Brig Sandeep Vohra, Commander, Kharga Sappers, flags off a trekking expedition at Ambala Cantonment on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Ambala, September 20

To commemorate the 53rd Raising Day of the Sarvashresth Engineers Regiment, a trekking expedition was flagged off from Ambala Cantonment here today.Brig Sandeep Vohra, Commander, Kharga Sappers, who flagged off the event, said, “To infuse the sense of adventure among troops and encourage junior leadership, esprit de corps and camaraderie among all ranks, the regiment is undertaking an expedition. It will cover a total distance of 151 km from Ambala to Sangla and back via Dehradun–Dhaula–Rupin Pass–Chitkul–Shimla-Chandigarh within 25 days.”The team, comprising 12 members, will cross over Rupin Pass at a height of over 15,000 ft. The expedition members will interact with ex-servicemen as well as college/school students and organise lectures and talks with youth to educate and motivate them to join armed forces. — TNS

 GOG APPLICATION DATE EXTENED   TILL 19 SEP 2017::ESM FROM PUNJAB CAN APPLY

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A TALE OF TWO UNIFORMS BY LT GENERAL BHOPINDER SINGH (RETD)

PHOTOS OF THE UPGRADED MIG-29 THAT RUSSIA JUST SENT TO SYRIA

TOGETHER WE CAN: Chandan K Anand and Sara Arfeen Khan

Brand endorsements and commercials are a big part of an actor’s career and what is more fun than doing these with your best co-star. Recently, Sara Arfeen Khan and Chandan K Anand shot for a commercial together and they can’t stop talking about the great equation they shared. “We did a digital advertisement together for Army officers’ insurance and it was an absolute pleasure working with Chandan. We got to know each other on the set. He is a very sweet person. Even when we were working overtime and got late, he made me comfortable,” says Sara.Chandan, too, has only good memories of working with Sara, “I have worked with Sara for the first time. She is an intelligent actress. I cherished the time we spent on the set.”

RK Kichlu

Batote, September 14

Following a spate of braid-chopping incidents and protests in the Gool tehsil of Ramban district, the administration has requested the Army to intensify patrolling outside the localities today.According to SDM Pankaj Bagotra, as many as four suspected cases of braid chopping had been reported recently in the Sangaldan area of Gool tehsil which resulted into protests by people and blocking of roads.The protests were held at Dhalwa and Kentha Mod following an alleged incident of braid chopping in Jabbad village last night.“The administration has asked the police to intensify patrolling, especially during night and school timings, and form village and ward-wise committees. We have also asked for setting up village defence committees which should include ten volunteers and two responsible and reliable persons of the village or hamlet. I have personally requested the Commanding Officer, Rashtriya Rifles, to intensify their patrolling outside the residential areas at Asthan Marg and Dashan,” said Subdivisional Police Officer, Gool, Mohammed Amin Bhat.

SARAGARHI DAY TODAY: PUNJAB GOVT DECLARES HOLIDAY:::12 SEP 2017

BRITISH OFFICERS SALUTE SIKH BRAVEHEARTS

SARAGARHI BATTLE FORGOTTEN VEDIOS ::

Day after Army chief Bipin Rawat said that India should be prepared for a two-front war, adding that the threat of conflict was real on both western and northern borders, and deterrence in form of nuclear bombs or military power may not actually stop it; Lt Gen D Ambu on Thursday said that the army is dealing with any infiltration bid in a very firm way and assured that the situation on line of control under control.

Lt Gen D Ambu also said that the Indian Army can strike across the border whenever necessary. “When we want to we will be able to breach it (LoC), go across & strike when we need. Subtle message we wanted to convey,” he said

Speaking to the media, Devraj Anbu GoC in C Northern Command, said that Army doesn’t expect Doklam type situation in Ladakh and if anything happens we are ready to deal the situation says Commander Northern Command.

He also said that India started about 10 to 15 later in infrastructure as compare to China on LAC in eastern Ladakh but now we are doing it and in progress.

“Situation of LoC is plunder control and we are ready to deal any kind of challenge ” We have a mechanism to deal with .. in hinterland we are dealing with military and killed more than 100 militant in Kashmir ” We take care of civilian casualties,” he said

He said the terrorists continue to try to infiltrate in the region, “We have been foiling their attempts to infiltrate into Kashmir valley and Jammu region,” he added.

Thinkstock photo for representation only.

Bikaner, August 30

A sahayak of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was found dead under mysterious circumstances near his barrack in Naal Air Force station area of Bikaner district, the police said on Wednesday.The body of Sukhdev Singh (47), who hailed from Aakalgarh in Punjab, was found by Rajpal Singh Rajput, the warrant officer of the Air Force Station, yesterday, they said.The body was handed over to his family members after post-mortem, SHO of Naal police station Dharam Punia said.The matter has been registered under Section 174 of the CrPc and further investigation is on, the officer said. — PTI

Washington, August 24

The US has asked India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct talks aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries.

