Due to freezing cold in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.17 Oct 2018 | 2:15 PM

MANDI: The administration of Lahaul Spiti has closed the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza roads for winter in view of public safety. Due to freezing temperature and recent snow in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.

Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 16

The administration of Lahaul Spiti has closed the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza roads for winter in view of public safety.

Due to freezing temperature and recent snow in Lahaul Spiti, the frost has started depositing on the road, making it slippery for vehicles.

Ashwani Kumar Chaudhari, DC, said, “The Border Roads Organisation had informed us to stop vehicles on these routes in view of public safety. Due to high altitude, the Kunzum Pass and Bara-lacha La may receive heavy snow anytime which may put lives of commuters at risk.”

He said due to sudden snowfall on September 22, a large number of vehicles had been stuck on the Manali-Leh and Gramfu-Kaza road. It took weeks for the district administration to get them out.

The DC asked the police to stop visitors leaving for Leh or Kaza. He also urged the people to follow the instruction.

“However, the traffic between the Manali-Keylong road via Rohtang is normal,” said the DC.

New Delhi: Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday said the Russian Army is “very keen” on associating with the Indian Army, while stressing on the independence of Indian policymaking.

“Russians are very keen on associating with the Indian Army because we are very capable. We are capable of standing for what is right for us,” General Rawat said at the inaugural General K V Krishna Rao Memorial Lecture at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

“When Russians asked about the American sanctions, my reply was, ‘Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy. You can be rest assured. While we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy’,” he said.

General Rawat added, “I further told them, ‘While we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are signing the treaty on the purchase of the S-400 weapon system in spite of the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future and a $5.3 billion deal has been signed between the two countries.”

The Army chief also said that India is “looking forward to getting Kamov helicopters”. “We are also looking forward to getting other weapon systems, space-based systems and technologies to enhance our space capabilities.”

General Rawat, who recently undertook a six-day visit to Russia, met the top brass of the Russian Armed Forces and key military formations and establishments. The delegation also visited the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Military Academy, the Headquarters of Western Military District in St. Petersburg and General Staff Academy.

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 3

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Wednesday said the Rafale fighter jet would be a “game changer” once it came and would be a “booster dose” for the IAF.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Air Force Day here, the Air Chief Marshal was replying to a question on the purchase of Rafale when he said the government took a “bold step” in deciding on its purchase.

About the major concerns for the IAF, he said, “The depleting fighter jets is an issue. The signing of 83 Tejas, 36 Rafale besides Sukhoi-30 will arrest the drop down from the existing 31 squadrons.”

The IAF currently has 31 squadrons as against the 42 mandated by the government for a two-front war.

On being asked about China, he said they were watching the development of infrastructure and had a plan to counter that.

The IAF chief denied that the 50 fighter jets in Tibet were a threat.

He refused to comment if the Rafale, after the recent controversy, could be ruled out as a contender for the forthcoming tender to get 110 fighter jets.

He said the IAF was consulted at the “appropriate level” while deciding getting only 36 and not the planned 126 Rafale jets.

On the HAL not being chosen, he said it is the corporate decision of HAL. He thanked the HAL saying it was due to them that the Gagan Shakti exercise was such a success.

He, however, gave figures of delay saying the HAL was running three years behind schedule, the Jaguar upgrade is six years behind schedule and LCA operational clearance is five years behind schedule.

Commenting on the upcoming purchase of the S-400 air defence missile system from Russia, the IAF chief said the CAATSA (Countering Adversaries of America Through Sanctions Act) is not going to come in the way of getting the S-400.

For the procurement of 110 fighter jets, he said the process would not be as long as the previous one, referring to the tender to get 126 planes which was initiated in 2007 but could not be completed till 2015.

BUYING RAFALE A BOLD MOVE, DEAL GAME­CHANGER, SAYS AIR CHIEF

On the second anniversary of Surgical Strikes, Pakistan army violated ceasefire and tried to push in a group of terrorists under the cover of heavy firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

“Infiltration attempt by terrorists and Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan Army in Tangdhar Sector in evening hours today,” confirmed Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar.

