Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 16

The Army’s Chinar Corps celebrated the 48th anniversary of the Indian victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that culminated in the creation of Bangladesh in true military tradition by remembering the nation’s heroes and martyrs.

Rich tributes were paid to the gallant martyrs at a solemn ceremony at the War Memorial in Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, where Lt-Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, paid homage to the heroes by laying a wreath on behalf of the entire soldiers’ fraternity.

The Army held a felicitation function to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices of the veterans and martyrs of the 1971 war.

Addressing the function, Lt-Gen Dhillon said the Army was grateful to the veterans for their services to the nation in their younger years and expressed the Army resolve to look after their welfare.

“In 1971, at least 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered and this was the biggest-ever surrender of any army after World War II,” the corps commander said. “The Army immensely values the sacrifices of the Veer Naaris and their family members. The victory of such a magnitude would not have been possible without the tremendous sacrifice by the soldiers.”

December 16 is celebrated every year as “Vijay Diwas” to commemorate the Indian Army’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War that led to the birth of Bangladesh.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 17

The Army today paid a befitting tribute to late Havildar Chougule Jotiba Ganpati who was killed in a ceasefire violation on the Line of Control on Monday in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district.

In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen Asit Mistry, GOC, Delhi Area and Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry, along with Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, and all ranks, paid homage to the soldier on behalf of the nation.

An Army statement said Havildar Ganpati was manning a forward post on the line of duty in Gurez where he sustained bullet injuries during unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan.

“The soldier was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to the nearest medical station, but unfortunately, he succumbed to injuries,” it said.

The late Havildar was 37 years old and had joined the Army in 2002. He belonged to Mahagaon village of Gadhinglaj tehsil in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 16

To mark Vijay Diwas, the Army today paid tributes to 1965 Indo-Pak war hero Major Surinder Prasad by organising a wreath-laying ceremony here.

Brigadier Akash Johar, Station Commander, Military Station, Abohar, was the chief guest at the function organised at the Major Surinder Prasad Memorial that was renovated recently with the help of NGOs.

The martyr’s sister Nirmala Devi, commanding officers of different regiments, SDM Poonam Singh, DSP Rahul Bhardwaj, BSNL divisional engineer Anil Vij, and heads of many NGOs also laid wreaths at the memorial.

Aarti Sharma, wife of Sergeant Sharat Chander Sharma, who was among the first to land at Dhaka Airport after the Army’s win in 1971, and some ex servicemen also paid floral tributes at the memorial.

An Army contingent reversed arms, sounded bugle as hundreds of soldiers and civilians observed silence while offering the salute.

Major Prasad was born on November 5, 1938, here. An alumnus of Municipal Board High School (now known as Government Senior Secondary Model School for Boys), he did his post-graduation from DAV College, Jalandhar. He was commissioned into the 19 Maratha Light Infantry on December 17, 1961.

Major Prasad was martyred while fighting for the country on September 23, 1965.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 18

In February this year, after the terror attack near Pulwama and the subsequent airstrikes on Balakot, matters between nuclear armed neighbours India and Pakistan were tense. How was it tackled what were the tensions? Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, whose three-year tenure ends on December 31, told a group of mediapersons, “Situation along the LoC (Line of Control) can escalate any time. The Indian Army has to be always prepared for an escalatory matrix.”

Gen Rawat did not specify what could have been the retort of the Army had there be another Pulwama-style terror attack or had the Pakistan Air Force jets attacked the ammunition dump on February 27 during the air duel post-Balakot. Pakistani missiles were dropped close to the ammunition dump.

Gen Rawat, when he had taken over as Chief of the 1.3 million-strong Army at the end of 2016, had laid down three targets: Restore the image of the Army; remain prepared for operations and address the rumblings within the force.

During his tenure, the Army has moved the concept of integrated battle groups (IBGs) which would start off with the area around Pathankot and Jammu. Another IBG will be in 33 Corps area in Sikkim and possibly the Mountain Strike Corps will also get an IBG. The IBG’s rollout will be completed over the next five years and will actually reduce troops.

In these three years, the Army also mulled using technology to keep an eye on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The first attempt is expected in Sikkim which is a settled border. The Army’s proposal is to use technology instead of troops on each peak for surveillance. This can bring down cost of logistics. The engagement with China is well established now and discussions are done even at formation level along the LAC that is not demarcated on ground.

The restructuring of the Army started by Gen Rawat is yet to be completed as a Cabinet decision is awaited on creation and rejig of some senior posts.

The Army aims to have Major Generals head each of the IBG — the biggest change in the Army since the declared “Cold Start” doctrine.

Matters with Pakistan remain tense. Border action teams of the Pakistani army are active attempting to strike at Indian Army posts along the 749-km LoC.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

The Standing Committee on Home led by Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma in its report has insisted on paying “paramilitary service pay” to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on a par with defence forces personnel and objected to overuse of the forces for internal security and election duty.

In the report, the panel said, “…overuse of CAPFs for the rigorous internal security and election duties to the extent that even the reserved battalions are deployed for such duties against the norm of providing for rest and recuperation.” It has also reiterated its recommendations in this regard rejecting the government’s explanation.

An official release stated: “The report of the 15-Member Committee chaired by Anand Sharma on the action taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Committee’s recommendations in respect of functioning of Border Guarding Forces viz., Assam Rifles, Shasastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force, contained in the 214th Report of the Committee was presented to Rajya Sabha on last Wednesday.”

Noting that the defence forces personnel are being “paid military service pay” in view of the risk to life and social and family isolation, the panel argued that the CAPFs “also deserve similar incentive” in “the form of paramilitary service pay” as they also face similar risks and isolation while working in hard areas. The MHA, in its response to the panel, said, the 7th Pay Commission and the Committee on Allowance did not agree to such special pay to CAPF.

Rawat’s remarks today came in the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

The situation along the Line of Control (LoC) can escalate any time,” Army chief Bipin Rawat said. (PTI File photo)

The situation along the Line of Control can escalate any time, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said Wednesday, adding the Army is ready for any “escalatory matrix”.

Rawat’s remarks came in the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir was conferred with special status which was revoked on August 5.

“The situation along the Line of Control can escalate any time. The Indian Army is always ready for escalatory matrix,” the Army Chief was quoted as saying by PTI.

General Rawat played a key role in pursuing a policy of hot pursuit in dealing with cross border terrorism in the Valley after he took over as Army Chief on December 31, 2016.

He is slated to retire on December 31 and Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane will succeed him. However, it is likely that General Rawat will be appointed as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.

According to assessment by the security forces, though the situation in the Valley has been brought under control to a large extent, a cautious approach is still required so that the atmosphere is not allowed to be vitiated.

Sources said the situation in Kashmir is being closely monitored and each and every step is being taken based on realistic assessment.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy had told the Lok Sabha in November that “950 incidents of ceasefire violation had been reported along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir between August and October 2019.”

The sources said Pakistan’s Border Action Teams (BAT) are attempting to target Indian security personnel on a regular basis along the LoC.

The BAT generally comprises special forces personnel of the Pakistani Army and terrorists. There have been incidents of BAT mutilating bodies of Indian security force personnel.

Pakistan is carrying out BAT operations at an interval of 3-4 days, the sources said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that the recent amendment in the Citizenship law in India may lead to conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.