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| Wednesday, April 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Gallantry
awards for fifty Pak still pushing in militants:
George President, PM greet people on
Baisakhi Violence in Tripura in run-up to
poll |
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‘Dhanush’
missile test-fired Oil struck in Jaisalmer
Lt-Gen A.B. Masseh quits Leased aircraft for IA Ex-MP shot dead
|
Gallantry awards for fifty NEW DELHI, April 11 (UNI) — President K.R. Narayanan today conferred gallantry awards on 50 more defence personnel, including 32 Kargil heroes and one civilian for displaying exceptional bravery and courage during various operations like Thunderbolt and Vijay. With today’s awards, the total number of gallantry awardees this year has gone up to 110, including four Param Vir Chakra awardees. Of the 50 awardees, 34 were conferred gallantry awards for heroic deeds during the war while another 16 were conferred Kirti and Shaurya Chakras. One civilian, Mr Ramesh Chandra Yadav of Kanpur was also awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Of the five Mahavir Chakra awardees, three were conferred the award posthumously while of the, 29 Vir Chakra awardees, 16 were conferred the award posthumously. All 15 defence personnel, who received the Kirti or the Shaurya Chakra, were conferred these awards for anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Home Minister L.K. Advani were present at the investiture ceremony. Last week, the President had conferred awards on 56 defence personnel including one in absentia. So far, the President has conferred gallantry awards on 66 Kargil heroes which included four Param Vir Chakra awardees. Major Sonam Wangchuk of the Ladakh scouts (Indus wing) and Lt Balwan Singh of the 18 Grenadiers were conferred the Mahavir Chakra for displaying inspirational leadership, conspicuous courage and bravery during the Kargil war in the Batalik sector and the Tiger Hills area respectively. Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari of the 18 Grenadiers was awarded the Mahavir Chakra (posthumously) while fighting the enemy at a height of 15,000 feet, resulting in the re-capture of the second position of Tololing, which later facilitated the capture of Point 4590. The award was received by his wife Kiran Adhikari. Capt Keishing Clifford Nongrum of the 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, who was also conferred the Mahavir Chakra posthumously, was decorated with the second highest war gallantry award for his effective role in the re-capture of point 4812 of the Batalik sector. Capt Anuj Nayyar of the 17 Jat was conferred the Mahavir Chakra posthumously for displaying indomitable resolve, grit and determination and motivating his command by personal example and acting beyond the call of duty. Naik Tikaram Thapa of the 3 Assam, Naib Subedar Jagroop Singh of the 28 Punjab and Naik Narayan Das of the 15 Assam were conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously for taking part in the series of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Lance Naik Prem Pal of the 19 Garhwal Rifles (posthumously) and Naib Subedar Rampal Singh of the 9 Rajput were awarded the Vir Chakra for exhibiting unparalleled sense of commitment and exceptional presence of mind in 1998 near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The other Vir Chakra awardees are sepoy Tsering Dorjay of the Ladakh Scouts (Indus wing), gunner Sajeev Gopala Pillai of 4 the Field Regiment (posthumously), Lance Naik Khushiman Gurung of 1 Naga, Major M. Saravanana of the 1 Bihar (posthumously), Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav of the 1 Bihar (posthumously), Lt Col Ramakrishnana Vishwanathan of the 18 Grenadiers (posthumously), Lance Havildar Ram Kumar of the 18 Grenadiers (posthumously), Major Amrinder Singh Kasana of the 41 Field Regiment, Subedar Bhawar Lal of the 2 Rajputana Rifles (posthumously), havildar Sultan Singh Narwaria of the the 2 Rajputana Rifles (posthumously), havildar Udham Singh of the 18 Grenadiers (posthumously), sepoy K. Ashuli of the 1 Naga (posthumously), havildar Joginder Aingh of the 27 Rajput, Cap Shyamal Sinha of the 27 Rajput, Major Mohit Saxena of the 2 Rajputana Rifles, Capt Vijyant Thapar of the 2 Rajputana Rifles (posthumously), rifleman Jai Ram Singh of the 2 Rajputana Rifles, rifleman Anusuya Prasad of the 18 Garhwal Rifles (posthumously), rifleman Kuldeep Singh of the 18 Garhwal Rifles (posthumously), Capt Maridhyodhan Veetil Sooraj of 18 Garwal Rifles, Col Lalit Rail of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, Cap Sachin Annaro Nimbalkar of the 18 Grenadiers, Major Deepak Rampal of the 17 Jats, Naib Subedar Karnail Singh of the 8 Sikh (posthumously), sepoy Satpal Singh of the 8 Sikh, Capt R. Jery Prem Raj of the 158 Medium Regiment (posthumously) and havildar Sis Ram Gill of the 8 Jat (posthumously). The other Shaurya Chakra
