Jammu, January 24

Hours after the maiden visit of Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane to forward locations along the LoC in Poonch district, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire pact in the Gulpur sector.

“The Pakistani troops started firing small arms from across the border in the Khadi-Karmada of Gulpur sector in Poonch, which was befittingly retaliated by the Army. There are no reports of any casualty on this side,” a defence spokesperson said.

Pertinently, the Pakistani troops had made mover than 3,000 instances of ceasefire violations in 2019, the highest in the last one decade along J&K.

Recently, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Director Sulekha, in reply to an RTI query of social activist Rohit Choudhary, disclosed that October 2019 recorded the highest number of ceasefire violations at 398, followed by 333 in November, 323 in August, 314 in July, 308 in September and 275 in March, 251 in February, 240 in April, 238 in May, 216 in January and 190 in June.

Keeping in view the sensitivity, the Army Chief visited the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector and Bimbar Gali in Poonch district to review the prevailing situation on the ground, where he interacted with the troops and asked them to remain prepared for all contingencies.

“After takling charge, the Army Chief visited forward posts in the Siachen sector of Ladakh on January 9 and now his visit to the LoC in J&K signifies the strategic importance of the Northern Command as compared to other Commands,” a senior Army officer said.

He also met Lt-Governor GC Murmu at Raj Bhawan and discussed issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, in context of infiltration bids and anti-terror operations. —OC

Jammu, January 27

The Border Security Force on Monday night shot down a Pakistani drone along the International Border in Jammu, officials said.

The drone was in a forward post in Arnia belt here, they said.

IG BSF, Jammu Frontier, N S Jamwal told PTI that it is a drone-like flying object without a camera.

“We are investigating it,” he said. – PTI

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 27

The 71st Republic Day was celebrated at the Sector 5 Parade Ground with fervour here yesterday.

Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij, chief guest at the event, hoisted the Tricolour and took the salute of the march past.

He also honoured war heroes, widows of freedom fighters and their families at the event. Earlier, he paid homage to the martyrs at the Martyr’s Memorial at District Sainik Board. Several people thronged to witness the ceremonial parade and cultural programmes presented by school and college students.

As many as 18 contingents took part in march past during the Republic Day celebrations. All district officials, including DC Mukesh Kumar Ahuja, MC Commissioner Sumedha Kataria, Commissioner of Police Saurabh Singh, were present on the occasion.

Muktsar: An Army havildar, who hails from Doda village here, has made a remotely operated (RO) vehicle, much cheaper than those already in use, to detect and destroy improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He was honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with excellence in innovation award on the Army Day on January 15. Dharamjit Singh is presently posted with the Corps of Engineers in Delhi. He said, “I have made this RO vehicle with just about Rs 1 lakh. It can detect and destroy IEDs. Similar RO vehicles presently being imported cost nearly Rs 1 crore each. I am happy that the design of my vehicle has been approved by the Army and more such vehicles would be made soon.”

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 27

Asserting that the secular foundations of Constitution would continue to stand firm, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said he would protect one and all, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

He said the nation’s unity was inviolable, notwithstanding the discordant voices being raised in the current scenario.

Pointing out that the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly (on CAA) was there for all to see, he said the state would not allow the country’s secular fabric to be destroyed at any cost.

On the occasion, he unfurled the Tricolour and a took the salute at a parade.

For the first time this year, the Republic Day celebrations in the state witnessed a display by the Special Operations Group, constituted by the Chief Minister to combat terrorism, infiltration, hijacking and other sensitive threat situations.

He said the state had attracted an unprecedented investment of Rs57,735 crore in the last over two years. He said efforts to bring in new industrial units would continue, in order to tackle unemployment, which he termed as the biggest challenge faced by the state. He said under the “Ghar Ghar Rozgar te Karobaar Scheme”, 11 lakh jobs had been given to unemployed youth in the state.

Emphasising the need for quality education, the CM announced that 19 new IITs would be established in the state, along with new medical colleges in Mohali, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

He stressed the need to conserve water, the level of which had come down to less than 13 MAF as 73 per cent of it was being used for irrigation. He said he hoped that the Punjab Water Resources (Management & Regulation) Act would help address the problem of the depleting water table.

Fatehgarh Sahib: The state government will ensure 50-per cent reservation for women in the coming local bodies’ elections, said Minister for Local Bodies Brahm Mohindra at the district-level Republic Day function here on Sunday. Besides, an open university on the name of Guru Nanak will be set up in Patiala.

On the occasion, he laid foundation stones for two bridges to be constructed on the Sirhind choe at the cost of Rs2.2 crore and launched a water supply project for Sirhind at a cost of Rs8.83 crore.

Barnala: Sundar Sham Arora, Minister of Industry and Commerce, unfurled the National Flag at Baba Kala Maher Stadium here on Sunday. He said it was an occasion when one was reminded of freedom fighters’ dreams about the future of India, besides giving the opportunity to look into one’s overall performance.

Patiala: Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla presided over the Republic Day function at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex here. He remembered martyrs on the occasion and paid tributes to them. About the distribution of mobile phones to youth, which was one of the key pre-poll promises of the Congress, he said, “Some technical glitches are to be addressed, which will take only a few days. That is why the scheme could not be launched on Republic Day.” He inspected the parade and the contingents of the police, Home Guards, Scouts and NCC presented salutation during the march past.

New Delhi, January 27

The government on Monday signed an accord with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), one of the dreaded insurgent groups of Assam, providing political and economic bonanza sans a separate state or Union Territory.

The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a Bodoland state since 1972, and another group called United Bodo People’s Organisation were also signatories to the accord.

In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the tripartite agreement was signed by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB, ABSU, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Satyendra Garg and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

The home minister described the agreement as “historic” and it will bring permanent solution to the decades old problems of the Bodo people.

“This agreement will facilitate all round development of the Bodo areas, their language and culture will be protected without compromising the territorial integrity of Assam,” he said.

The home minister said due to the violence perpetrated by the Bodo militants, over 4,000 people lost their lives in the past few decades.

Shah said no stone would be left unturned for the development of Assam and the North-eastern region.

The Assam chief minister said after the pact, different communities in the state will be able to live with harmony.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the pact will bring comprehensive solution to the Bodo issue.

“It is a historical accord,” he said.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said as per the accord, 1,550 militants belonging to the NDFB lay down their arms on January 30, an economic programme of Rs 1,500 crore will be implemented in the next three years with equal contribution of Rs 750 crore each from the Central and state governments.

The existing structure of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be strengthened with more powers and its seats will be expanded from 40 to 60, he said.

A commission will be set up for inclusion of Bodo dominated villages in the BTC and exclusion of those where Bodos are not in majority.

This was the third Bodo accord to be signed in last 27 years when the violent movement for a separate Bodoland state claimed hundreds of lives, destruction of public and private properties.

The first Bodo accord was signed with the All Bodo Students Union in 1993, leading to creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.

In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers, leading to formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam—Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri—called Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

The name of the BTC will be changed to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The BTC currently has control over 30 subjects like education, forests, horticulture but no jurisdiction over the police, revenue and general administration departments, which are controlled by the Assam Government.

The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been going on in Assam for about five decades and several Bodo overground and militant groups raising it leading to agitations, protests, violence and many deaths. — PTI