N A T I O N

George boosts morale of troops
New Delhi, August 14
Going further on the peace initiative taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said India was prepared to initiate cooperation in security related affairs with Pakistan as well as China provided there was a “total end” to cross-border terrorism.

Kalam, PM send greetings to Pak
New Delhi, August 14
President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today greeted their Pakistani counterparts on the occasion of Pakistan’s independence day. The Indian leaders in their messages emphasised that the two countries should put behind the climate of mistrust and move towards peaceful cooperation, rejecting violence and confrontation.

Honour for defence personnel
New Delhi, August 14
Following is the list of Defence personnel honoured on Independence Day.
Ashoka Chakra: Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri (posthumous) (Army).
Kirti Chakra: Maj Inderjeet Singh Babbar, Artillery (posthumous); Capt Dilip Kumar Jha, Army Ordnance Corps (posthumous); Sub Dil Bahadur Thapa, 9 Assam; Lance Naik Sohanvir, 7 Jat (posthumous); Sepoy Sarwan Kumar Dhukiya, Jat/34 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous). 

• Gallantry awards for cops

• Police Medals for meritorious service

Kilo subs get more teeth
Mumbai, August 14
The Indian Navy’s submarine fleet has got added teeth with three of its Sindhugosh class submarine being equipped with missiles. 

Samjhauta brings problem of overstaying
New Delhi, August 14
With the Ministry of Home Affairs giving its nod for the resumption of the Samjhauta Express, security officials here are more worried about handling the problem of overstaying of people than about the smuggling of illegal weapons and counterfeit currencies.

BRIEFLY

A child, with the Tricolour painted on his forehead, attend a function on the eve of Independence Day in Mumbai on Thursday. — PTI

	Joint exercises with three foreign navies on anvil August 14, 2003
	No move to change poll schedule, says BJP August 13, 2003
	HC orders govt to test Pepsi products August 12, 2003
	Why did Pak official spill beans on Kashmir issue? August 11, 2003
	3 suspended for Parliament security lapse August 10, 2003
	Parliament adjourned over PAC issue August 9, 2003
	Cabinet meeting to decide AJT’s fate August 8, 2003
	Govt under attack for favouring Star News August 7, 2003
	Kalam shares grief of MiG-21 victim’s kin August 6, 2003

Self- styled UP social activist Shreenath campaigns against social corruption during the Kumbh Mela at Sadhu village in Nasik on Thursday. — PTI

Opposition RS members write to Shekhawat
New Delhi, August 14
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh, and eight other members have expressed reservations over certain observations and ruling made by Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat yesterday and hoped that he would uphold the tradition of the presiding officers “not involving themselves in the thicket of politics.’’ 

NASA award winner returns home
Kolkata, August 14
The Mars Odyssey Mission, 2001 Bengali boy — Amitabha Ghosh — has returned to his home town here after successfully participating in the launch of a NASA spacecraft carrying Martin Rover Opportunity. 

Punjab’s proposal on inclusion of castes accepted
New Delhi, August 14
The Centre has accepted one proposal of Punjab out of the 82 sent by states and union territories across the country for the inclusion of certain castes in the Scheduled Castes list.

Star News to launch I-Day programme
New Delhi, August 14
Star News will launch a special programme, “Mera Gaon Mera Desh”, tomorrow. The programme will focus on how new age technology and inspired innovations have improved the lives of rural India.

George boosts morale of troops
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
Going further on the peace initiative taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said India was prepared to initiate cooperation in security related affairs with Pakistan as well as China provided there was a “total end” to cross-border terrorism.

Pointing out that India recently had taken a number of steps to improve relations with Pakistan and as a result there was some positive outcome, he said cross-border terrorism had not come to an end altogether.

The Defence Minister in his address to the troops on the eve of the Independence Day, however, stressed that the armed forces should remain fully prepared to face any challenge from terrorists.

“Terrorists have no commitment to any religion or country and recent attacks on pilgrims at Vaishno Devi and on the Army camp at Akhnoor are proof of it,” the Minister said. He praised the troops for their commitment even in the UN missions and said Indian soldiers were in demand for UN peace missions.