“I think one of the things that we would do is ask or encourage India and Pakistan to sit down together and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions between both of those countries,” State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters on Wednesday.

She was responding to a question on the statement made by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a day earlier in which he sought some steps of rapprochement on issues with Pakistan.

“What was he referring to in terms of the steps India could take?” Nauert was asked at her daily news conference.

“Well, I think going up to 30,000 feet, we view the whole strategy and handling Afghanistan as being a regional strategy, and that, of course, incorporates India as well as Pakistan, so incorporating all the nations in that region who we believe can help assist and help make Afghanistan a stable place where you’ll never have a terror group that will take root in that country again and can launch attacks on other countries,” Nauert replied when asked if Tillerson was linking, a solution to Kashmir with Pakistan-Afghanistan.

“In terms of Kashmir, our policy on that has not changed.

“We continue to encourage the sides to sit down and talk together about that,” the spokesperson said. — PTI

NCC cadets take part in the Thal Sainik Camp in Nagrota on Monday. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh

Tribune News Service/PTI

Jammu, August 21

As they made it to the NCC camp here, leaving behind stones-scattered streets and youths raising azadi slogans, the girl cadets echoed one message – “Shun stone-throwing, sloganeering and enjoy the ‘real azadi’ in India”.As many as 500 cadets, including 147 girls, are undergoing training at a National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp at Sainik school, Nagrota, on the outskirts of Jammu city.They are participating in the 10-day camp to select a 40-member J&K Directorate Thal Sainik team, which will take part in a national-level camp in New Delhi soon. Aneesa of the first J&K Battalion, Srinagar, and a student of Government Women’s Degree College in Anantnag, said she was the only girl representing her college at the camp. “Most of the girls wanted to come. But were not allowed by their parents, citing the prevailing situation in south Kashmir,” she said. Addressing those advocating ‘azadi’ and taking the path of violent protests, the cadets asked them to “taste the freedom enjoyed by them outside Kashmir”.“I would like to appeal to the youth studying in schools and colleges across the Valley to come forward and join the NCC. It is only through the NCC that we have been able to visit different parts of the country and got acquainted with cultures and traditions after interacting with other NCC cadets from different states,” she added. Another cadet Syed Rabia, a Class X student of Army Goodwill Higher Secondary School at Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, said she along with two other girls from the same school had come to attend the camp.“We are lucky to be part of the NCC because we are not only learning discipline and unity here, but it is also helping us in our overall development,” she added.Rabia said: “Earlier, we were unaware about the NCC activities at school level and there was no enrolment of girls for such camps. It was only after the matter was taken up with the school principal the girls started taking part in the NCC camps.”Another cadet from Ladakh Sonum Angu said she belongs to the first J&K pro-company and was accompanied by 12 other cadets. “I am feeling proud to be part of this camp. We get a lot of experience here and the confidence reaches new heights. All girls are requested to join this camp,” she added. Meanwhile, Lt Col Ravindra Singh, Commanding Officer, Second J&K Independent Company, NCC, Bhaderwah, said this was the first phase of the Thal Sainik camp, which was being run by his unit. “The second and third phase will also be organised. In the third phase, the final J&K Directorate Thal Sainik team will be selected, which will take part in the national competition in Delhi later,” he said. The camp will conclude on August 27.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

With growing demand and shrinking open areas in the vicinity of cities and towns, there has been a progressive increase in encroachments and unauthorised constructions on defence land over the past few years.From 296 cases across the country in 2014, the number went up to 653 and 671 over the next two years. Till June 30 this year, 129 new cases were reported, involving a total area of 188.83 acres over the past four years.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)In Punjab, only a single case of encroachment had come to the notice of authorities concerned in 2014. In 2016, this figure rose to 13, according to officially available figures. In the past three years, there have been a total of 19 cases involving 55.39 acres of land. While Haryana had just two cases in 2015, there have already been 20 cases so far this year, bringing the area encroached upon in the past three year to 99.4 acres. In 2014, the number had been 53, the third highest among all states in the country. The hill state of Himachal is also witnessing a similar phenomenon, although the area of land involved is relatively small at just 0.2 acres. With no case being reported in 2014, the number went up to two in 2015 and five in 2016.More than 14,000 acres of defence land has been encroached upon since Independence and the issue had also reached the Supreme Court in the form of a public interest litigation seeking remedial steps by the government. In the past four years, the government has managed to free 478 acres in 3,025 cases. The reasons cited for encroachments and unauthorised constructions include vast spread of defence land, increased pressure on land, title disputes and continued occupation of the land leased for agriculture or commercial activity even after the expiry of leases. Difficulties have been faced in the timely renewal of leases on account of absence of renewal application with full documents, violation of leased terms or non-mutation due to disputes. The defaulters include not only private players but even central and state government agencies.