Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 23

Accomplishing an ambitious mission on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a 40-day, four-nation and 4,000-km cycling expedition of Jalandhar-based Col Sarfaraz Singh and his team of three experts concluded at Singapore on Thursday.

It was in Singapore that Bose laid the foundation stone of the Indian National Army memorial during on June 8, 1945. So, completion of the tour today is significant, said Col Sarafaraz’s father and former hockey Olympian Col Balbir Singh (retd).

Col Balbir said: “My son has gone on the expedition with three teammates, Saurav, Mithin and Amit. Sarafaraz and his team have become the first and the only Indians to cycle from Manipur to Singapore, via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. They rode along the coastlines of the Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait. The passage included difficult terrains and thick jungles. They also crossed the famous bridge on the Kwai river in Myanmar and Georgetown in Penang Island of Mayasia. In Thailand, Ambassador Suchitra Durai flagged off their expedition.”

An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Col Sarfaraz Singh is the fourth generation officer in the Indian Army. He has a vast experience of scaling prominent peaks, including Mt Everest and Mt Kilimanjaro. He is also among the few mountaineers from the country who reached the base of Mt Nyegyi Kansang from Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh.

Col Sarafaraz conducted the first-ever rafting expedition on the untamed and challenging Kameng river of Arunachal Pradesh. He also led and cycled the first high altitude expedition from Bomdila to Bumla pass, covering a total distance of 300 km.

Col Sarfaraz, who is from the elite Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army and has commanded its 6 Para unit, took over as the first director and principal of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in February 2017. He is not just a mountaineer but also a sky diver, combat free faller, river rafting specialist and a certified scuba rescue diver.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 23

On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Thursday reviewed security and operational readiness along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region.

The Army Chief, along with Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, also called on Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and discussed the prevailing security situation. Murmu was appreciative of the synergy between the Army, other security forces and the civil administration in maintaining law and order.

At the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur, the General was briefed by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on the LoC situation and also in the hinterland. The Army Chief was appreciative of the efforts put in by the Northern Command to meet the challenges posed by inimical elements.

Gen Naravane also visited troopers on the LoC to review operational readiness of the units of White Knight Corps. He was briefed and updated by Lt General Harsha Gupta, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, and commanders on ground. He interacted with soldiers and lauded them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.

The need to remain prepared for all contingencies was also reinforced by Chief of Army Staff during his interaction with the troopers. “General Manoj Mukund Naravane commended the standard operating procedures institutionalised to ensure safe and secure environment and mission readiness of the troops. He conveyed his satisfaction on the people-friendly measures undertaken in quick timeframe,” an Army spokesperson said.

Srinagar, January 25

On Republic Day, Lt General KJS Dhillon has been awarded the prestigious Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) in recognition of his tenure as Chinar Corps Commander.

“His tenure saw a number terrorist leaders getting killed, bringing peace to the Valley,” an Army statement said.

Working in complete harmony and synergy with other security forces, intelligence agencies and in coordination with civilian administration, he contributed in maintaining peace in the Valley, especially post August 5 , 2019.

Last year, Lt Gen Dhillon reached out to mothers via “Operation MAA”, engaging them for the return of the youths who had joined terrorist outfits. — TNS

New Delhi, January 26

India’s rising military might, rich cultural diversity and socio-economic progress will be on full display during the 71st Republic Day celebrations at the Rajpath—the city’s centrepiece boulevard—on Sunday.

Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro will be the chief guest at the 90-minute celebrations marking the anniversary of the day when India was declared a republic in 1950.

Anti-satellite weapon Shakthi, Army’s battle tank Bhishma, infantry combat vehicles and newly inducted Chinook and Apache helicopters of the Indian Air Force will be part of the grand military parade.

The national capital has been brought under a massive ground-to-air security cover, with thousands of police and paramilitary personnel keeping a hawk-eye vigil.

Twenty-two tableaux – 16 from States and Union Territories and six from various ministries and departments – depicting the nation’s rich cultural heritage and economic progress will also roll down the Rajpath.

School children will convey age-old message of yoga and spiritual values through dance and music during the parade, the defence ministry said.

The Republic Day Parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial near the India Gate. He will lead the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath.

This is for the first time that the prime minister will pay homage to martyrs at the National War memorial instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Thereafter, the prime minister and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the parade.

As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute.

The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute. The parade will be commanded by Parade Commander Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff of Delhi Area, will be the second-in-command.

The first contingent in the uniform of the erstwhile Gwalior Lancers will be 61 Cavalry. The 61 Cavalry is the only active serving horse cavalry regiment in the world. It was raised on August 1, 1953 with the amalgamation of six state forces’ cavalry units.

The Indian Army will be represented by a mounted column of 61 Cavalry, eight mechanised columns, six marching contingents and fly-past by Rudra and Dhruv Advanced Light helicopters of the army aviation wing.

Indigenously-developed Main Battle Tank of the Indian Army, T-90 Bhishma tank, infantry combat vehicle Ballway Machine Pikate, K-9 Vajra and Dhanush guns, transportable satellite terminal and Akash weapon system will be the main attraction in the mechanised columns.

The other marching contingents of the Army will include the Parachute regiment, the Grenadiers regiment, the Sikh Light Infantry regiment, the Kumaon regiment and the Corps of Signals.

The Naval contingent will comprise of 144 young sailors led by Lieutenant Jitin Malkat. It will be followed by the Naval Tableau titled ‘Indian Navy – Silent, Strong, and Swift’.

The Air Force contingent, comprising of 144 air warriors, will be led by Flight Lt Shrikant Sharma. The Air Force tableau showcases scaled down models of the Rafale aircraft, the Tejas aircraft, the Light Combat helicopter, the Akash missiles system and the Astra missiles.

One of the main highlights will be the marching contingent of DRDO that will showcase Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT) – Mission Shakti.

Mission Shakti, India’s first Anti-Satellite mission, was a major breakthrough in demonstrating the nation’s capability to bring down hostile satellites.

Sixteen tableaux from various states and union territories will depict the geographical and rich cultural diversity of the country.

Various far-reaching reforms of the government, including ‘Start-up India’, and ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ will be showcased in six tableaux from different ministries and departments.

For the first time, a contingent of women bikers of CRPF will perform daredevil stunts. The contingent will be led by Inspector Seema Nag who will be seen saluting while standing atop a moving motorcycle.

The grand finale and the most keenly awaited segment of the parade, the Fly Past will comprise of the ‘Trishul’ formation by three advanced light helicopters.

It is for the first time that a ‘tri-service formation’ is taking part in the Republic Day Parade.

It will be followed by the ‘Vic’ formation of Chinook helicopters, used for airlifting diverse loads to remote locations.

Apache helicopters, Dornier aircraft, C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, an Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft and the ‘Globe’ formation comprising three C-17 Globemasters are also expected to enthral the people.

Five Jaguar Deep penetration strike aircraft and five MiG-29 upgrade air superiority fighters in ‘Arrowhead’ formation will also display their aerial manoeuvre.

The parade will culminate with a fleet of Sukhoi-30 MKI jets splitting the sky with a breathtaking ‘Vertical Charlie’ aerobatic manoeuvre. — PTI