awardees are Major Gaurav Sharama of the 10 Assam, sepoy
Sukhbir Singh of the 5 Sikh (posthumously), havildar
Dayal Singh of the 6 Dogra, Major Bhupesh Hada of the 10
Para (special force), Major Kishan Bahadur Thapa of the
14 Rashtriya Rifles, Naib Subedar Tripurari Singh of the
12 Mahar (posthumously), havildar Babu Ram of the 8 Jammu
and Kashmir Light Infantry (posthumously), havildar Bane
Singh Gujar of the 12 Rashtriya Rifles, lance havildar
Birbal of the Signals (posthumously), rifleman Mohammed
Mushtaq of the 6 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Major
Mohan Gangadharan of the 59 Engineer Regiment
(posthumously) and Major Harminder Pal Singh of the 18
Grenadiers (posthumously). |
Pak still pushing in militants: George NEW DELHI, April 11 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes today said there was "no let up’’ in the attempts by Pakistan to push mercenaries and militants across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. "Although there is some decrease in the level of shelling by Pakistani forces on the LoC there is no let up in attempts to sneak heavily armed mercenaries and militants", Mr Fernandes said in an informal chat with newsmen after the military investiture ceremony at Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The Defence Minister said at the height of tension during the past six months, the Pakistani forces were firing up to 5,000 rounds a week but now this had now come down to almost 1,000 rounds a week. "But the same cannot be said to be true of their attempts to push in militants and armed bands into Jammu and Kashmir,’’ Mr Fernandes said. Asked about his earlier warning to troops to be ready for a "hot summer’’ in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister said adequate steps had been taken to prepare for any eventuality. On reports of Pakistani troops build-up close to the Sir Creek area off Gujarat, he said this could be linked with Pakistani attempts to raise the issue of shooting down of their naval aircraft. Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, who was also present, said the release of Hurriyat leaders was a "conscious decision" of the government. He said the release was aimed at starting a dialogue with dissident groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Asked if the Centre
hoped that the Hurriyat and militant groups would respond
to the offer of dialogue, Mr Advani said "the less
we comment on this better it would be"? |
President, PM greet people on Baisakhi NEW DELHI, April 11 (UNI) — The President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister have greeted the people on the occasion of Baisakhi and Ram Navami. President K R Narayanan, while wishing prosperity to the farmer community on the occasion of Baisakhi, said: "May the epic of Ramayana as told by Valmiki and rekindled by Tulsidas in the north and Kamban in the south, and other sage-singers, inspire our conduct, both personal and collective.’’ Vice-President Krishan Kant noted that the life of Lord Rama had been a perennial source of inspiration for the Indians, and said: "Ram Navami reminds us of the duty we all owe to a great legacy of our culture to constantly endeavour to fill our lives with the light of its timeless message.’’ Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee, said in his message that Lord Rama and
his life held immense promise for the people caught in
the turmoil of modern-day life. |
Oil struck in Jaisalmer JAISALMER, April 11 (UNI) — Huge reserves of oil and natural gas have been struck in Jaisalmer in the desert state of Rajasthan, Oil India sources said. Thirteen of the 50 wells yielded oil and gas in the Tenaut and Dande areas of the district, the sources said. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) also discovered oil from a new field in Panidihing in Upper Assam on April 7, coinciding with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Ram Naik’s visit to the North-East. While touring the ONGC’s Nazira establishment recently, Mr Naik was informed about the discovery. He congratulated the ONGC on its success last night and advised the employees to work harder to discover and produce more oil to enable the country achieve self-sufficiency in the petroleum sector. The minister, along with a delegation, also visited the LPG recovery plant of the GAIL at Lakwa in Upper Assam. The plant was constructed at a cost of Rs 237 crore and separates LPG from natural gas. It produces 17 lakh LPG cylinders and supplies natural gas to a number of industrial consumers and tea estates in Assam, he said. Mr Naik also inaugurated
