Security forces believe that after March, Haroon and Udaan were planning to recruit more youth into militancy.
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service Doda, June 3
After killing two most-wanted militants—Haroon Abbas Wani in January and Tahir alias Uqaab in May—security forces managed to thwart the recruitment plans of militant groups in Chenab valley, especially in Doda district.
Security forces believe that after March, Haroon and Udaan were planning to recruit more youth into militancy.
“They had prepared a plan to lure more youth into militancy and this plan was to be executed after March. But as security forces went on an offensive against militants and killed Haroon in January, militants and their handlers experienced a big jolt,” a senior Army officer told The Tribune.
He said that after the killing of Haroon, Uqaab was alone and wanted to recruit local youth into militancy, but was unsuccessful.
“One youth, Tanvir Ahmed, had become active but with his arrest by the police and Army, Uqaab was not able to make a move. Later on, in May, Uqaab was also killed and the plans were thwarted,” he added.
Now, only one local militant of Doda district, Masood Ahmad, is alive. His whereabouts are not known and security forces believe that he may be active in Kashmir valley.
In rare act, Indian Air Force pilot winches up survivors at 17,000 ft in Sikkim
In a daredevil act, an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot rescued a team of armed forces from an altitude of 17,000 feet by hovering his copter over the ground and winching up two persons.
The pilot, flying a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-manufactured advanced light helicopter (ALH), did not have enough space to land due to soft snow and the rescue window due to the prevailing weather was narrow.
Sources said such a winching operation at 17,000 feet was rare and it was carried out in north Sikkim on May 8. Winching is done by sending down a specialised cable that is harnessed to the survivor on the ground, who is then winched up to the copter.
It all began on May 7 when an IAF Mi17V5 crashed in north Sikkim at a height of 17,000 feet where even the mid-May temperature hovers below the freezing level. All six on board, including the two pilots, miraculously survived.
There was no option of a rescue as the weather was bad.
Early on May 8, the ALH flown by Wing Commander Ajay Chauhan took off. Accompanying him were two Cheetah helicopters of the Army Aviation. The area had received fresh snow in the night and there were chances of reduced vision during the operation. The Cheetah, a single-engine copter, can carry less load than a twin-engined ALH. The two Cheetahs landed at a nearby place and evacuated four of the survivors.
Two survivors still remained on the ground and had to be moved out immediately as there were chances of fresh snow. The ALH pilot analysed that the 2.5-tonne copter could not land at the site due to the soft snow and winching was the only option left. Displaying rare courage, the pilot carried out the operation was successfully.
Regularise absence period of personnel who couldn’t join duty due to lockdown: Govt to armed forces
The Defence Ministry has conveyed to the three armed forces to “regularise the absence period” of their personnel who could not join duty because of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, according to an official communication.
The absence period of such personnel would now be considered as “special casual leave”, it said.
A large number of armed forces personnel who were on leave or away from their duty base could not join work due to the lockdown that has been in place since March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“I am directed to convey the sanction of the President to regularise the absence period on account of ‘lockdown’ due to orders of the Central government/state government/local authorities/service headquarters on account of anti-COVID-19 measures as special casual leave in respect to Army/Navy/Air Force personnel,” a Defence Ministry official said in a letter to the chiefs of the three armed forces.
“Personnel are permitted to utilise the fastest available means of travel (as per their entitled class/mode) so as to return to their units at the earliest, post-lifting of lockdown,” the official said.
The letter stated the grant of the special casual leave must not have any impact on current leave entitlement and permissible service of the personnel.
Nearly two lakh people have been infected and over 5,500 people killed by coronavirus in India till now. PTI
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal B Suresh (left) during his visit to Air Force Station, Halwara on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 3
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal B Suresh, visited Air Force Station Halwara on Wednesday.
On arrival, he was received by Air Commodore A Bhadra, Air Officer Commanding, 9 Wing.
During his visit, the AOC-in-C inspected vital installations of the base and assessed the operational preparedness. He also reviewed all measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
He reiterated that the country is facing emerging security threats along with the pandemic hazard and emphasised the importance of ensuring operational capability through diligent planning and utilisation of resources.
Appreciating the involvement and commitment to duty displayed by all personnel of the airbase, Air Marshal Suresh advised them to stay fit and be vigilant considering the current security situation.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot rescued a team of armed forces from an altitude of 17,000 feet by hovering his copter and winching up two persons. The operation was carried out in north Sikkim on May 8. Sources confirmed that such an operation is rare.