Mr Fernandes praised the Border Road Organisation for its contribution during Kargil and other Army activities, adding that the organisation had not only worked in the country but also in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bhutan.

Kalam, PM send greetings to Pak
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today greeted their Pakistani counterparts on the occasion of Pakistan’s independence day. The Indian leaders in their messages emphasised that the two countries should put behind the climate of mistrust and move towards peaceful cooperation, rejecting violence and confrontation.

In his message to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Dr Kalam observed that the “positive momentum” generated in bilateral relations in the recent past should be consolidated and carried forward.

President Kalam said, “The menace of terrorism poses a serious threat to our societies. It is incumbent upon us to unitedly fight the menace for its complete eradication”. Mr Vajpayee in his message to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali hoped that “our two countries can put behind us the climate of mistrust and suspicion and move towards peaceful and fruitful cooperation, rejecting violence and confrontation”. 

Honour for defence personnel

New Delhi, August 14
Following is the list of Defence personnel honoured on Independence Day.

Ashoka Chakra: Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri (posthumous) (Army).

Kirti Chakra: Maj Inderjeet Singh Babbar, Artillery (posthumous); Capt Dilip Kumar Jha, Army Ordnance Corps (posthumous); Sub Dil Bahadur Thapa, 9 Assam; Lance Naik Sohanvir, 7 Jat (posthumous); Sepoy Sarwan Kumar Dhukiya, Jat/34 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Grenadier Anil Kumar, 13 Grenadiers (posthumous) (All Army); and Shri Virender Prasad Purohit, Commandant, BSF (posthumous) (MHA).

Shaurya Chakra: Maj Uday Kumar Yadav, Maratha Light Infantry/8 Assam Rifles; Maj Chathoth Binu Bharathan, 18 Madras; Maj Vikas Gupta, 11 Maratha Light Infantry; Capt Shankar Gopinathan, SM, Bihar /4 Corps Int and F.S. Company; Capt Sachin Shivraj Randale, SM, Artillery/6 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Navpal Singh Sidhu, Maratha Light Infantry/ 27 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Capt Umang Bhardwaj, Army Service Corps/ 7 Jat (posthumous); Capt Anirban Deka Army, Medical Corps/16 Punjabn; Sub Lallan Ram, GREF /120 RCC (posthumous); Havildar Sahib Singh, 9 Para (Posthumous); Havildar Raj Singh, 8 Grenadiers (posthumous); Havildar Rajvir Singh, Jat/34 Rashtriya Rifles; Havildar Pabinder Kumar, 2 Dogra; Havildar Manjit Singh, 15 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles; Lance Havildar Roman Sunil Maruti, 11 Maratha Light Infantry; Naik Avtar Singh, 16 Punjab; Naik Swarn Singh, 21 Jat; Lance Naik Rajneesh Kumar, 1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (posthumous); Lance Naik Krishna Murthy G, 18 Madras; and Lance Naik Ran Bahadur Hamal, 4/9 Gorkha Rifles, (all from the Army).

Lance Naik Bhim Bahadur Thapa, 4/9 Gorkha Rifles; Lance Naik Sarangthem Ingocha Singh, Mech Infantry/42 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Lance Naik Shinu Thomas, Engineer/109 RCC (posthumous); Sepoy Sukhraj Singh, 16 Punjab; Sepoy Mane Paramanand Shivaji, Maratha Light Infantry/17 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Sepoy Sandeep Kumar, Rajput/10 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Sepoy Jagat Singh, Rajput/10 Rasthriya Rifles; Sepoy Paramjit Singh, Sikh/6 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Rifleman Prem Bahadur, 3/1 Gorkha Rifles (posthumous); Paratrooper Bhupinder Singh, 2 Para (Special Forces); Guardsman Md Hasanuzzaman SK, Guards/21 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous) (all from the Army); Umakant Panigrahi, LS CD II, (posthumous) (Navy), Operator Excavating Machinery: Ravi Chandra Reddy (posthumous) (BRDB); Ravi Jee Fotedar, Sub-Inspector, J&K Police (posthumous); Ranbir Singh, Sub-Inspector, J&K Police (posthumous); B.B. Rathwa, Head Constable, Gujarat Police; and Gulzar Ahmed Dar, Constable, J&K Police (posthumous) (all from the MHA).

Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry): Maj Surendra Kumar Baliwal, SM, Mahar/30 Rashtirya Rifles; Maj Satbir Singh, SM, 2 JAT; Major Balusu Srinivas, SM, Grenadiers/29 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Atul Kumar Ghildiyal, SM, Dogra/20 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Major Kirpal Singh Gill, SM, 1 Maratha Light Infantry; Naik Dharmvir Singh, SM, 7 JAT; and Sepoy Shaikh Mukhtar Mahibub, SM, Maratha Light Infantry/27 Rashtriya Rifles (all from the Army).

Sena Medal (Gallantry): Maj Padam Bahadur Gurung, 2 Dogra; Maj Madhur Goyal, Jat/34 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Rajendra Kumar, Rajputana Rifles/18 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Daljeet Singh Ahlawat, 21 Assam Rifles, Maj Devinder Singh Dalal, Army Service Corps/17 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Garikapati Satya Prakash Raju, 7 Jat; Maj Anil Gorshi, Para/31 Rashtriya Rifles (CDO); Maj Vivek Singh Bhandral, 21 Para (posthumous); Maj Ravi Kishor Chauhan, Rajputana Rifles/9 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Vallury Nagendra Rao, Engineers/36 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Tushar Joshi, Kumaon/51 SAG, National Security Guards; Maj Balraj Gurung, 9 Para (SF); Maj Sanjay Sinha, 4 Grenadiers; Maj Atul Rajput, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles/28 Rashtriya Rifles; Maj Vanguru Ravi, AD Arty/51 SAG, National Security Guards; Maj Yashen Ramesh Acharya, Rajput/44 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Maj Rajesh Yadav, 1 Maratha Light Infantry; Maj Hanumant Singh Jamwal, Artillery/169 Field Regiment; Maj Sumit Sinha, 3 Sikh; Maj Peeyush Vyas, 1/4 Gorkha Rifles; Maj Pawan Deep Singh Bal, 21 Bihar; Maj Abhijeet Singh, 7 Para; Capt Veluswamy Tirupathi, Intelligence Corps/No 2 Detachment Eastern Command (posthumous); Capt Udai Singh, Para/22; Capt Rakesh Pachora, Armd Corps/5 Assam Rifles; Capt Rajesh Sharma, Grenadiers/29 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Pallipuram Rajamani Vinayak, 2 Para; and Capt Kumar Ranvijay, Punjab/37 Rashtriya Rifles (all from the Army).