the effluent treatment plant of the ONGC at Lakwa on
April 9. The plant was constructed at an estimated cost
of Rs 11 crore and aims at separating water from crude
oil produced out of the Lakwa oil field which is one of
the largest oil fields in the North-East. |
Violence in Tripura in run-up to poll AGARTALA, April 11 (UNI) — Ethnic violence, which has claimed one life so far and rendered over 125 families homeless continued for the second day today in West Tripura. The police said here this morning that shoot-at-sight orders were issued in seven villages under Jirania police station in West Tripura following arsoning and ethnic clashes in the mixed populated areas. Over 250 huts, belonging to both tribals and non-tribals, were burnt down by violent mobs in the seven villages in which one tribal villager was killed. The violence started yesterday morning after a tribal youth sustained a bomb injury at Chakbasta under Jirania police station. The injured was admitted to GB Hospital in a critical condition. Violent mobs also burnt down many houses early this morning. The affected people had been shifted to relief camps opened by the state government. Armed forces, including Assam Rifles, staged a flag march as tension ran high in the northern areas of West Tripura district. The situation further deteriorated in the tribal-dominated hilly and interior areas after underground tribal guerrillas stepped up violence in view of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) election, slated for April 30 and May 3. Meanwhile tribal guerrillas kidnapped the relatives of seven Left Front candidates from various parts of the state during the past two days. Those kidnapped include wives, fathers, daughters and sons of contesting candidates. The police said the
relatives were kidnapped after the candidates refused to
withdraw their candidature. Yesterday was the last date
for withdrawal of nomination. |
‘Dhanush’ missile test-fired CHANDIPUR-ON-SEA, April 11 (PTI) — ‘Dhanush,’ a medium range indigenously developed missile, was today test-fired from a naval ship close to the Orissa coast, defence sources said. The 8.56-metre sleek missile, the first of its kind, has been exclusively developed for the Navy, the sources said, adding the ‘Dhanush’ project is being considered the naval version of ‘Prithvi’. The missile, fixed on a launcher in INS Subhadra anchored about 20 km from here in the Bay of Bengal, had a perfect lift-off after the test launch at 1.35 p.m., the sources said. The outcome of the test-firing would be fully known after analysing the data collected from different tracking and telemetry centres, they said. Scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had been stationed on the vessel, the interim test range here, at Dhamra and Paradip for close monitoring of the test-firing, the sources said. The 150 km-range
‘Prithvi I’ has already been included in the
armoury of the Army, while the 250-km ‘Prithvi
II’, being developed for the Air Force, is nearing
completion, the sources added. |
Suspended judge seeks bail MUMBAI, April 11 (PTI) — A local court today directed the prosecution to file its say within a week on an application moved by suspended judge J.W. Singh seeking release of his property attached earlier to compel his appearance in a case of alleged extortion filed against him. Designated Judge A.P. Bhangale adjourned the hearing on Singh’s plea for release of property under Section 85 Cr.PC to April 17. The properties were attached by the court after he was declared a proclaimed offender. The Police had filed an fir on November 1 last alleging that Singh had through a conduit (deceased lawyer Liyakat Ali Shaikh) ‘hired’ underworld don Chota Shakeel to recover his chit fund money from Sardar Singh Abrol. The fir was based on alleged recorded telephonic conversations between the trio. In a related development, Singh urged the court through his lawyer I.P. Bagadia for bail and dismissal of proceedings against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). His plea would be heard on April 18. The high court had ordered him on April 7 to move the special court which was also competent to hear his plea for bail and dismissal of MCOCA proceedings. Singh pleaded that he
had been wrongly booked under MCOCA as its provisions
were not followed by the police while intercepting
telephone calls. He pleaded that the fir was lodged by
police officer Ambadas Pote who was not aware of the
facts of the case but was relying on recorded telephonic