The pilot, flying an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), did not have enough space to land due to fresh snow, and the rescue window due to prevailing weather condition was small.
It all started on May 7 when an IAF Mi17V5 crashed in North Sikkim. All six on board, including the two pilots, survived miraculously. On May 8 morning, two ‘Cheetah’ copters landed nearby and evacuated them, barring two, who were winched up by an 2.5-tonne ALH that couldn’t land due to fresh snow. — TNS
China preparing for infiltration behind enemy lines amidst standoff in Ladakh
Media reports emanating from China indicate that PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to ‘infiltrate behind the enemy lines’
Arun Joshi
Jammu, June 3
China is preparing for a massive infiltration into Eastern Ladakh amid nearly a month-long standoff between Chinese and Indian troops at the Himalaya heights where both sides claim that it is their territory.
Media reports emanating from China have indicated that the PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to “infiltrate behind the enemy lines”.
This is an unmistakable hint towards the Indian positions along the LAC in eastern Ladakh that lie adjacent to Tibetan plateau. It is for the first time that China has served such a warning of infiltration to India.
The Global Times that reflects Chinese official viewpoint and policy wrote in Wednesday’s edition that these exercises were held recently and broadcast by CCTV on Monday. The report’s opening paragraph summed up the plans of the People’s Liberation Army.
It read: “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command recently sent troops to a high-altitude region at an elevation of 4,700 metres at night for infiltration exercises behind enemy lines and tested their combat capability under a harsh environment.”
“At 1 am at an undisclosed date, a PLA scout unit began to mobilise towards its target in the Tanggula Mountains.” The Tanggula mountain range is adjacent to the Changthang region of Ladakh rich with lakes.
“During the march, vehicles turned off their lights and used night vision devices to avoid hostile drone reconnaissance, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday, the Global Times reported.
The newspaper gave the graphic details of the exercises and the techniques it used. The PLA also used drones.
They engaged in combat when approaching the target, for which they sent a sniper unit to crack enemy spotlights and a fire strike team to destroy enemy light-armoured vehicles with anti-tank rockets.
After neutralising the defences, the scout unit successfully launched the final assault on the enemy headquarters, in which commanders used a vehicle-mounted infrared reconnaissance system and guided the troops to lock in on targets and deliver fire strikes.
More than 2,000 munitions, including mortar shells, rifle grenades and rockets, were fired during the mock battle, Ma Qian, commander of the scout battalion involved in the drills, told CCTV, according to the newspaper.
It could be a subtle message to India and also to the world that China is better trained and in control of the situation or it is looking for a similar response from Delhi to its preparations in the high altitudes.
Pulwama 2.0 plotter among 3 JeM ultras killed in gunfight
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top IED expert Abdul Rehman, alias Fauji Bhai, who was an Afghan war participant and mastermind behind the recently foiled Pulwama 2.0 bid, was killed in a gunfight with security forces today. Two local militants were also killed.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar termed Abdul Rehman’s killing as a huge success for the security forces. “Hailing from Multan in Pakistan, Rehman had been active in Kashmir since 2017,” Kumar said.
Police sources said the other two militants killed in the gunfight were locals named Javed Zargar of Rangmulla and Manzoor Kar of Sirnoo.
Today’s gunfight, which took place in the Kangan area of Pulwama district, was second in as many days in the south Kashmir district. Two JeM militants were killed on Tuesday morning in the Tral area. A senior police official said a cordon and search operation was launched in Astan Mohalla of Kangan on Wednesday morning following a tipoff.
“The house where the militants were holed up was zeroed in on and the militants asked to surrender. They, however, opened fire and were neutralised in the ensuing gunfight,” the official said.
75 militants killed this year: IGP
According to Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar, 75 militants have been killed this year so far
“Two IED experts of the JeM are still active in Kashmir. They have been identified as Waleed Bhai and Lambu Bhai,” he added
He said present JeM chief Abdullah Rashid Ghazi would also be killed or arrested soon
Revert to earlier position on LAC, India to tell China To seek withdrawal of PLA troops from ‘Finger 4’, Gogra, Galwan areas
As senior military commanders of India and China are scheduled to meet on June 6, India is readying agenda points aimed at seeking restoration of status quo ante along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.