Capt Laleet Kumar Mohanty, Artillery/9 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Kapil Yadav, 9 Para (Special Forces); Capt Binesh Nair, 2 Para (Special Forces), Capt Saurabh Kalgaonkar, 16 Punjab; Capt Deepak Sharma, Sikh/16 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Sumit Sheron, 16 Punjab; Capt S. Suneel Reddy, Signals/44 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Vinay, 3 Dogra; Capt Rakesh Chandra Barthwal, Garhwal Rifles/36 Rashtriya Rifles; Capt Praneet Dangwal, 2 Para; Capt Abhishek Kulshrestha, 15 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles; Capt Shreyans Kumar Gandhi, 53 Engr Regt (posthumous); Capt Kumar Gaurav Mehta, AOC, 15 Garh Rif; Capt Ashutosh Sahai, Army Service Corps/9 Assam; Capt Vikas Kakkar, 7 Sikh; Capt Vikram, 8 Bihar; Lieut Navjot Singh, 3 Dogra; Lieut Munish Kumar Sharma, 19 Punjab; Lieut Sidda Ramesh M. Rampur,11 Maratha Light Infantry; Lieut Shekhar Attri, 2 Para; Lieut Sambhav Khugshal, Artillery/ 14 Fd Regt; Lieut Sumeet Sharma, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry; Lieut Prageet Kumar, Army Ordnance Corps/7 Kumaon; Lieut Arjun Mohan, 7 Kumaon; Lieut Manohar Singh, Bhati 9 Para (SF); Subedar Hausunmang Zou, 1 Assam; Subedar Rajesh Kumar, Bihar/24 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Subedar Vinayak Ram Rao Aher; Artillery/169 Field Regiment; Subedar Kalu Ram Saran, Para/31 Rashtriya Rifles (CDO); Subedar Madhukar Ganpati Inder, 11 Maratha Light Infantry; Subedar Bahadur Singh, Rajputana Rifles/18 Rashtriya Rifles; Subedar Prem Singh, Rajput/10 Rashtriya Rifles; Subedar Laxman Singh, 21 Jat; Subedar Amrit Singh, 3 Sikh; Subedar Suraj Parkash Rana, Dogra/11 Rashtriya Rifles; Subedar Bijoy Kumar Narzary, 1 Assam; Subedar Ghanshyam, Mahar/30 Rashtriya Rifles; Subedar Subash Chander, 9 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles; and Subedar Badar Din, 15 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. (all from the Army). Subedar Shamsher Singh, 1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (posthumous); Risaldar Haripal Datta, Armoured Corps/24 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Naib Risaldar Suresh Chand, Armoured Corps/14 Rashtriya Rifles; Naib Subedar Sultan Singh, 9 Para (SF); Naib Subedar Mohinder Singh, 9 Para (SF); Naib Subedar Ramesh Chand, 24 Punjab (posthumous); Naib Subedar V. Dhanapal, 18 Madras; Naib Subedar Saulnkhe Ravsaheb Ramchandra, Maratha Light Infantry 27 Rashtriya Rifles; Naib Subedar Dnyaneshwar Ganpati Wangekar, 11 Mahartha Light Infantry; Naib Subedar Anup Singh, Rajputana Rifles/18 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous); Naib Subedar Ram Niwas Rajputana, Rifles/9 Rashtriya Rifles; Naib Subedar Jhirmal Singh, 3 Sikh; Naib Subedar Tarlochan Singh, 7 Sikh; Naib Subedar Som Datt, Dogra/40 Rashtriya Rifles; Naib Subedar Charan Dass, 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (posthumous); Naib Subedar Prem Bahadur Thapa, 4/1 Gorkha Rifles; Havildar Ramesh Kumar, 24 Punjab; Havildar Rachhpal Singh, 16 Punjab; Havildar Dinakaran C, 18 Madras; Havildar Ajay Pal Singh, 2 Rajput; Havildar Dharamveer Singh, 7 Jat; Havildar Nahar Singh, 7 Jat; Havildar Lakhbir Singh, 5 Sikh; Havildar Puran Singh, 15 Garhwal Rifles; Havildar Dalbir Singh, 7 Kumaon; Havildar Najim Singh, 7 Kumaon; Havildar Ramesh Partap Singh, 8 Bihar (posthumous); Havildar Ramani Kanta Das, Assam/35 Rashtriya Rifles; Havildar Jaswant Singh, Mahar/1 Rashtriya Rifles; Havildar Sunil Kumar Gurung, 2/4 Gorkha Rifles; Havildar Til Bahadur Thapa, 2/4 Gorkha Rifles; Havildar Mohan Bahadur Shahi, 4/9 Gorkha Rifles;

Havildar Anar Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry/10 Rashtriya Rifles; Havildar Bir Bahadur Thapa, 2 Para; Havildar Numal Chandra Gogai, 9 Para; Havildar Ranjit Singh, 9 Para; and Havildar Narendra Kumar Thakur, 2 Para. (all from the Army).

