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News18
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
How Jodhpur Lived Through 1965 And 1971 Wars In 'L' And 'U' Trenches
Last Updated: Veterans recall past India-Pakistan wars where civilian courage became a key defence, turning fear into resilience amid intense attacks and bombing raids India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan 's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict. In Jodhpur, veterans and senior citizens, who lived through the thunder of war decades ago in 1965 and 1971, recall the intensity of past attacks and how civilian fortitude turned into a crucial line of defence. Dalip Singh, who belongs to Jodhpur's erstwhile royal family and witnessed the 1965 war, recalls the night the city trembled. 'More than 200 bombs were dropped by the Pakistani Air Force. The first strike hit the Central Jail near the railway station where over 30 lives were lost," Singh told Local18. He described another targeted assault at the Sardar Club, where two heavy bombs were dropped in which one of them landed on the golf course and exploded. Decades later, Deepak Singh Gehlot, an entrepreneur and eyewitness to the 1971 war, saw fear sweeping through Jodhpur. 'The city transformed overnight. Trenches, five feet deep and shaped like Ls and Us, were dug everywhere. People had their dinners early and kept emergency bags ready. The moment the air raid siren howled, it was total blackout," he said. He also recalled the eerie silence as the civil defence jeeps prowled the streets, issuing warnings under cover of darkness. 'We used to sit by the radio, waiting to hear Prime Minister Indira Gandhi address the nation. Then, late into the night, Jodhpur's skies were lit by bombs once again," he added. In the 1971 war, Pakistan's air strikes on Punjab cities were followed by attacks on Jodhpur. But India retaliated with unmatched precision. Ten Para Commandos, supported by tanks, advanced nearly 80 kilometres into Sindh's Tharparkar district and captured Chhachhar – later returned as part of the Shimla Agreement. But beyond the battlegrounds, a quieter, yet equally determined resistance took shape across rural Rajasthan. In villages, the chaupals (the traditional community gathering places) turned into wartime classrooms. 'Schools were shut, and teachers taught children that showing light could betray the soldiers," said a former teacher from Barmer. Folk songs took on a patriotic fervour, with verses like ' Andheri Raat Ri Kahay Reech, Dushman Jave Dekhe Na Dekhe ' by Rahat Indori, teaching villagers to embrace darkness as an act of defiance. Women, too, played a powerful role. By night, with no lights to betray them, they knitted sweaters, socks, and jackets for soldiers on the front lines. One tale often retold in Jodhpur is of an elderly mother who, as she sent her son to war, said: 'You've extinguished the light of my courtyard; now return after lighting the flame of our nation." First Published:
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Houses of two peddlers facing 17 cases demolished
The Jalandhar police commissionerate, in coordination with the municipal corporation (MC), demolished two 'illegally' constructed houses owned by two drug peddlers, including a woman, on Wednesday. Police commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur Randhawa said the action followed credible intelligence inputs about the illegal constructions allegedly owned by notorious drug smugglers, identified as Dalip Singh of Guru Amardas Nagar and Nisha Khan of Ashok Vihar Colony. She said the properties were financed through proceeds from illicit drug trade. 'The demolished structures were reportedly being used as hideouts and escape routes by drug traffickers, who were habitual offenders with a long history of their involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities,' she said. According to the police commissioner, Dalip Singh has 11 pending cases against him under the NDPS Act, Arms Act and various sections of the IPC while Nisha Khan faces six pending cases under similar charges. 'The action is part of a broader campaign that targets not only individuals involved in drug trafficking but also the illegal infrastructure that enables their activities,' police commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur added. 4-kg heroin seized; woman held Tarn Taran The police arrested a woman and seized 4-kg heroin from her possession, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said. The accused has been identified as Rupinder Kaur, a resident of Dhanoe Khurd, Amritsar. 'A preliminary investigation reveals that Rupinder Kaur and her son Gaganpreet Singh have been actively involved in drug smuggling and have direct links with Pakistan-based smugglers,' the DGP said. An FIR has been registered at the Sarai Amanat Khan police station in Tarn Taran. Further investigation is underway to trace the forward and backward linkages of the network, he added.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
In India, cyber scams targeting elderly spark digital safety concerns
Two recent cyber fraud cases involving retired Indian army officers – including an octogenarian cheated out of his life savings – have raised alarms over the vulnerability of elderly citizens amid the country's rapid shift to a digital-first society. Advertisement In separate incidents, an 82-year-old veteran and a 59-year-old former colonel were targeted by fraudsters using impersonation, blackmail and romance scams – a pattern observers say reflects both a rise in cybercrimes and limited risk awareness among the elderly. The latest case involved Dalip Singh, a retired colonel from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, who said he and his wife were defrauded of 34 million rupees (US$395,000) over 10 days by criminals posing as federal law enforcement officials. According to Singh's police report, the perpetrators first contacted him via WhatsApp on March 18, claiming his bank account was linked to a money-laundering case involving the now-defunct Jet Airways and its jailed founder Naresh Goyal. The fraudsters convinced him of their credentials by showing Singh a picture of his ATM card and fabricated letters from the country's Supreme Court. Dalip Singh and his wife were defrauded of 34 million rupees over 10 days by criminals posing as federal law enforcement officials. Photo: Handout The couple, who were asked to keep their phones switched on at all times and remain at home throughout a 10-day period without contacting anyone, were made to transfer the money into several different bank accounts.