Indian Army immediately swung into action and retaliated in equal measure to silence Pakistan guns.

“Own forces retaliated strongly and foiled infiltration bid being attempted under covering fire by Pakistan Army.  No damage, injury or casualty on own side,” Colonel Kalia said.

The cross birder firing comes on the day when the nation is celebrating the second anniversary of surgical strikes by Indian Army on terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

The ceasefire violation comes a day after External Affairs Minister Shushma Swaraj snubbed Pakistan after she left midway during SAARC conference.

Figures released by Ministry of Home Affairs reveal that 2,855 incidents of Cross Border Firing occurred during two-and-half years.

In a reply to the RTI application filed by Jammu based activist Raman Sharma, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said over 2855 incidents of unprovoked cross border firing from Pakistan has occurred on Line of Control (LOC) and International Border (IB) since 2016 to July 2018.

More than 109 people including 35 army soldiers and 21 BSF personnel were killed while 565 people were injured including 302 civilians and 263 security force personnel in the cross border firing since January 2016 to July 2018

Photo for representational purpose only. iStock

Kolkata, September 30

The Indian Navy currently has only two minesweeper ships at its disposal to safeguard sea lanes and ports spread across thousands of kilometres of coastlines in the eastern and western seaboards, a top Navy officer has said.

The Navy requires 12 minesweeper ships, but at present has only two, Rear Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Assistant Chief of Material, Indian Navy, said.

“The Navy needs these ships urgently,” Swaminathan said.

Minesweepers are small naval warships that detect and destroy underwater mines and are considered vital for keeping the critical sea lanes safe for movement of essential cargo, including crude oil.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a fuel barge for the Navy on Friday, he said that Defence PSU Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) is in the process of collaborating with a foreign firm for manufacturing minesweepers.

The government has been looking for a foreign collaborator for its over Rs 32,000 crore project, entrusted to GSL, for procuring 12 minesweeper ships.

The basic function of these ships would be to locate, classify, sweep and neutralise all types of ground moored and drift mines.

A parliamentary standing committee on defence last year had slammed the government for delay in procurement of the minesweepers and asked it to make efforts to fill the gap in the Navy’s capability.

There are at least 12 major ports and several other minor or intermediate ports in the eastern and western seaboards. PTI

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 27

Lt Gen AK Bhatt, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, met Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday. He briefed him about issues relating to the security situation in the Valley and security arrangements made for the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections. The Governor stressed the importance of maintaining a sustained coordination between the security forces and the civil administration to meet the security challenges in the st

Srinagar, September 23

The army on Sunday foiled an infiltration bid and killed two militants in Tangdhar sector on the Line of Control (LoC).

Defence sources said an encounter ensued after the militants were challanged by alert troops.

“Two militants have been killed,” an official said

Quit, Hizb warns 24 J&K policemen

Releases pictures on social media

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 22

A day after abducting and killing three cops, Hizbul militants on Saturday issued threats specifically to 24 policemen, including two officers posted in the militancy-infested South Kashmir, asking them to quit.

The Hizbul Mujahideen released pictures of these personnel on the social media (authenticity yet to be verified). It asked these policemen to announce their resignation via a videotape, failing which they would be killed.

Posting the picture of a particular police officer, the militants threatened: “There is no warning for you, will send you to hell.” In another post, the Hizb asked women constables and SPOs to resign too.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police see this as part of “psychological warfare” aimed at demoralising  the force.

The targeted killing of three policemen in Shopian district on Friday morning had triggered a series of resignations by Special Police Officers (SPOs) who made the announcement via mosques or videotapes. However, the Union Home Ministry dismissed such reports as  mere “propaganda” by militants.

The militants had swooped on Kaprin and Batagund villages in Shopian and abducted three cops — Nisar Ahmad Dhobi (38), Firdous Ahmad (28) and Kulwant Singh (35). A relative of a cop was abducted too, but was set free later.

This year, 37 policemen, including eight SPOs, have been killed by militants so far — the highest police fatalities in 12 years.