Havildar Amarjit Singh - Jammu and Kashmir Rifles/31 Rashtriya Rifles (CDO), Lance Havildar Mohan Lal - Grenadier/39 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), Lance Havildar Piare Rame 6 Grenadiers, Lance Havildar Bhosale Jaypal Shivaji, 11 Maratha Light infantry, Lance Havildar Jagdish Prasad - 21 Jat, Lance Havildar Baljit Singh - 7 Sikh. Lance Havildar Dilip Chhetri - 4/9 Gorkha Rifles, Naik Kuldeep Raj - Engineers/39 Rashtriya Rifles. Naik Kuldeep Singh Punjab/37 Rashtriya Rifles. Naik Mahantesh, 18 Madras, Naik Raj Kumar, 22 Grenadiers (posthumous), Naik Abid Ali, 5 Grenadiers (posthumous), Naik Rokade Ramesh Vithalrao - Maratha Light Infantry/41 Rashtriya Rifles, Naik Santosh Sawant - Maratha Light Infantry/41 Rashtriya Rifles, Naik Nivrutti Patil - 11 Maqratha Light Infantry. Naik Amar Singh - 4 Kumaon, Naik Dinesh Singh - 9 Para, Naik Gauri Shanker Kanti - 8 Bihar, Naik Thanghua Pautu, 9 Assam. Naik Harsh Bahadur Thapa - 4/1 Gorkha Rifles (posthumous), Naik Gaikwad Raju Sandhu - Guards/21 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous). Naik Dhani Ram - Artillery/43 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Rajendra Kumar - Punjab/22 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Satpal Singh - Punjab/37 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Gurdev Singh - 24 Punjab, Lance Naik Sanjeev Singh Thakur - Grenadiers/12 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Chandrakant Raosaheb Ainapure, Maratha Light Infantry/17 Rashtriya Rifles. Lance Naik Anil Kumar - 13 Rajputana Rifles, Lance Naik Sugreen - Rajputana Rifles/18 Rashtriya Rifle, Lance Naik Devendra Singh Bhadoria - 6 Rajput, Lance Naik Raj Kumar - 7 Jat, Lance Naik Gurmeet Singh, 3 Sikh, Lance Naik Sahib Singh - 3 Sikh, Lance Naik Pan Singh - 16 Garhwal Rifles, Lance Naik Jagdish Singh - Garhwal Rifles/14 Rshtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Devraj Singh - Sikh Light Infantry/19 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Randhir Singh - Sikh Light Infantry/2 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Sudhdev Singh - 11 Sikh Light Infantry. Lance Naik Kanchan Mukhia - 7/11 Gorkha Rifles, Lance Naik Benoor Rai - 3/11 Gorkha Rifles, Lance Naik Mohd Salahuddin - 113 INF (TA) (posthumous), Lance Naik Naik Indresh Singh - Guards/21 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Puran Singh - 1 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Lance Naik Surendra Kumar Sahoo - Mech Infantry/5 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Jitendra Singh - Signals/22 Rashtiyra Rifles (posthumous), Sepoy Kuldeep Singh - Punjab/22 Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy TS Jenish Madras/38 Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), Sepoy Athimoola Somasundara Shanmugam, Madras/25 Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy S Velmurugan - 17 Madras, Sepoy M Rasheed - 18 Madras, Sepoy Samudre Santosh Wasudeo - Maratha Light Infantry/41 Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Mane Santosh Ankusharao - 18 Maratha Light Infentary, Sepoy Ranjne Rajesh Laxman - 1 Maratha Light Infentary, Sepoy Shaik Khadar Basha - 11 Maratha Light Infentary. Sepoy Baljinder Singh, 3 Sikh, Sepoy Jaswinder Singh - Sikh/6 Rashtriya Rifles, and Sepoy Ramesh Kumar Dogra/11 Rashtriya Rifles. — UNI (incomplete list)

Gallantry awards for cops

New Delhi, August 14
The President today announced Gallantry Awards from various state police force from the region.

New Delhi

President’s Police Medal for Gallantry: Rajbir Singh, ACP, Mohan Chand Sharma, Inspector, Badrish Dutt, Sub-Inspector, Sharat Kohli, Sub-Inspector

Police Medal for Gallantry: H.P.S. Cheema, ACP.

Jammu and Kashmir

President’s Police Medal for Gallantry: Tasaduq Hussain, Head Constable, Mohd Ahraf, Head Constable, Gopal Dass, Constable, Jaswant Singh, (posthumously), Constable, Rajinder Kumar, (posthumously), Constable, Balvinder Singh, (posthumously), Asstt Sub-Inspector, Rashad Ahmed Malik, PSI, Kuldeep Kumar Sharma, (posthumously), Dy SP, Mangal Singh, Constable.