These points will be finalised in consultation with Director General Military Operations, the Northern Command and the Leh-based 14 Corps.
Sources said the Army would ask the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China to withdraw from “Finger 4” area in the north of Pangong Tso and Gogra on the edge of a flat plateau called Hot Springs.
Both sides have varying perception of the LAC in these areas. At one of the spots, the difference is around 10 km.
As per the existing framework of LAC management between India and China, troops of either side do not hold ground in disputed areas along the LAC. They come for patrol and return.
In Galwan, the third point of tension between the two armies, India is very clear that China has to vacate its newly occupied positions. The Line of Actual Control is not disputed here. India has conveyed to China that its troops were in the areas that were never disputed.
India can either pressure China by carving out a new position of its own along the LAC or reason out with it to withdraw. There are no posts in the area. Only patrolling is done here.
India will also seek that the heavy armour and artillery guns, which China has moved to various locations in the Aksai Chin area or all along the 826-km-long Line of Actual Control, be moved back.
Sources said the conduct of the June 6 meeting would be on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point. Chushul is on the Indian side, while Moldo is on the Chinese side. These are around 2 km apart.
As per protocol, the visiting commander gets to read out his points first, followed by the host’s points. The points are then discussed and minutes of the meeting prepared by each side.
Govt clams up on border standoff
New Delhi: There was no comment from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the standoff which has entered the third week. It had last spoken on the issue on May 21. China too has been reticent on speaking on the issue. A question on the standoff has frequently failed to figure at its Foreign Office’s briefings. On Wednesday, it repeated its earlier formulation: “There have been sound mechanisms and channels of communication…’’ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too has stayed away from webinars. TNS
As part of the state battle against COVID-19, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Tuesday, launched ‘Mission Fateh’ song featuring Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Gurdas Maan and Harbhajan Singh besides a star-studded line-up of personalities from sports and Punjabi cinema, with the message of resilience, resolve and discipline to defeat the virus and save Punjab.
Urging everyone to come forward and complement state efforts to save lives by disseminating information about preventive measures, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said with the cooperation of everyone, Punjab had been successful in controlling the spread of the virus to a great extent, a press release by the state government read.
The war has not ended, he underlined urging people to remain vigilant and keep following all social distancing norms.
The song, which also features local boy Sonu Sood alongside braveheart Punjab Police poster boy ASI Harjit Singh and TikTok sensation Noor, has been sung by Punjabi music director and singer B Praak.
The song is a unique initiative to give the message of maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask while going out and washing hands regularly to achieve ‘Fateh’ over COVID-19.
Soha Ali Khan, Randeep Hooda and Rannvijay besides personalities Punjabi film and music industry, including Gippy Grewal, Ammy Virk, Jazzy B, Binnu Dhillon, Pammi Bai, Jasbir Jassi, Rajwir Jawanda, Rubina Bajwa Kulwinder Billa, Karamjit Anmol, Singga, Tarsem Jassar, Lakhwinder Wadali, Harjit Harman, Gurnazar, Babbal Rai, Jaani, Kulraj Randhawa, Shivjot, Happy Raikoti, Afsana Khan, Ninja, Aatish, Tanishq Kaur and Aarushi also feature in the song.
The song which has also been uploaded on the Facebook page of Captain Amarinder Singh also featured prominent sports personalities, including cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Anjum Moudgill and Avneet Sidhu.
Praak had earlier won hearts of the nation for his patriotic song “Teri Mitti”.
The song will also be broadcast on various television and radio channels so that the message of collectively fighting against COVID-19 reaches everyone in Punjab.
Apart from this, the message of maintaining social distancing, washing hands regularly and wearing masks while going out has also been spread through hoardings and newspaper advertisements across various cities and villages.
In the coming days, various departments of Punjab Government will work towards spreading awareness amongst the people of Punjab under ‘Mission Fateh’ that COVID-19 has still not ended and everyone must inculcate these small changes in their lifestyles to protect themselves and their families, a press release by the state government further read.
5 ways the world can stare China down by Manish Tewari MP Anadpur Sahib
China is lashing out in Ladakh and South China Sea after Covid blame. It’s an established Chinese behaviour to create a new crisis to push the previous one out of sight.
hinese President Xi Jinping | kremlin.ru
The Chinese leadership has two problems. Staving off an international scientific investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic because it could trigger enormous demands for reparations, and concurrently repair the global damage to its standing.
