Lt Gen Baljit Singh (retd)

The skin prickles with a sudden rash of goose bumps, the heart pounds in the ears above the roar of engines straining to terminate the flight on the constricted, ad-hoc landing strip and when the aircraft comes to a juddering halt (momentarily in an exaggerated nose-down tail-up profile), one’s body is drenched in a shower of cold sweat; an indelible experience of every landing on the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Mechuka. Anyone on the passenger flight who may hold a contrary view ‘is either a liar or a Gorkha’ — borrowing from Field Marshal Manekshaw’s inimitable exposition on the instinct of fear in battle.

But why in the first place go to Mechuka? Well, even though India and China had emerged as sibling republics, within days of the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the restive PLA first flexed its muscles to ignite war on the Korean Peninsula, and once Gen McArthur prevailed successfully, the PLA switched focus to annex Tibet. So, what for aeons had been the acknowledged as an open Indo-Tibet boundary was to metamorphose by 1954 into a bitterly disputed Sino-India border.

It was against this despondent backdrop that the policy of ‘showing the flag’ along our northern border was put in place, which in the extreme Northeastern segment translated into posts at Mechuka, Longju and Kibithoo, separated from one another by almost inaccessible terrain. As recent as 1987, it took soldiers marching from Sadia 12 to 16 arduous days to reach Mechuka.

Of course, none of these isolated posts sited on express security purposes would have been viable, but for the highly motivated and skilled crew of the IAF who manoeuvred their magnificent flying machines through highly challenging ground and aerial environment with aplomb. Even though the ALG at Mechuka is about 800 metres, its 30-km proximity to the Sino-Indian border and dominant mountaintops, inhibit pilots from making a circuit to descend and ease on the throttle. Nearing the middle of the strip, the aircraft ‘drops’ down with a thud in the hope that the brakes would hold fast!

My friend Air Marshal KC Cariappa (retd) confirms that it was a scary last 20 minutes to approach the Mechuka bowl. The valley was very narrow, steep and thickly wooded. ‘Whenever we flew in it was with a prayer that the engine and a/c would be ok….’

The takeoff is another magnificent experience, and at the same time, somewhat chilling. There is no apprehension of air violation of the international border, but uncomfortably close to the southern tip of the ALG is the looming wooded mountaintop. The takeoff is weirdly dramatic; as the engines of the aircraft in its stationery mode are revved to full throttle to develop maximum thrust, the AN 32 literally starts bucking upon the ALG like an unbroken rodeo horse, and on climaxing it zooms forward like a shooting star, lifting above the mountaintop within kissing distance of its treetops!

Our Correspondent

Anantnag, June 20

Army’s Northern Command Chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said on Thursday that operations in the state were being conducted in a professional and dedicated manner.

He was speaking after renaming an Army Goodwill School in Wuzur Kulgam after Ashok Chakra awardee Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani. Singh was answering a question regarding inconveniences caused to general public on the national highway during convoy movement and a recent incident in Srinagar wherein a traffic cop was ruthlessly beaten up by Armymen.

“We have a very strong code of conduct which values human dignity,” Singh told reporters in response to the question. “Our operations are being conducted in a very dedicated and professional manner”. He assured that whenever there are actions to be taken, they are taken at appropriate levels.

Earlier in his speech, Singh praised Wani and said the slain soldier was an example of bravery. He complimented Wani’s wife, also present at the function, for being strong and unflinching in the face of adversity. “It is a matter of great pride for all of us that we have assembled here today to pay homage to our martyr, Nazir Ahmad Wani,” Singh said.

Wani was killed on November 25 last year during an anti-militancy operation in Batagund village of Kulgam district. He became the first Kashmiri to be awarded the prestigious Ashok Chakra award on January 26 earlier this year.

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh also made a reference of other achievers and heroes of Kashmir, such as Umar Faiyaz and Inspector Arshad Khan, SHO of Anantnag, among others.

