Commando force personnel conduct checking at a railway station in Coimbatore, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. PTI
Coimbatore/Kochi, August 24
The Indian Navy has sounded a high-alert at sea following intelligence inputs that six members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba have intruded into Tamil Nadu, as strict surveillance continued in various parts of the State for the second day on Saturday.
Following intelligence inputs, “the Indian Navy continues to maintain its high alert situation at seas and in coastal areas,” a defence spokesman told PTI at Kochi in Kerala.
Security was tightened in Tamil Nadu on Friday following reports that six members of the terror outfit LeT had infiltrated the state by sea from Sri Lanka and moved to different cities.
Coimbatore Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan had on Friday said the city was under a high alert following information that the terrorists were heading there.
Police said on Saturday that vehicle-checks were intensified on arterial roads and highways connecting Coimbatore city with neighbouring states, and baggage thoroughly checked by armed police personnel.
Similarly checks were on in railway stations, bus-stands and the airport, they said.
The Tamil Nadu commando force carried out a flag march at Mettupalayam, 35 km from Coimbatore, to instil confidence in people about security.
Armed forces were deployed at temples, mosques and churches, which were normally targeted by terrorists as was done in Sri Lanka recently, police sources said.
Kerala DGP Loknath Behera had on Friday also directed district police chiefs to keep utmost vigil across the state. — PTI
On this day last year, thousands of fellow countrymen had paid their last respects to Major Kaustubh Rane, a gallant army officer serving in the Indian Army’s 36 Rashtriya Rifles. Major Rane was a leader of men, a warrior who gave his all in service of the country, but more importantly, he was a son to two ageing parents, a loving husband to a young wife, a proud father to a two-year-old son and a friend to his brothers in arms.
Major Kaustubh Rane of The 36 RR was Posthumously awarded the Sena Medal
Growing up in the Sheetal Nagar area of Mira Road, he spent his days reading about war heroes, and soon joining the Army and serving in front line combat became his childhood dream! Given his undying passion for serving, It was only natural that he applied for the Army at the first opportunity he got.
A young Kaustubh had applied for the National Defence Academy Examination (NDA) fresh after his 12th but was unsuccessful in his attempt to join the Tri-Services institution. Undeterred and with a single-minded focus soon to be commissioned officer had trained rigorously, clearing the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) after completing his graduation. He was recommended by the selection board and received the call letter to train at the prestigious Officers Training Academy in Chennai. For Maj. Rane, this was the first step towards seizing his destiny!
After 9 months of rigorous training, Kaustubh was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Garwhal Rifles, one of the Indian Army’s most decorated fighting units, He was Deployed to his first posting in Kupwara very soon transformed into a battle-hardened Infantryman! Maj. Rane was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011 and was given a peace posting to Kolkata after serving in the insurgency prone valley.
Following his Kolkata posting Maj. Rane was deployed back to field areas and was eventually deputed to the Rashtriya Rifles, the Army’s premier counter-insurgency force, serving in 36 RR. It was during his stint in 36 RR that major Rane along with for of his men lost their lives in the line of duty in a bid to foil an infiltration attempt by terrorists trying to enter from the Gurez sector of North Kashmir.
Gurez Sector Operation:
During 2018, Maj Kaustubh Rane’s 36 RR battalion was deployed in the Gurez sector in J&K and was engaged in counter-insurgency operations. The Gurez sector is one of the remote parts of the valley located in Bandipora district around 125 km from Srinagar. The industry is heavily militarised, and soldiers are stationed on mountaintop posts to guard the Line of Control and prevent infiltration of militants. The Gurez sector is snow-covered even in summers and militants do not have long tracts of forest cover either to use as escape routes or to sneak inside LOC.
On 6 Aug, around 1 am about eight-odd heavily armed terrorists tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory near Govind Nullah in Bakhtor area taking advantage of darkness. The alert soldiers noticed the unusual movement and challenged the infiltrators moving from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Maj Kaustubh Rane along with his troops, swung into action and engaged the militants trying to infiltrate. A fierce gun battle ensued after that in which two militants were killed. However, during the heavy exchange of fire Maj Kaustubh Rane and three other soldiers Rifleman Mandeep Singh Rawat, Rifleman Hameer Singh and Gunner Vikram Jeet Singh got severely injured. They were shifted to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar but latter they succumbed to their injuries and were martyred.
Maj Kaustubh Rane had been given the gallantry award, “Sena Medal” on 26 Jan 2018 and was to be felicitated by Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation in the later part of 2018. Maj Kaustubh Rane was a gallant and committed soldier who led from the front like a true military leader and laid down his life in the service of the nation.