Shopian killings: FIR names 24 ultras

Srinagar: The J&K Police have named 24 local militants, including Syed Naveed, who was once a cop, while filing an FIR on the Shopian killings.

“The militants (named in the FIR), carrying arms and ammunition at the behest of Riyaz Naikoo, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, entered the houses of the policemen at Batagund and Kaprin and kidnapped them with the intent to kill. It was done to intimidate the cops and their families,” the FIR reads. TNS

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was addressing women journalists at the Indian Women Press Corps on Tuesday. ANI photo

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 18

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said there was no proposal before her to bring down the strength of the Indian Army.

itharaman, who was addressing women journalists at the Indian Women Press Corps on Tuesday afternoon, was asked about the proposed restructuring of the army and reports that its numbers could be cut down.

Choosing her words carefully, Sitharaman said there was “no proposal” before her, adding that Army chief General Bipin Rawat and his senior commanders were discussing a report is based on report of committee headed by Lt Gen DB Sheketkar (Retd).

The committee recommended making the army leaner and having a certain ‘teeth to tail ratio’ (military euphemism for ratio of fighting units and support services).

The proposal has yet to reach the Ministry of Defence.

Speaking about a promised panel promised panel to induct more women in the Short Service Commission (SSC), Sitharaman said details of the proposition were being “worked out”.

The Prime Minister had announced a permanent commission on Independence Day during his speech from the Red Fort.”We are working to get all three services to see that more areas will be available for women to be join as permanent officers,” the defence minister said.

Army chief has ordered four studies to review the structure of the Army. A review is slated in first week on October and another one in end-October.

On the issue of getting the S 400 air defence missile system from Russia, Sitharaman said: “Negotiations are in final stage. We have to see when we can sign. Our relationship with Russia is longstanding it’s a constant issue of balancing and we have balanced (between US and Russia)”.

During Indo-US 2+2 dialogue, the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) was not raised. Referring to the overarching security information exchange (COMCASA) the Defence Minister said:  “We are the only non-NATO country to get the deal. It is an historic step forward in strengthening relations with US”.

Rafale

On being asked about former Defence Minister AK Antony’s allegations why Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was not made the Indian partner in the Rafale deal, Sitharaman said one of the things that did not happen during UPA was that HAL and Dassault could not work together.

“To say that we have not taken care of HAL is incorrect, the UPA did not care of IAF or HAL,” Sitharaman said, adding it is for UPA to answer whether HAL’s terms were appealing enough. “All questions on HAL should go to UPA it is them who did not sign the agreement,” she said.

She dismissed Congress party’s calls for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) saying: “Why JPC? We are discussing it. We are talking about it in parliament”.

Countering Antony on why the central government limited itself to only 36 Rafale jets if the price was low, Sitharaman said: “No plane is not an over-the-counter purchase. We’ve had to negotiate the price. Our basic price is 9 per cent cheaper than the one negotiated by UPA”.

On being asked about what is happening in Jawharlal University (JNU), of which she is an alumna, the Defence Minister said: since the past four-five years what is happening in JNU regarding slogans and pamphlets being distributed (by a section of students) is anti-India. I will call them anti-national”.

On Mallya

When asked about press reports that said the Central Bureau of Investigation downgraded their lookout notice for embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya before he escaped the country two years ago, Sitharaman refused to comment, instead questioning the former regime UPA over “indiscriminate” lending to Mallya’s failing Kingfisher Airlines.

“I refuse to comment on CBI’s working. But the question is why did UPA allow more loans in 2011 despite Kingfisher being on the verge of closure,” she asked.

Mallya revealed recently he had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and offered to “settle his dues” before he left the country in March 2016—a bombshell that had rivals questioning the minister’s role in his escape. Adding to this debate were press reports that revealed that the CBI, one of the several agencies investigating cases of fraud against Mallya, downgraded its lookout circular from ‘detain’ to merely ‘inform’, which critics say allowed him to leave with any hindrance.

Mallya left the country in March 2016, leaving a trail of unpaid loans worth Rs 9,000 core that a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India have since been struggling to get back.

The CBI is currently battling in a UK court to have him deported to India.