Also present on the occasion was the family of Rauf Ahmad Dar, who died recently while rescuing tourists from a rafting mishap in Pahalgam. Singh said Dar was an example of what India stands for and the Indian Army saluted his bravado.

“This is what all of us stand for. He laid down his life without even thinking who the tourists were or where they had come from. He is a role model for all of us,” Singh said. The ceremony was attended by the students of Goodwill School, Wuzur. Singh advised the children to work hard and do something worthwhile for Kashmir and the nation.

Tribune News Service

Ropar, June 8

Paratrooper Karamjeet Singh, who was killed in an accidental fire from his own gun in Kashmir, was cremated with full military honours at his native Hafizabad village near here on Saturday. Karamjeet was attached with the 23 Para Regiment.

On Friday, when he, along with a party of his regiment, was returning from patrolling in Shopian in a Gypsy, a bullet fired from his weapon accidentally led to the tragedy.

His father Satnam Singh had died four months ago. Karamjeet is survived by his mother and two sisters.

Local MLA and Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and SAD leader Simranjit Singh Chandumajra also reached the village to pay tributes to the martyr.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Wednesday received the baton of Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee from outgoing Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires on Friday. The Chiefs of Staff Committee comprises chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force and the senior most member is appointed its chairperson. “Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will be the Chairman COSC with effect from May 31 consequent to relinquishment of charge by Admiral Sunil Lanba upon superannuation,” a defence ministry spokesperson said. The Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee is tasked with ensuring synergy among the three services and evolve common strategy to deal with external security challenges facing the country. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa is a Kargil war veteran and top rated fighter pilot with over 3,000 hours of flying experience. An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College and the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned in the flying branch of Indian Air Force in June 1978. The Air Chief Marshal has primarily flown the MiG-21 aircraft with flying experience across the entire spectrum of fighter aircraft of the IAF. During the Kargil war in 1999, he was the Commanding Officer of a frontline ground attack fighter squadron. He has led many coveted operational and staff assignments that include command of a frontline fighter base and director of the fighter operations and war planning at Western Air Command. He was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command and has also been the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Bipin Rawat today reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and exhorted troops to remain vigilant against the nefarious designs of anti-national elements.
General Rawat had accompanied Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his first visit after taking charge of the new Ministry to Siachen Glacier and Srinagar yesterday for high-level review of security situation in the State.
The Army chief visited the White Knight Corps headquarters along with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh to review the operational preparedness of the troops in the Corps Zone today, an official said.
The Army chief also visited operational formations in Kishtwar and Reasi sectors, wherein he was briefed on actions being undertaken to ensure peace and stability. Kishtwar has been rocked by three major militancy-related incidents during past about seven months including the killings of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar, top RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO Rajinder Kumar and snatching of rifle from a PSO.
Army and police have launched massive search operations in hilly areas of Kishtwar to track down the militants. In a recent encounter, two Special Police Officers (SPOs) were injured but the militants had managed to escape.
General Rawat also interacted at length with soldiers who are deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) and obtained ground feedback on operations, training, weapons, equipment and administrative issues.
He commended all ranks for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.
The COAS was appreciative of the measures and Standard Operating Procedures instituted by the units and formations in the Corps Zone to ensure safe and secure environment.
He exhorted all ranks on the need to remain vigilant to counter the nefarious designs of anti-national elements.

The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target, the IAF said. — @IAF_MCC/Twitter

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 22

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target, the IAF said.

The target was a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, sources said, adding that it adds a new capability. The BrahMos can be launched at land targets when launched from ground and also from sea. The launch from air is the third dimension.

The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile with ranges of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BrahMos. 

Earlier in November 2017, the IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach speed surface attack missile of this category on a sea target.

Today’s was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft. The IAF has been involved in the activity from its inception. The software development of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers while HAL carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on the aircraft.

The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, DRDO, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations, the IAF said.