A democracy would have dealt with it differently. It would have welcomed and cooperated with an inquiry and acknowledged or differed with its findings. It would have leveraged its soft power patiently to slowly undo the image deficit caused. However, China is an authoritarian capitalist oligarchy whose leadership is punch-drunk on hubris.
The Chinese leadership, therefore, has started lashing out on all sides trying to create strategic and tactical flash points to somehow make the – ‘China is responsible for the contagion’ – headline go away.
It has stoked tensions in the South China Sea by unilaterally announcing on 18 April 2020 the establishment of two new administrative structures, prompting the US Navy to launch its fifth freedom of navigation operation in the past five months.
It has belligerently taken on US President Donald Trump and other world leaders who are publicly calling for an ‘origin’ investigation into the Covid-19 epidemic. It has drastically altered its relationship with Hong Kong by partially enacting a new security law that fundamentally transforms the ‘one nation two systems’ paradigm.
It has encroached into Indian territory and, according to an estimate by the former Northern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag, illegally occupied between 40-60 sq km of Indian territory in the Galwan River area and on the Indian side of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh. It has also encroached into Indian territory in Naku La in north Sikkim.
Thus, in a short span of one month, China has created a maritime, land-based and a sovereignty flash point, each with short-term eyeball grabbing potential and longer-term strategic and tactical advantages.
This behaviour is not surprising. The Chinese leadership, from 1947 onwards, has always resorted to obfuscation and deception to deflect from its failures and internal crises.
A classical and often un-analysed aspect is the correlation between the failure of the Great Leap Forward and the 1962 War with India. The Great Leap Forward was a five-year plan of forced agricultural collectivisation and rural industrialisation that was instituted by the Chinese Communist Party in 1958 and abandoned in 1961. It occasioned a drastic shrinking of the Chinese economy and was responsible for 30 to 55 million deaths due to starvation, execution, torture, forced labour, and suicide out of harassment. It was the biggest distinct, non-wartime pogrom of mass killing in human history.
It is another matter that the Chinese were able to get the erstwhile Soviet Union on board for the 1962 aggression against India as a quid pro quo for keeping quiet on the Cuban missile crisis initiated by the Soviet leadership. Similarly, the Sino-Vietnam conflict had as much to do with the evolving leadership dynamic within the Chinese Communist Party post the death of Mao Tse Tsung as it did with the situation in Cambodia. Deng Xiaoping assumed the leadership in December 1978 and Chinese troops entered Vietnam in March 1979.
Thus, there is a clearly established pattern to the Chinese behaviour. Create a new crisis to push the previous one out of sight.
Should the Chinese leadership be allowed to get away with it this time around again? The answer is no.
The world needs to stare the Chinese squarely in the eye. There are five things that must be done.
First, the call for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19 must be taken to a logical conclusion. Second, Taiwan’s observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO) must be reinstated. Third, China’s disproportionate influence in the institutions of global governance must be substantively diminished through collective action beginning with a summer cleaning of the WHO.
Fourth, the quad between the US, India, Japan and Australia must be formalised to keep the Indo-Pacific free of malefic Chinese influence. Fifth, the international community must unite to, if necessary, sanction China to keep democracy and liberty alive in Hong Kong.
That leaves the question of dealing with the border encroachment carried out by China in Ladakh and north Sikkim. There, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will have to carry the cross alone, keeping the possibility of a China-Pakistan link-up in Sub Sector North in mind.
For starters, the Narendra Modi government must tell India what is really going on. Are Generals Panag and Prakash Menon correct that a ‘Lakshman rekha’ has indeed been breached? If so, what is the extent of the transgression and what does the government intend to do about it?
Unlike the maritime domain, where shared interests are at play, here, India is virtually on its own. However, it holds some cards, for example the Chair of the WHO’s Executive Board, 5G trials for Huawei, activating the Vladivostok-Chennai Maritime Corridor. If the Modi government uses these skilfully, coupled with a patient, sustained but a determined force posture in Ladakh and north Sikkim, India should be just fine.
How Prime Minister Modi must be regretting shelving the 90,000-strong 17th Mountain Strike Corps or the Brahmastra Corps cleared for raising by the Congress-led UPA government in July 2013 especially keeping the Sino-Indian situation in mind. It would have been fully operational by now.
The author is a lawyer, MP and former Union information and broadcasting minister. Views are personal.
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