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Past meets present at
4 Gorkha Rifles reunion Maoist insurgents targeting Gorkha troops, says Gen Chaki
Shimla ready for rail centenary festivities One killed; murder case solved |
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One killed in clash Counters for senior
citizens sought Renuka
fair concludes
SFI holds rally
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Past meets present at
4 Gorkha Rifles reunion Subathu, November 8 Amidst an atmosphere of festivities, the past met the present, experiences were shared and old memories were brought alive. A large number of officers and men, including retired generals, pensioners from Nepal and two British officers joined in the celebrations. The reunion, a much-awaited event, is held once in five years. Addressing a special Sainik Sammelan, the Colonel of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles (4GR), Lieut-Gen Ashok Chaki, felicitated the personnel of the regiment for its stellar performance. Highlighting the traditions and history of the regiment since its raising in 1857, General Chaki delved upon the recent achievements of all five battalions of 4GR and 15 Rashtriya Rifles. He said 1/4GR, stated to be the best unit in the Northern Sector, now boasted of the highest tally of gallantry awards in the Army, while 14 GTC had won all competitions at the Army Day Parade this year. He also spoke about the achievements of the units during Operation Parakram, Operation Hill Kaka and deployments in the Eastern Sector.
Major Geoffery Lloyd, who came from the United Kingdom to attend the reunion, read out an address from Major Martin Fuller, Secretary of the 4GR Officers Association in the UK, in which regimental officers in the UK have extended their felicitations to their Indian counterparts. The address was in Gorkhali. Also present among the attendees was Col N.N. Appaya, who came all the way from the USA to attend the reunion. Earlier, a wreath-laying ceremony was organised at the Regimental War Memorial, where floral tributes were paid to those killed in the line of duty. A ceremonial guard reversed arms while buglers sounded the Last Post followed by the Rouse. A band also played select tunes to complement the proceedings. Later, sharing his experiences during his service with 4 GR, Maj Richard Poole, who arrived from Australia, said he first came to India in 1920, when he was just 10 months old. His father as well as his grandfather were here. After seeing action with the Gorkhas during World War II, he quit the Army on returning to the UK and studied mining engineering. Married to a Bengali woman, Shovana Chatterjee, the 83-year old officer said he later returned to India and had met his wife at Dhanbad in 1969. Regimental personnel who had performed commendably during the past few years and earned gallantry awards or citations during various operations were also honoured. These included Capt Anirban Bandyopadhayay (1/4GR) who was awarded the Sena Medal posthumously during counter-insurgency operations, Capt C.P.S. Khati (4/4GR), who was awarded Shaurya Chakra, Lance Nk Rojan Thapa (3/4GR), Til Bahadur (1/4GR), Praves Singh Thapa (2/4GR), Shiv Kumar (12 RR Sector) Sub Kosh Bahadur Gurung (1/4GR), Sub Jang Bahadur Thapa (3/4GR), Nb Sub Dev Bahadur Thapa (1/4GR), Nb Sub Man Bahadur Thapa (3/4GR), Hav Mandhoj Gurung (5/4GR), Bijay Thapa (5/4GR), Deeraj Thapa (4/4GR) and Sabin Kumar Bhujel (1/4GR). CHM Girman Singh Rana, Hav Bhas Bahadur Thapa and Hav Bir Bahadur Gurung of the 14 GTC Pipe Band were honoured for being selected among 350-odd pipers of the Army for attending band competitions in France and South Africa, where they also taught music to pipers from other countries. |
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Maoist insurgents targeting Gorkha troops, Subathu, November 8 General Chaki, while interacting with media persons during the reunion of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles (4GR) at the 14 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) here, said the situation was difficult for soldiers going home, though their loyalties to their regiment and the service were not being affected. He said despite the adverse situation in Nepal, recruitment of Gorkha troops into the Indian Army had not been affected in any way. “We continue to get a large number of aspirants and we are picking out the best among them,” he said. Nor has the situation affected the regimental spirit of the Gorkhas. Stating that the situation in Nepal was affecting the day-to-day lives of the local citizens as well as visitors, he pointed out the recent example where a British Army officer on official visit to Nepal was abducted by Maoist rebels. General Chaki, who is also President of the Gorkha Brigade and Colonel of 4GR, said at present about 50,000 Gorkha troops from Nepal were serving in the Indian Army, besides a large number of Gorkhas hailing from various Indian states. He said the recently introduced Ex-servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme would also be extended to Nepal during the implementation of phase-II of the scheme, which was scheduled to be done in about two years’ time. The Deputy Chief said at present ex-servicemen settled in Nepal could avail of the ECHS benefits in India at designated hospitals. Pointing out that the Army spent about Rs 3 crore per month on pensions for ex-servicemen in Nepal, he said all benefits applicable to ex-servicemen in India were extended to Indian Army, which is unlike the British system where the rates of pension are different for British and Gorkha pensioners.
