade will otherwise be a muted affair compared to other years on account of the Covid pandemic. The event, which is usually a celebration of India’s cultural heritage and military might, will have a limited audience, and reduced distance for the parade.

Also Read: 5 heroes of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War who led India to decisive win over Pakistan

Addressing the 73rd Army Day event, Gen. Naravane said India has given ‘befitting response’ to conspiracy to make unilateral changes on the border.

New Delhi: Army chief General M.M. Naravane said Friday that India has given a befitting reply to the conspiracy of unilaterally changing the status quo at the borders, and that the sacrifices made by soldiers in the Galwan Valley would not go in vain.

Gen. Naravane was speaking at the 73rd Army Day event at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh were also present, and paid tributes at the memorial.

“We are in favour of resolving our disputes through talks and political efforts, but no one should commit the mistake of testing our patience,” Gen. Naravane said, adding that last year was particularly challenging for the Army.

“Despite the cold and difficulties in eastern Ladakh, the morale of the soldiers deployed is higher than the mountains they are defending,” he said.

India and China have been locked in a stand-off at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh since May last year. The countries are yet to arrive at a concrete solution, despite eight rounds of senior military commanders’ talks. The date for the ninth round of talks is yet to be decided.

Also read: Ready to hold ground in eastern Ladakh ‘for as long as needed’ — Army chief Gen Naravane

Situation at LoC and in the Northeast

Speaking about the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), Gen. Naravane said about 300-400 terrorists are present in camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, waiting to infiltrate.

He said last year, there was a 44 per cent hike in ceasefire violations along the LoC, which bears testimony to Pakistan’s “devious intentions”. He also said the Army killed over 200 terrorists last year in counter-terrorism operations.

The Army chief said drones and tunnels were used to smuggle arms at the borders, but a strong counter-infiltration grid by the Army has foiled several attempts by the enemy, and also caused heavy losses.

In the Northeast, the security situation has improved substantially, Gen. Naravane said, adding that proactive operations in the region led to the surrender of nearly 600 terrorists and the recovery of a huge cache of arms.

The Army had conducted multiple successful operations with the Myanmar Army. The fact that the Army has reduced troops in the Northeast bears testament to the improved security situation.

New technologies

Gen. Naravane also said the Army is working with Indian Institutes of Technology on newer technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain , quantum computing, energy weapons and swarm drones.

He also said under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Army has identified 29 modernisation projects worth Rs 32,000 crore.

Naravane added the Army has bought arms and equipment worth Rs 5,000 crore, and has concluded contracts worth Rs 13,000 crore. This includes light machine guns, light special vehicles, personal protective gear, infantry combat vehicles and long-range vectors.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also read: Army to have women pilots in frontline operational units by next year, says chief Naravane

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 17

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said the leaked Arnab messages demand serious inquiry.

“The leaked WhatsApp chats reveal three reprehensible things requiring serious inquiry: leaking of military secrets to a TV channel for its commercial purposes; a “nationalist” gloating over the death of 40 jawans as an “attack we have won like crazy”, and a fraudulent manipulation of TRPs. But if the Government won’t conduct such an inquiry (& we all expect it won’t, given the evidence of its complicity in the betrayals revealed), who will? Is this one more thing we will have to take a PIL to the Supreme Court for?” Tharoor asked.

Meanwile, the Pakistan Foreign Office has sought to capitalise on the transcripts included in the Mumbai Police charge-sheet against Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami by alleging they represent “irrefutable evidence of India’s state-sponsorship of terrorism”.In a statement, it claimed the latest revelations confirm Pakistan’s allegations that the BJP government stages “false flag” operations, maligns Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations and “manipulates national sentiment in its bid to win elections”.

The transcripts, it said, also illustrate the nexus between the ‘Hindutva’ regime and a section of the media.

“We hope that the international community would take full cognisance of the situation and hold India accountable for its actions vitiating the regional environment and endangering peace and security in South Asia,” said the statement.

Army termed the drone system a disruption technology, which can hit targets 50 km inside enemy territory. The system has been developed in collaboration with a Bengaluru startup.

New Delhi: The Army Friday showcased for the first time swarm drones offensive capability by carrying out a simulated Kamikaze attack on targets, including enemy tanks, fuel depots, terror hideout and radar positions, among others, at the Army Day Parade held in Delhi cantonment.

While what the Army showcased was a swarm of 75 drones, including mother UAVs that release smaller systems, it aims to increase the capability to 1,000 such systems in the coming months.

The Army termed the system a disruption technology, which can hit targets 50 km inside enemy territory.

The quadcopter drones of multiple payload capacity were also shown delivering medical aids and para-dropping essential supplies to showcase that the system can be used for support to troops deployed in harsh and forward positions.

The Army announced that a total of 600 kg supplies can be delivered by these drones.

“We started in August with five systems, which was scaled up to 20 in October, 30 in December and now 75,” a source said, adding that the effort is to scale up even further.

Defence industry sources, however, said that the presentation did not involve swarm drone demonstration, but just a drone formation as swarm drones have a centralised launch operation and have the capability to acquire targets.

Army sources said that these drones are based on multiple algorithms and Artificial Intelligence.

Betting big on drones

The armed forces are betting big on the drone capabilities as the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan clash showed how traditional war fighting machines can fall prey to armed and Kamikaze drones.

The Navy has recently taken on lease two American drones, while the Army has just placed a nearly Rs 140-crore deal with an Indian firm for specialised high-altitude tactical drones for operations in Ladakh.

India is also set to sign a deal with Israel for the upgrade of the Heron drones, which will include arming some of them.

Also read: Missiles, drones, defence shield — India has a series of military trials planned for 2021

*From : Capt SK Sharma – +91-9810075048

Veterans of S.S.C (NT-9), September 1970 Batch will be celebrating “Golden Jubilee” at their “Alma Mater” – Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

Our batch was lucky to have actively participated in the 1971 Indo-Park War, 1987 IPKF Operations, 1988 Maldives Coup d’état, 1999 Kargil War and counter insurgency ops in North and North East regions.
In these operations many of our course mates were killed in action.

We wish to celebrate “GOLDEN JUBILEE” of the surviving veterans.

We are making all out efforts to track and locate them through records of Army Headquarters, OTA Chennai, CDA (Officers) Pune and PCDA (Pension), Allahabad etc.

Out of approximately 497 officers, we have been able to track 349 officers who retired in the ranks of Maj Generals – down to Captains, but still 148 officers are yet to be tracked.

Therefore, we appeal to all brother officers that, if you know anyone or are related/ acquainted with anyone belonging to our batchmates, please ask those gentlemen to contact Col Probir Sur (V) or me on following mobile numbers –

Col Probir Sur (V) – +91 9830369039.

Lt Col Dilip Godbole (V) – +91 8308572464

*COURSE SSC NT-9 GOLDEN JUBILEE*