Police Medal for Gallantry: M.A. Shah, IPS, DIG (Ist Bar to PMG), Showkat Ahmed Malik Sr Supdt of Police, Jhanghbahadur Constable, Rajan Kumar Raina Constable (SG), Mohd Rafiq Constable (SG), Deepak Kumar Sr Supdt of Police, Benam Tosh Dy SP, Trilochan Singh, (posthumously), Constable, Wazir Mohd, Constable, Joginder Singh, Constable, Jaswant Singh Katoch. Dy SP, Gurnandan Singh, Constable, Romesh Giri, Constable, Nazir Ahmed, Head Constable, Mohd Yousuf, (posthumously), Constable, Yash Paul, (posthumously), Constable, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, Supdt of Police, Kakaji Koul, Sub-Inspector, Ichpal Singh, Head Constable, Rajesh Bali, Dy SP, Avtar Singh, Sg Ct, Vijay Kumar, IPS, Supdt of Police, Bhupinder Singh, SG, Ct, Mukesh Singh, IPS, Supdt of Police, Dinesh Gupta, Inspector, Jagdev Singh, (posthumously), SG, Ct, Bashir Ahmed, Constable, Dilbagh Singh. DIG, Amjad Parve Mirza, Supdt of Police, Shiv Kumar Singh, SDPO, S Jagtar Singh (Bar to PMG), (posthumously), Dy SP, Ravinder Singh, Sub-Inspector, Hardeep Singh, SG Ct, Ravinder Kumar, Constable, Qadir Hussain, Constable, Lakshimi Kant, Sub-Inspector, Farooq Ahmed, IPS, DIG, R R Swain IPS, Sr Supdt of Police, Mohd Yousuf, (posthumously), Sub-Inspector, P.L. Gupta, IPS, IGP, Dilbagh Singh, IPS, DIG, Farooq Khan, IPS, Sr Supdt of Police, Prabhat Singh, Supdt of Police, Mubassir Latifi, Dy SP (Hqrs), R.K. Chalotra, SDPO, Sultan Mirza, Sub-Inspector, Balwan Singh, SG, Constable, S.S. Bijral, DIG, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Inspector, Javid Ahmed Wani, Manjit Singh, Dy SP, Anil Kumar, SG, Ct, Altaf Hussain Shah, Dy SP, Dr Kamal Saini, IPS, Sr Supdt of Police, Karnail Singh, Supdt of Police.

Punjab

Police Medal for Gallantry: Snehdeep Sharma, Dy SP, Pupinder Kumar, Constable, H.S. Sidhu, IPS, Sr Supdt of Police, Kuldip Singh, ASI, Amajit Singh, C-II, Shamsher Singh, C-II.

Police Medals for meritorious service

New Delhi, August 14
The President today awarded 49 Distinguished Service Medals.

Delhi

Ponnuswamy Kamaraj, ACP, Tej Ram, ACP, Rajan Bhagat, ACP, V.K. Yadav, Inspector, Mohan Singh, Inspector, G.S. Meena, Inspector, Nasib Singh, SI, Raj Singh, SI, Manju Dubey, SI, Kavinder Kumar, HC.

Haryana

Sham Singh, DSP, Ranbir Singh, Inspector, Shamsher Singh, Inspector, Suresh Pal Singh, SI, Satbir Singh, SI, Surjit Singh, SI, Sat Pal, HC.

Himachal

Prithvi Raj, DIG, V.S. Kanwar, ASP.

Jammu and Kashmir

Dilbag Singh, DIG, Johny William, SSP, R.P. Rasortra, SSP, S. Parminder Singh, SSP, S.K. Gupta, AIG, Javaid Riyaz, SSP, Ali Mohammad Bhat, SSP, J.L. Sharma, SSP, Javaid Iqbal Farooqi, DSP, SB Hqrs Srinagar, Nana Ji Bhat, DSP.

Punjab

Narinder Sharma, IGP, C.S.R. Reddy, DIG, V.K. Bhawra, DIG, Paramjit Singh, Asst Comdt, Jagmohan Singh, DSP, Satpal Singh, DSP, Harbhajan Singh, Inspector, Jagroop Singh, Inspector, Tirath Singh, Inspector, Puni Chand, Inspector, Gian Singh, SI, Yash Paul, SI, Gurvinder Singh, ASI.