talks. |
Bus-tracking systems soon NEW DELHI, April 11 (PTI) — India’s first satellite-based vehicle tracking system to monitor buses will be launched in Bangalore next week. The system, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), will help determine the exact distance covered by buses plying under the km scheme, prevent traffic violations by buses, and determine their arrival time at a particular stop. It will help the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) make correct payments to bus owners plying under the km scheme, Mr Jitender Kumar, senior director at the Ministry of Information Technology (MIT), which funded the project, said. The system relied on the global positioning system (gps) — constellation of 24 satellites used for navigation — for vehicle monitoring, Mr H. Seshadri Sekhar, manager at BEl, told a mapping conference yesterday. A gps receiver, mounted on the vehicle, continuously acquired position data using the gps satellites. The data was stored on a computer at the control station. Subsequently, the data was downloaded to a geographical information system (gis), a computerised navigational system, to determine the distance travelled by a bus and traffic violations. An offline monitoring system processed the stored data to derive the required information. The data could be processed daily, after three days and after six days depending upon user requirements, Mr Sekhar said. BEl had also developed an online system for the Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation to communicate with bus drivers while they were on the move. The online system differed from the offline system as the vehicles did not store the information, but continuously transmitted the same to a control centre. The online version consisted of four sub-units — a bus-mounted device, a bus-stop device, communication system and control centre. The location of the bus was transmitted from the bus to a nearby bus stop which in turn passed the data to the control centre through a communication network for analysis. Very-high frequency (vhf) or ultra-high frequency (uhf) radio links or satellite network could be used for communication. "Though the cost of
the online system is twice that of the offline system, it
provides a two-way communication in realtime which can be
used effectively to monitor buses, police vans and taxi
services," Mr Shekhar said. |
Lt-Gen A.B. Masseh quits NEW DELHI, April 11 (PTI) — Lt-Gen A.B. Masseh, the corps commander of the newly raised 14 corps, has put in his papers, an Army spokesman said today. General Masseh, who had been appointed General Officer Commanasseh, whose corps looked after the sensitive border sector between Zoji La and Siachen glacier, has cited his wife’s illness for his resignation. However, highly placed
sources at Army headquarters instead said the General had
been directed to put in his papers for
"misconduct". |
Leased aircraft for IA MUMBAI, April 11 (PTI) — The Union Government has cleared a proposal of the Civil Aviation Ministry for acquiring leased aircraft for Indian Airlines and Air India. Speaking to newsmen here
today, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof
Chamanlal Gupta said both airlines were saddled with old
aircraft and had not kept pace with the rest of the
industry. As both airlines were short of funds to acquire
new aircraft the move was to bring in leased ones, he
said. |
Ex-MP shot dead JAMSHEDPUR, April 11 (UNI) — A spontaneous bandh was observed in Chaibasa and Chakradharpur towns of West Singhbhum today following the murder of District Congress President and former MP Vijay Singh Soy at Chakradharpur last evening. The police said four assailants, riding on motorbike and scooter, rushed to a cloth store at Bata Chowk where Soy was sitting and shot him dead from a point blank range. Another person, said to be a railway employee, was also killed. The police arrested two persons. However, the other two killers escaped. West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police G.P. Yadav and senior police officials rushed to the spot. Soy’s body was brought to Chaibasa for post-mortem. Official sources said a total bandh was observed in the district. All markets, shops and educational institutions remained closed. Traffic was off the roads. Although tension prevailed in the district, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, the sources added. A silent procession was
taken out by Congress workers at Chaibasa and the body
brought back to Chakradharpur from where it would be
taken to Kharsawan, Soy’s native village, for the
last rites. |
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