Fond Memories:
Maj. Rane has been described by his friend and family as, a kind and soft-spoken who had regularly kept in touch with his civilian friends, even when deployed. His Course mates remember him fondly as a true leader and friend, They talk about how he inspired and pushed them all so much that had he not been there, their josh runs would have been flat and unmemorable! They vividly remember how he would crack jokes, he would smile, laugh and push them all saying “Chal yaar! Chal yaar!” he makes sure the others around him thrived!
Maj Rane was an ordinary man who lived to do extraordinary things
Legacy:
A lot has happened since the martyrdom of the brave warrior, a lot that he would have been proud of, his parents received his Sena Medal from the President of India, The Gaurav Puruskar from the Maharastra Government, a letter from Jitendra Singh, a security guard from Surat, conveying his gratitude for their sons service! Pictures and cards from school students and the respect of the thousands who bid him a tearful goodbye.
His grieving widow, rose up from the ashes to become an inspiration, following his footsteps to join the very organisation he dedicated his life to and starting her journey at the same institution he began his own, His two-year-old son is now a year older, with new memories made and many more to make in the days to come!
The country can never repay Major. Kaustubh Rane for what he gave and people he left behind, however, the gallant hero will never be forgotten.
Pak partially closes airspace; India issues security alert at 19 airports
Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 7
India has shrugged off a series of measures announced by Pakistan on Wednesday, including being asked to withdraw its High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, as a fallout of Parliament approving the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories. Pakistan has also for now decided not to send its new High Commissioner to take up his India posting.
Late in the evening, Pakistan ordered some changes in Indian flights going through its airspace. India, on its part, issued security alert at 19 airports and deployed additional security personnel apart from regular deployment at airports.
Pakistan asked, after the second meeting in a week of the National Security Committee comprising top Cabinet Ministers and Pakistan Army officers, to withdraw Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, suspended all bilateral trade and step up diplomatic outreach, including approaching the UN and UN Security Council over the lockdown in Kashmir and disturbing the status quo in the composition of Jammu & Kashmir.
While the detailed response is still awaited, sources informally said Pakistan was off the mark in this respect and India will respond with retaliatory measures. Pakistan had no locus standi to interfere in what is entirely an internal matter. No other nation had the locus standi to interfere in the internal affairs of another country, they reiterated.
The sources said India was preparing a detailed riposte to each of the five points mentioned by Pakistan. Reacting to reports of UN-blacklisted terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s conviction, the sources said they were still trying to ascertain details. “We have to know if he was really convicted and on what charges. We also have to find out the appeals process and whether he will be let off during the pendency of the appeal. It is too early right now to be satisfied or dissatisfied,” they said.
Along with downgrading of diplomatic relations and suspending trade, Pakistan has also decided to review the bilateral arrangements and observe its Independence Day on August 14 in solidarity with the “brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right of self-determination”. India’s Independence Day on August 15 will be observed as a Black Day, resolved the Pakistan National Security Committee.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has asked the armed forces to maintain vigilance on the Indo-Pak border and directed that all diplomatic channels should be activated to launch a broadside against India.
Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council has expressed apprehension of the latest restrictions in Jammu & Kashmir exacerbating the human rights situation in the region. “The fact that hardly any information at all is currently coming out is of great concern in itself,” said the UNHRC spokesperson based in Geneva.
The US National Security Council denied that the Indian Government had consulted or informed US National Security Advisor John Bolton or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before moving to revoke J&K’s special status. The US called for calm and restraint on all sides, “noting the history of violence and conflict in the region”.
Punjab Government assures Kashmiri students of full security
The Kharar SDM interacts with students at Chandigarh University in Gharuan on Monday. tribune photo
Our Correspondent
Kharar, August 5
Keeping in view recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) a team of local officials from the administration visited Chandigarh University, Gharuan, and Rayat and Bahra University, Sahoran, and interacted with students belonging to the Valley, who are studying in these institutions.
The Kharar SDM, Vinod Kumar Bansal, and DSP Deep Kamal visited Chandigarh University and spoke to Kashmiri students studying in the institution. They assured students that they were safe here and there was no need to panic. “You don’t need not to go back to your homes in J&K,” they said.
“The government and the administration are with you. You are completely safe here,” SDM told students. The Vice-Chancellor of the university also assured full security to students from the Valley.
The Kharar tehsildar, Gurminder Singh, visited Rayat and Bahra University, Sahoran, and interacted with students from J&K. He assured them full security.