Chandigarh

Har Sahai, SI, Yad Ram, SI. — UNI

Kilo subs get more teeth
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, August 14
The Indian Navy’s submarine fleet has got added teeth with three of its Sindhugosh class submarine being equipped with missiles.

Officers at INS Vajrabahu, the navy’s submarine warfare establishment, said that some of the submarines have been upgraded as missile-capable vessels under an upgradation programme.

“INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhukesari and INS Sindhugosh have been armed with long range missiles,” a submariner said. The modification project was undertaken in Russia.

The implication of submarines being armed with missiles is not lost on anyone. The modified missiles would be able to attack surface or shore targets at a range of over 100 km, thereby adding a considerable boost to the Navy’s strike capability. Earlier, these submarines could fire torpedoes, which have a limited range.

One officer put the range of the missiles being carried on these submarines at 250 km.

At present, the Navy has a fleet of 16 submarines, out of which 10 are Sindhugosh class. These are originally Soviet Kilo class submarines. Naval officers said that these submarines are designed for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare in the protection of naval bases, coastal installations and sea lanes, and also for general reconnaissance and patrol missions.

The Kilo is considered to be of the quietest diesel submarines in the world. 

Samjhauta brings problem of overstaying
J. T. Vishnu
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
With the Ministry of Home Affairs giving its nod for the resumption of the Samjhauta Express, security officials here are more worried about handling the problem of overstaying of people than about the smuggling of illegal weapons and counterfeit currencies.

One major problem the police faces is of people overstaying deliberately or for genuine reasons. “If their problems are found to be genuine, then we excuse them and help them reach their country. Otherwise, they are booked under the Foreigners Act which can land them in jail for about one year,” a senior police officer explained.

Before the train service was stopped in 2001 following the December 13 attack on Parliament House, as many as 103 persons were arrested and later released for overstaying in Delhi. “Even now, we have three persons in custody for committing the same offence,” the official said.

Normally, two types of visas are issued — the short term and long term ones. The other visa called “Category of Exemption,” is given to important personalities like diplomats, government officials, celebrities and mediapersons where the police does not monitor their arrival and departure because of their special status.

Sources say that due to the tight security arrangements, the possibility of smuggling weapons and counterfeit currencies is very low. Instead, they try to sneak into Delhi from Jammu and Kashmir and the Bangladesh and Nepal borders for carrying out nefarious activities.

The Delhi police and immigration officers apprehend an increase in the workload as there would have to be a thorough checking system at the railway stations like frisking people, checking the luggage and trains for explosive materials with the help of bomb disposal and dog squads. Adequate police personnel will also have to be deployed in the train for the purpose of security.

“We are yet to work out the minimum luggage weight to be carried by each passenger and one station where it normally stops. Earlier, the train used to stop at Ludhiana station. Once the MEA and MHA decide then the railway authorities of both India and Pakistan would meet to finalise the details,” another official said.

During the baggage check, Delhi passengers are mostly found carrying paan, Basmati and mangoes in large quantities for their family members and friends in Pakistan, add sources.

Delhi police security officials will also have an online link-up system with Atari station and computerised monitoring of arrival and departure will be in place at Old Delhi railway station.

Since the Delhi-Lahore-Delhi bus traverses three states, the security officials of the three states provide security to the bus. First, the Delhi police security and escort follow the bus till Singhu in Haryana, then the Haryana police takes over till the Punjab border and then the Punjab police takes over till it reaches Lahore. In between, the bus stops at two places — Pipli in Haryana and Kapurthala in Punjab.

Opposition RS members write to Shekhawat
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh, and eight other members have expressed reservations over certain observations and ruling made by Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat yesterday and hoped that he would uphold the tradition of the presiding officers “not involving themselves in the thicket of politics.’’ In a letter to Mr Shekhawat, the Rajya Sabha members said they had no intention to question the rulings of the Chairman, nor show disrespect to the Chair. “Our fight is against the insensitive attitude of the government.’’

