NEW DELHI: Asserting that repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan are "unacceptable", IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on Saturday warned that India may have to look at "some other options for compliance" if such incidents continue.

"We have a Line of Control, we have a ceasefire agreement, we have certain structures and mechanisms which are sacrosanct and any violation of these with impunity especially what has been happening in the last few months is totally unacceptable.

"We are monitoring the situation carefully because if these things continue to be the way they are and these violations continue to take place, then perhaps we may have to look at some other options for compliance," he told reporters here on the sidelines of an NCC function.

The IAF Chief, who is the senior most armed forces officer in the country, was asked about the suggestions he has given to the political leadership on the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan Army.

Refusing to divulge the options being looked at by the Government, he said, "Options are options. We do not discuss these options openly. If the violations continue, we may have to look at the whole issue all over again."

Asked how would the military leadership uphold the honour of soldiers such as the two jawans killed by Pakistan Army, he said, "When you join the armed forces, you hold certain ethos, values and certain traditions of the country which you have to uphold."

On January 8, Pakistan Army regulars had infiltrated inside Indian territory in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed and mutilated bodies of Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj there.

India has also been raising the issue of rising number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last one year.

NAK Browne, on Saturday strongly made it clear that India will be forced to consider other options, if ceasefire violations continue from the Pakistan side.

The Indian Air Force chief expressed his grave concern over the continuous ceasefire violation and firing from the Pakistani side.

The violation took place two days after the killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops in the Mendhar Sector of Poonch district.

The tension between the two Asian neighbours has aggravated after the brutal killing and beheading of the two Indian soldiers.

Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said: "We have a line of control, we have a ceasefire agreement, we have certain mechanisms, we have certain structures and that is sacrosanct.

"Any violation of these with impunity, especially as to what's been happening in the last few months, is totally unacceptable. We are monitoring the situation very carefully because if these things continue the way they are and the violations continue to take place, then perhaps we may have to look at some other options for compliance."

Asked about his message to NCC cadets who may later on join the armed forces, he said: "If you join the armed forces, you hold certain values, you hold certain ethos, certain traditions of the country, which we have to uphold and that's the kind of oath that you take, when you join the armed forces.

"My message to the youth who want to join the armed forces is that hen they do so, they would be treated honourably, they would be taken care of and we will make sure that everything is available for them in meeting their operational task."

Earlier on Friday, defence minister AK Antony had assured that enough troops have been deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) and the government is taking all steps to protect the nation's interests and prestige of the armed forces. — PTI

NEW DELHI: A flag meeting between commanders of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers is expected to be held next month over a host of issues, including ceasefire violations.

Border Security Force (BSF) sources said that a "routine" border meeting between the field commanders of the force and rangers was scheduled for January 16 on the Pakistani side at Munnabao border.


"This was posponed till February 20 this year by Pakistan Rangers. No specific reason was cited and this decision was conveyed to us on January 4," they said.

A host of border issues will be taken up during this meeting, they added.

On January 8, two Indian soldiers were killed on the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani troops with the body of one being badly mutilated, sparking outrage in the country. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Saturday asked the Manmohan Singh-led UPA II government to stop all dialogue with Pakistan and recall its High Commissioner in Islamabad in wake of entire nation being angry over the ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

The tension between the two Asian neighbours have aggravated after the brutal killing and beheading of the two Indian soldiers on Tuesday.

Pakistan had blatantly denied India’s claim that its troops crossed the Line of Control to ambush a patrol party in the Mendhar sector in Poonch district on Tuesday.

Singh said on Saturday: “India has always tried to maintain better relations with its neighbour Pakistan. The recent brutal beheadings of Indian soldiers clearly points that Islamabad doesn’t want to maintain a cordial relation and it has also violated the Geneva Convention.

“The Indian government has failed to register a strong protest against in this matter. I want India to stop all confidence building measures with Pakistan because such kind of gruesome act by the Pakistani Army shows it doesn’t want a cordial relation with New Delhi. To register strong protest, India must recall its envoy in Islamabad and bring down its diplomatic relations.”

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the way Pakistan is motivating and protecting the different terrorist groups, it shows the government in Islamabad is being run on dictation of terrorists.

“India should respond effectively as it is the right time to respond to Pakistan’s nefarious activities. International community has to also understand that terrorist factories are running in Pakistan, which is a cause of grave concern for the entire world,” he said.

Responding on the meeting of Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader during their visit to Pakistan with Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed, another senior Baqlbir Punj said Kashmiri separatists are nothing but an extension of Pakistan’s terror policy within India.

The high commissioners of the two countries have been summoned by the respective governments throughout this week and served with demarches'' to explain recent hostile developments in each other''s territory and across.

Moreover, Pakistan has refused to open its trade doors at border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir amid escalating tension between the two Asian neighbours following ceasefire violation.

In a major escalation to the ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts, a group of Pakistan Army soldiers raided across the Line of Control in Mendhar sector and killed two Indian soldiers and injured one more. The Pakistani troops attacked an area domination patrol party of the Indian Army. — ANI

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Saturday sought more time for the formation of an alternative government in the state. 

JMM chief Shibu Soren, his son Hemant Soren and other leaders met Governor Syed Ahmad at 11.30 am. 

“We had requested the Governor to give us some more time for formation of the government in the state,” said Hemant Soren while talking to reporters here. 

Soren returned here Friday night after meeting Congress leaders in Delhi. He said that the Congress would decide about the formation of an alternative government. 

The 28-month BJP-led Arjun Munda government fell after JMM withdrew support on January 8. The Munda Cabinet had recommended dissolution of the state Assembly. 

The state Congress unit has yet to get concrete assurance from the Congress high command, say party sources. 

Jharkhand Congress legislators and leaders are in favour of the formation of the alternative government. 

JMM has been exploring the possibility of forming a government in the state with Congress backing. 

Jharkhand Congress legislators, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and some independents could support an alternative government led by the JMM. 

If such an agreement were to be arrived at, the Congress, RJD and independents, along with the JMM could attempt a coalition comprising 41 legislators. 

Of the 82 legislators in the state, 37 are in favour of fresh polls. 

The 37 include 18 of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), six of All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU), two of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and 11 of the Jharkhand Vikas Morch-P (JVM-P). — IANS

MUMBAI: A 40-year-old roadside hawker died allegedly due to heart attack during a drive against vendors in suburban Santacruz in Mumbai by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Dhoble, who was today transferred in the wake of the incident.

A CID probe has been ordered into the incident.

Dhoble was patrolling the Nehru road area in Santacruz on Friday evening when the hawkers got a whiff of it, and began fleeing the spot but re-arranged the stalls once the police officer left. However, he returned to check the streets again, the police said.

Panicked, the hawkers began to run helter-skelter when one of them, Madan Jaiswal collapsed after he allegedly suffered a heart attack, they said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, police said.

Enraged, several street hawkers gathered outside the Vakola Police Station demanding action against the senior cop.

According to the police, while some hawkers claimed that they including the deceased, were beaten up, a few said that Dhoble did not take any harsh action.

However, a CID probe has been initiated into the matter and Dhoble was on Saturday transferred out of the Vakola division in western suburban Mumbai to the police control room in South Mumbai, police added.

The officer made headlines last year for his infamous raids late night against pubs and restaurants in the metropolis. — PTI