Notably, there are around 1,600 Kashmiri students, who are studying in Chandigarh University. Out of them 800 students, including 250 girls, live in hostels of the university. The remaining 800 students are staying out of the university campus.
TROOPS’ MOVEMENT, YATRA CANCELLATION: HOW THE TENSIONS UNFOLDED
The Centre’s move to send 100 companies of securitymen set off wild speculations in the Valley. The cancellation of Amarnath yatra in view of terror threats added fuel to the fire. Here’s how events unfolded in Kashmir over the past few days.
July 27, Saturday:
News came in that an additional 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces will be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations and to maintain law and order. The Union home ministry wrote to the state chief secretary, home secretary and the director general of police to this effect late on Thursday. Of the 100 companies, 50 will be from the CRPF, 10 from the BSF, 30 from the Sashastra Seema
Bal (SSB) and 10 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), according to the letter.
July 28, Sunday:
The government move set off speculation in the Kashmir Valley. In a charged political atmosphere, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti warned the Centre that any attempt to tinker with the special status of the state would blow up in its face. The state is currently under President’s Rule. Over the past few days, every government order is being seen as a precursor to revoking Article 35A of the Constitution that gives special privileges to the state’s domiciled residents. The revocation of Article 35A and Article 370 (the latter gives autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir) is one of the promises listed in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the April-May parliamentary elections.
July 29, Monday:
An order by the J&K Police seeking details on mosques and their management committees that went viral on social media gave an impetus to the buzz about the possibility of the Centre moving to revoke Article 35A. The order was issued on July 28 by SSP, Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal, who described it as “routine police activity.”
July 30, Tuesday:
J&K governor Satya Pal Malik asked people not to pay heed to rumours of an impending decision on the special status of the state. Malik did not mention a Railway Police Officer’s order on stockpiling rations but presumably referred to it when he said such orders were invalid. For their part, separatists in the Valley accused the Centre of deliberately vitiating the situation by issuing “daily orders”.
July 31, Wednesday:
Former CM Mehbooba Mufti launched an awareness campaign regarding the Constitution’s Article 35A. Mufti travelled to three districts of south Kashmir — Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama — and held meetings with PDP activists to promote awareness about Article 35A. For his part, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav blamed mainstream political parties for spreading fear in the Valley. Addressing a conference in Srinagar, Ram Madhav said the BJP will take a decision which will be in the interest of the people. “The movement of personnel in Kashmir is a routine affair,” he said.
August 1, Thursday:
A National Conference (NC) delegation led by party president Farooq Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and apprised him of the current situation in J&K. The NC chief reportedly told PM Modi that any move to revoke Article 35A could worsen the situation in the state. Separately, there were speculations that over 280 companies of security forces were in the process of being deployed in the Kashmir valley. The Union home ministry later denied the reports.
August 2, Friday:
The Amarnath yatra ended 14 days ahead of its scheduled close on August 15 and the counter-insurgency grid in J&K was strengthened following the recovery of a large cache of ammunition along the route of the yatra. Intelligence reports highlighted the possibility of suicide bombing attacks in the Valley. The cutting short of the yatra and an alert issued to pilgrims and tourists to return home, resulted in panic and a scramble for air tickets.
August 3, Saturday:
The army said it repelled an attempt by a mixed group of Pakistani soldiers and terrorists to attack an army post along the LoC, inflicting heavy casualties. Critically, the army said that “in the last 36 hours Pakistan has desperately tried to revive terrorism and push terrorists” into Kashmir. NC leader Omar Abdullah met governor Malik on Saturday and urged the central government to clear the air about what was going on in the Valley even as thousands of tourists and Amarnath worshippers left Kashmir. Around 1,400 non-local students from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, left the
Valley in special buses arranged by the administration, after a notice came up on Friday evening saying that classes were being suspended till further orders.
August 4, Sunday:
Union home minister Amit Shah met senior officials in New Delhi as the security infrastructure informed the government that at least one attempt by terrorists to breach LoC was successful. Those who attended the meeting included the national security advisor Ajit Doval and Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba, among others. In Kashmir, an all-party meeting was held at the residence of Farooq Abdullah.
The Maharashtra Government sought the help of the Army, Navy and the Air Force to rescue people marooned in various parts of the state following heavy rains.
An Mi-17 helicopter was deployed to rescue 35 persons stranded at the Ju-Nandkhuri village at Khadavli in Thane district neighbouring Mumbai. State police control room said with water levels rising in the village, the people had to be airlifted this morning. All of them were brought to the Juhu air field at Mumbai from where the chopper had taken off earlier in the day.