They said that they would continue their non-cooperation with the government by not participating in the proceedings of the House in the remaining part of the current session. “However, since we have committed to extend our support to the Constitution Amendment Bills, we will do so when the Bills are debated on August 19,’’ they said. The members said in the letter that Mr Shekhawat’s observation that the Defence Minister would reply to the debate had to come from the government.

Whether or not the PAC had raised appropriate queries seeking a report of the CVC in relation to Operation Vijay was also a matter to be responded to by the government alone, they said.

“Also, your observations on the functioning of the (PAC) as part of his ruling, is likely to be interpreted as interference with the functioning of the Lok Sabha. PAC is essentially a committee of the Lok Sabha though seven members of the Rajya Sabha are also associated with it,’’ they said.

“We believe that you would allow political issues to be resolved between the government and the Opposition on the floor of the House and act as an arbirator... We are sure that in times to come, you will chose to abstain from deciding for and on behalf of others while the government and the Opposition debated and decided matters on the floor of the House,’’ the members said.

NASA award winner returns home
Subhrangshu Gupta

Kolkata, August 14
The Mars Odyssey Mission, 2001 Bengali boy — Amitabha Ghosh — has returned to his home town here after successfully participating in the launch of a NASA spacecraft carrying Martin Rover Opportunity. And it is his brief pause before the launch of another expedition to the moon next year.

The Kharagpur IIT boy now in his early thirties, says his dream has so far been half fulfilled. Amitabha Ghosh has been associated with NASA for eight years in trying to exploring the mystery of the moon and the universe.

Punjab’s proposal on inclusion of castes accepted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
The Centre has accepted one proposal of Punjab out of the 82 sent by states and union territories across the country for the inclusion of certain castes in the Scheduled Castes list.

The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr Kailash Meghwal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said 82 proposals regarding inclusion of cerain castes were received from state governments and UTs during the past three years.

While one proposal from the Punjab Government has been accepted, remaining proposals are in different stages of processing as per approved modalities. Thirty-eight of them have been referred to the Registrar General of India while the remaining 43 have been sent to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The minister said as the proposals were required to be processed in consultation with various agencies, no time frame could be assigned for finalising them.

Star News to launch I-Day programme
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
Star News will launch a special programme,“Mera Gaon Mera Desh”, tomorrow.

The programme will focus on how new age technology and inspired innovations have improved the lives of rural India.

The August 15 airing will be a special half-hour episode while the show, a 15-minute daily, will be airing from August 18.

The programme bring will being stories about “how access to new economy has made worldwide developmental tools easily available to developing India, thus broadening the options from raising the quality of life to adopting new age agriculture and farming equipments”, a press note issued by Star News said.

BRIEFLY

SIX KILLED IN BOMB BLAST
IMPHAL: Militants on Thursday exploded a powerful bomb killing six persons, including three women, and injured over 15 others travelling in a bus at the Lilong area in Imphal (West) district of Manipur ahead of Independence Day on Friday despite strict security measures, official sources said. However, no organisation or individual has claimed reponsibility for the blast. — PTI

PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED
BHUBANESWAR: Four prisoners serving life sentence in different jails in Orissa will be released prematurely on the eve of the Independence Day. According to official sources, two of the four prisoners who had already served 14 years’ imprisonment had submitted mercy petition to Governor M M Rajendran for their release from the jail. — UNI

FORMER UNI JOURNALIST DEAD
MUMBAI: Senior journalist and former Chief Reporter of the United News of India here, Dilip Chakravarty, died at a hospital on Thursday following renal failure. He was 54 and is survived a son. Chakravarty had served as Bureau-in-charge of UNI at Agartala and also did a stint at Raipur. He had covered the Bhopal Gas tragedy extensively and was co-author of a book on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) published by the All India Association of Industries here. — UNI

PROJECT TO RESTORE JAISALMER FORT
NEW DELHI: The New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF) is joining hands with the Indian Government to extend assistance of about Rs 2.5 crore for the restoration of the Jaisalmer Fort, which is a world heritage site. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed on Wednesday between senior officials of the WMF, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund (NCF) in the presence of Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan and Director of the WMF Mark Weber here. — TNS