— Vijay Mohan
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Shimla ready for rail centenary festivities Shimla, November 8 The rail track became operational on November 9 exactly a 100 years ago. Important stations on the track have been renovated and decorated for the occasion. The portals of tunnels have also been painted afresh, while some bridges, which were visible from the Shimla-Chandigarh National Highway, have also been decked up and illuminated. The main function, to be presided over by Mr Nitish Kumar, Union Minister for Railways, would be held at the Shimla station extension near the Bus Stand. The Union Minister would inaugurate a exhibition of old photos and tools associated with the rail track and release a postal stamp commemorating the centenary. He would travel from Shimla to Kaithlighat, along with other VVIPs, in a special train to be pulled by a 97-year-old steam engine. The heritage engine had been repaired and given a fresh coat of paint for the occasion. A number of activities would be organised. A heritage walk along the track from Kalka and a vintage car rally from Delhi would both culminate here tomorrow. The mounted Cavalry and Fusion band of the Army would regale the audience on the historic Ridge. The “dare devils” would be present a breathtaking display of manoeuvres on motor cycles. For a full one week the historic Gaiety Theatre would come alive with performances of top artistes including Anupam Kher, who is specially coming for the celebrations. The Railways also organised essay and painting competitions in schools over the past fortnight. The winners would be given prizes tomorrow. SOLAN: The Tourism Minister, Major Vijay Singh, on Saturday received the vintage car rally at Timber Trail Resort, near
Parwanoo. The rally was flagged off from Noida on Friday. The rally is a part of centenary celebrations of the Kalka-Shimla rail track. The vintage cars would receive a welcome from the schoolchildren all along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway. With the usual highway through Barog being too steep the Kumarhatti-Barog highway had been specially spruced up for the occasion. Five fire tenders had been deployed along the rail track in case of any emergency. A heavy posse of policemen has been deployed all over the district. |
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One killed; murder case solved Kangra, November 8 According to the police, the Baijnath police station today morning received information that Joginder Kumar was allegedly murdered in Kothi Khord village last evening with a sharp-edged weapon in a clash over a property dispute. This the third murder in the district during the last three days. Meanwhile, the Kangra police today claimed to have succeeded in solving a blind murder committed in the Patola Ichhi village near here yesterday and arrested a step-brother of the deceased for committing the murder, the police said here today. The Kangra district police chief, Mr S. Zahoor H. Zaidi, today said that Pappu (25) was arrested by the police for allegedly murdering his step-brother Hans Raj due to a property dispute. On Thursday night Hans Raj was in the fields when Pappu attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon on his neck four times and then strangulated him to death. Pappu then dragged the body and threw it in a nullah, Mr Zaidi said. He said that Pappu had confessed his crime and the sharp-edged weapon used in the crime had been recovered at his instance. Pappu was working a driver at Chandigarh. Meanwhile, an 18-year-old girl today allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in Birta village, falling under Kangra police station, as she was depressed due to her ailing health, the police said. The Kangra district additional police chief, Mr Santosh Patial, today said that Suneeta (18) was brought to a hospital here in a serious condition after she consumed some poisonous substance. She died without deposing before the police. |
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One killed in clash Hamirpur, November 8 An official spokesman said here today that the incident took place when the victim who was travelling in a jeep, asked a bus driver and others, who had parked his bus in a wrong direction on the main road, to allow him to pass. The driver refused and an altercation took place during which one of them attacked Rasal Singh and Prabhat Singh with a dagger and injured both of them seriously. The spokesman said that three persons had been arrested in this case while fourth was still at large. He added that the absconding person was suspected to be the main culprit. The arrested were identified as Ajit Kumar, Ajay Kumar and Rajesh. Ganga Singh was yet to be arrested. A case under Sections 302, 307 and 341(34), IPC, had been registered. |
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Counters for senior
citizens sought Chamba, November 8 Many a time, the claimants have to search for these bills themselves in files at the CMO’s office, where these are often found in mutilated condition. The retired officials have urged the Health Department to provide separate counters for senior citizens. Meanwhile, Mr P.C. Oberoi, district president of the Himachal Pensioners Kalyan Sangh, has urged the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission to take cognisance of the prevailing staff situation in the Zonal Hospital, Chamba. |
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Renuka fair concludes Renuka (Nahan), November 8 Palanquins of other deities were also taken back. Lakhs of devotees came from different north Indian states. “Fairs and festivals should be celebrated with local participation”, said Governor V.S. Kokje while presiding over the concluding function. He said there was need to preserve cultural and religious values. |
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NIT cultural fest begins Hamirpur, November 8 Students from various engineering colleges are taking part in the programme.
The former DGP asked students not to be disheartened by the failures. He said failure were ladders, to success and quoted the names of many persons who were not good at studies but later got famous. Earlier, Prof Chander Shekhar, the Director of the NIT, honoured the chief guest. Cultural programmes were presented by the students of the institute on this occasion. |
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SFI holds rally Kangra, November 8 The rally was led by Kuldeep Kumar, the state general secretary of the SFI and Brijender Mehra, a student activist. The protesters raised slogans against the government for ignoring the education system. |
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