Officials said all major rivers in and around Mumbai and coastal Konkan were in spate and water was being released from overflowing dams.
In Mumbai, personnel from the Indian Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed inflatable boats to rescue people from low-lying areas. “We have rescued people from Bandra and Kurla in Mumbai as the Mithi River has breached its banks,” an official from the city police control room said. In all some 400 people had to be moved to safety by boats, according to the officials.
With the levels of the Ulhas River rising, residents of Thane, Kalyan and Badlapur have been moved to higher areas, according to the officials. Several parts of Pune were flooded after water from the overflowing Kadakvasla dam was released this morning. In Nashik, the authorities began evacuating people as the Godavari River showed signs of breaching its banks.
Train services on the Central Railways were hit for the second day today as the railway tracks were flooded. However, being Sunday the impact was little. In Mumbai’s suburb of Kandivli residents made rafts of plywood to transport essential items like bottled water and biscuits to people stranded in their flooded homes.
According to the weather department, heavy rains were reported in Mumbai,Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri since Friday with large areas in these places being severely flooded. Flights operating out of Mumbai airport were delayed by a few minutes, according to the officials.
District officials have declared a holiday on Monday in many places as the weather department warned of continued heavy rains. Schools have been ordered closed in Pune, Palghar and Thane districts, the officials said.
Wreaking havoc
Inflatable boats being used to rescue people from low-lying areas
Central Railways hit for the second day as the railway tracks were flooded
District officials have declared a holiday on Monday amid warnings of continued heavy rains
NEW DELHI : Responding to news reports on the deployment of additional security forces in J&K, the Union home ministry issued a statement saying “deployment of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir was based on the security situation there and requirement of rotation, and such things are not discussed in the public domain.”
North Block was responding to speculation and rumors, especially in Kashmir, that the special status of residents of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) may be up for a change. The change in the special status (enshrined in Article 35A of the constitution) is also a poll promise of the BJP-led NDA government.
An official in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) who did not want to be named said: “100 companies (10,000 personnel) were ordered for deployment a week ago.” The movement of troops led to “speculation of induction of additional forces” the official said and added that “based on the assessment of the internal security situation, training requirements, the need for paramilitary troops to be rotated for rest and recuperation, induction and de-induction of central forces is a continuous and dynamic process.”
The official also underlined that “it has never been the practice to discuss in the public domain the details of deployment and movement of paramilitary forces deployed in a particular theatre, they said induction of central forces is a continuous and dynamic process.”
Interestingly, while MHA official said they were responding to speculation and rumors, the ministry did not categorically deny movement of troops beyond the 100 companies that was ordered last week.
The home ministry’s response came after reports on Thursday suggested that 28,000 additional troops are in the process of being deployed in the state, which is currently under President’s Rule.
Political parties such as the National Conference and the PDP, have, however, said it will resist any move to alter the special status to the state. On Thursday, a delegation comprising National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a party MP met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him not to take any step which may lead to deterioration in the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir. They also urged Modi to facilitate holding of assembly elections in the state before the end of the year.
Ajay Banerjee & Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 2
The Centre’s decision of sending in additional troops of the Central armed forces to Kashmir is an outcome of several factors, including military activity in Pakistan, a renewed proactive push to hit at terrorists and intelligence inputs that the Amarnath yatra could be the target of militants.
The Army will be overstretched in case of an exigency and the Central forces will be needed for outer-cordoning during anti-terrorist operations in the hinterland.
Apart from this, the political grapevine is of some ‘development’ on the long-pending Kashmir issues. This includes the Centre’s plan to do away with Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land. The speculations have dominated the discourse in Kashmir over the past few days.
Militarily, indications were visible on the night of July 31 when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), sensing some ‘movement’ on the Indian side, flew combat air patrols — the first in the past two months. The Indian Air Force responded and did its ‘night patrolling’ in the air which officials here termed as ‘routine flying’. Three air fields in north India do this ‘routine patrolling’ or night flying. Surveillance planes of both sides have been flying.
Between July 29 and August 1, the Army, answering Pakistan’s cross-LoC firing, opened its artillery in the Uri sector. The artillery firing was after a lull of several months. Sources in the Army say firing by Pakistan in areas north of Pir Panjal was ‘unusual’ for this time of the year as firing is done to facilitate infiltration of terrorists. Around this time of the year, the Jhelum and its tributaries carry huge amounts of water and crossing these rivers would be impossible by militants.
Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified and reiterated that 100 companies (10,000 troops) had been ordered for deployment in J&K about a week ago, which are in the process of reaching their destinations. “This has apparently led to speculations of induction of additional forces,” a senior official said.
The sources said based on assessment of the internal security situation and training requirements and also the need for paramilitary troops to be rotated for rest and recuperation, “induction and de-induction of Central forces is a continuous and dynamic process”.
They also insisted that it has never been the practice to discuss in public domain the details of deployment and movement of paramilitary forces deployed in a particular theatre.
The Grapevine
The political grapevine is of some ‘development’ on the long-pending Kashmir issues. This includes the Centre’s plan to do away with Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land. The speculations have dominated the discourse in Kashmir over the past few days.
Views from valley
The responsibility of protecting Article 35A and Article 370 is on the mainstream political parties. — Mehbooba Mufti, former CM
The unprecedented order will do nothing to dampen the sense of fear and foreboding that prevails in the Kashmir valley at the moment. — Omar Abdullah, NC Vice-President
The provision was negotiated by the regional parties and is an Article of faith, which should not be breached. — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Separatist leader
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster. — File photo
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 1
The Ministry of External Affairs had called the US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster to lodge its “grave concern” over US military assistance to Pakistan. India had also lodged its misgivings about resumption of US military aid to Pakistan in Washington as well.
“We have taken up the matter with the US Ambassador in Delhi, as well as with the US Government in Washington through our Ambassador. We have expressed grave concern over US military assistance to Pakistan. The US side has told us that the proposed sale does not indicate any change in the US policy of maintaining a freeze in military assistance to Pakistan,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar told newspersons here today.
The Pentagon had said last month that the State Department had approved a $125 million deal for “24/7 end-use monitoring” of F-16 fighter jets it had earlier supplied to Pakistan. The US had reasoned that its military aid, a nominal amount in military transactions which run into billions of dollars, is meant to continue technical and logistics support services for monitoring Pakistan’s operations of F-16 aircraft.
The announcement came after a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump but India feels this should not be the thin edge of the wedge before America begins full-fledged military aid in order to coax Islamabad into fully backing its plans for a wind-down in Afghanistan.
Punjab mulls policy of promoting gallantry awardees joining police
http://Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said his government is making a policy to award a one-rank promotion to anyone who has won a gallantry award and is joining the state police. If any such officers/personnel wished to join Punjab Police, their service and bravery would be given due recognition, said the Chief Minister, while pipping the stars of ASI on the uniform of Kargil war hero Satpal Singh.
Satpal finds mention in Amarinder’s book ‘A Ridge Too Far–War in the Kargil Heights’.
Amarinder had promoted the Vir Chakdra awardee on Friday, from senior constable, in which capacity he was managing traffic in Sangrur district till July 26. DGP Dinkar Gupta was also present at the pipping ceremony.
Amarinder said he had merely set right the wrong done to Satpal by the previous SAD-BJP government, which had ignored the valour of the soldier, and failed to give him the recognition he deserved.
The Chief Minister said he was not aware of the situation and what he had done now was merely a case of “too little too late” for the brave soldier. This should have been done at the time of Satpal’s recruitment in 2010, he added.
The policy to be drafted by his government would leave no scope for such injustice, Amarinder said, making it clear that the policy would cover police gallantry award winners, including JCOs and NCOs, in addition to the jawans of the defence forces.
The Chief Minister said his government is committed to the welfare of soldiers/ex-soldiers whose sacrifices to the nation and its people could not be allowed to go unrecognised.
State Stalwarts
DEFENCES FORCES RANKS
ARMY, NAVY, AIRFORCE RANKS
FORMATION SIGNS
FORMATION SIGNS
ALL HUMANS ARE ONE CREATED BY GOD
HINDUS,MUSLIMS,SIKHS.ISAI SAB HAI BHAI BHAI
CHIEF PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL, DOGRA
SENIOR PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
MAJOR GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SENA MEDAL ,corps of signals
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PRESIDENT CHANDIGARH ZONE
COL SHANJIT SINGH BHULLAR
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PRESIDENT TRI CITY COORDINATOR
COL B S BRAR (BHUPI BRAR)
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INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES
DEFENCE FORCES INTEGRATED LOGO
FORCES FLAGS
15 Th PRESIDENT OF INDIA SUPREME COMMANDER ARMED FORCES
Droupadi Murmu
DEFENCE MINISTER
Minister Rajnath Singh
CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (2nd)
General Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM
INDIAN FORCES CHIEFS
CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF(29th)
General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM (30 Jun 2024 to Till Date)