The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions.

The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach, the IAF said.

This is perhaps the first General Election in which the armed forces have truly been sucked into the electoral rhetoric. It’s a new low for our democracy. The new government must recognise that it inherits the challenge of a fraying civil-military relationship, one that has destroyed many fledgling democracies. It is up to the polity to take the initiative to restore the balance.

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 27

The Army looks to retrieve its ‘sacred funds’, meant for pension of widows and retired soldiers, which the Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF) had invested in Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) — a company that has gone from a top-rated fiscal institution to one that is now under a serious financial crisis.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which is hearing petitions with respect to the IL&FS resolution, has been apprised of the AGIF funds. The Army authorities said, “It is a ‘sacred fund’ meant for making payments to soldiers and widows” and the NCLAT has been requested to accord highest priority for this.

Investment in IL&FS was “made on a sound financial logic” by the AGIF and these were done when the company enjoyed ‘AAA’ rating. The company collapsed gradually over the past 12 months. “The AGIF is in a fine state to meet all existing obligations,” Army sources said.

There is a signal from the NCLAT to ensure that investments by pension and PF trusts is not lost in any resolution plan for IL&FS and these get priority even when the repayment starts. Under the resolution plan, the government has categorised IL&FS group companies into various categories based on their financial positions.

More than 50 retirement funds covering over 15 lakh employees have exposure to IL&FS. The PF trusts of state electricity boards, public sector undertakings and banks are among them.

PM Narendra Modi with BJP president Amit Shah. PTI file

New Delhi, April 12

The Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of using the armed forces for garnering votes while expressing solidarity with the military veterans who have written to President Ram Nath Kovind over what they called “use of military for political purposes”.

The party also urged the President to take action against Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other BJP leaders for the alleged use of the military to seek votes.

Over 150 military veterans have written to the President seeking his intervention in preserving the apolitical character of the services. The letter, dated April 11, carries the names of eight former service chiefs, but two of them—former Army Chief General (retd) S F Rodrigues and Air Chief Marshal (retd) N C Suri—said they have not signed it.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturverdi, at a press conference, alleged that both Prime Minister Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, in their public addresses in the last few days, have actively referred to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.

“The statements come as both the leaders attempt to make the attack a part of their political narrative in the run-up to the 2019 polls,” Chaturvedi said, referring to Modi’s April 9 election rally in Maharashtra’s Latur, in which he urged first-time voters to dedicate their vote to the soldiers who conducted the Balakot anti-terror air strikes and to those who lost their lives in Pulwama.

“We have also witnessed how PM Modi made an election speech with photographs of 40 Pulwama martyrs in the backdrop,” she said.

Chaturvedi also cited instances of Adityanath and Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi making references to ‘Modi ki Sena’.

“Earlier, BJP MP and national executive member Sakshi Maharaj was shamefully smiling, waving and holding a road show standing next to body of Pulwama martyr in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and the nation witnessed the despicable act of self-promotion by (Union) Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam who clicked a selfie with a Pulwama jawan’s body in Wayanad,” Chaturvedi alleged.

“We express solidarity with the 156 veterans who have pointed out that the blood and sacrifice of our Armed Forces should not be used as a political pamphlet to seek votes. We would demand Rashtrapatiji—the Supreme Commander of our armed forces—to ensure action against PM Modi, UP CM and several other BJP leaders,” she said.

Earlier, the Congress, in a tweet, alleged that the Prime Minister “may try to use soldiers for votes, but it’s clear that soldiers stand with India and not the BJP.”

Referring to the letter, Chaturvedi said that the veterans had expressed displeasure over repeated instances of political parties using armed forces for political gains ahead of the elections.

The Army veterans have urged the President to take “necessary steps to urgently direct all political parties that they must forthwith desist from using the military, military uniforms or symbols, and any actions by military formations or personnel, for political purposes to further their political agendas,” Chaturvedi said. PTI