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India.com
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
‘The Josh Was High, The Guns Were Ready': BSF's Neha Bhandari Recounts Fiery Night During Operation Sindoor
Jammu: The International Border (IB) was tense; the night was long; but the josh (morale) was off the charts. Border Security Force (BSF) Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari stood resolute and firm on the frontline – not as an observer but as a commanding officer. 'The josh was high...,' she said, while recalling the intensity and morale of soldiers during Operation Sindoor. The mission of her company was to stop all possible attempts of infiltration and hit back hard to secure the IB. While commanding a forward post along the IB during India's counter offensive of Pakistan's aggression, she performed her duty well and ensured safety of her country's territory. 'I was commanding a company deployed at the IB during Operation Sindoor at IB. We were tasked with foiling any infiltration attempt. We gave a fitting reply to Pakistan and fulfilled the responsibility were given,' said Bhandari. Her team strongly responded to the Pakistani aggression by using high and flat trajectory weapons. It was not only men this time. BSF women soldiers were in the thick of it. 'They carried out their duties shoulder-to-shoulder,' she said. With steel resolve, fire power and bunkers, the BSF held the line. Highlighting the preparedness of the force, Bhandari said that the BSF has well-fortified positions along the border to respond effectively to any threat. BSF DIG (Sector Sunderbani) Virender Dutta too addressed the media at the Frontier Headquarters in Jammu today and revealed that his sector witnessed heaviest shelling on the intervening night of May 8-9 during the operation, but the BSF destroyed two prominent Pakistani launchpads. 'Without wasting time, we planned and destroyed the Luni launchpad in the night. The launch pad, which was being used by the Pakistan Army, has not been occupied for 20 days, which shows that it has been destroyed. Similarly, there is no movement in Luni as well,' he stated. He said the Pakistani side used 120 heavy mortars, but the BSF retaliated and inflicted significant damage. To counter drone threats, he said, Air Defence (AD) guns were deployed and civilians were alerted to maintain safety. 'Ours was the only sector that led to heavy losses for them, and they used 120 heavy mortars, but we also replied accordingly. For drones, we placed the AD guns and also warned the people to stay safe,' he added. Dutta also issued a strong warning, 'If they (Pakistan) repeat this mistake again, then they will get beaten up even badly.' BSF DIG SS Mand provided further details, adding that real-time intelligence was received about terrorist movements. The BSF responded by launching bomb attacks on launchpads and a cemetery used as a hideout. 'We got to know about the movement of the terrorists, we took a call and attacked with bombs. They had one launchpad, and we received real-time input about their location at a cemetery. We attacked there also,' he said. Mand added that according to intercepted information, there were 7-12 casualties in the enemy camp, though confirmation is difficult due to restricted media access across the border. BSF DIG, RS Pura Sector, Chiter Pal commented on the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed, describing the resulting national mood as one of grief and determination. 'In Pahalgam, when the terrorists murdered our 26 innocent civilians, there was a feeling of sorrow and revenge in the nation. We received intelligence regarding Pakistan having an idea that such a revenge would be launched on our side, so they started moving the armed cars. But when Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, it was confirmed that they would also show some movement,' he said. He added that firing began on May 9 in his sector, escalating gradually, but the BSF silenced all enemy posts with a trained and coordinated response. 'In my area, they fired on the night of May 9. First, they fired from limited posts, but slowly they opened fire on all the posts in my sector. Our troops were trained to retaliate against the firing, and their (Pakistan's) posts were silenced,' Pal noted. Launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor has so far resulted in the elimination of more than 100 terrorists from Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operation also involved India's strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, damaging radar, communication and logistics infrastructure. The Indian offensive was followed by cross-border shelling, drone threats and eventually a ceasefire understanding announced on May 10 between India and Pakistan.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Unexpected meet of Akal Takht leaders sparks talk of SAD alliances
Amritsar: An unanticipated joint appearance of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, and Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, the parallel officiating jathedar of Akal Takht appointed during the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa, has caught Panthic circles off guard. Photographs of the meeting, uploaded on Giani Gargaj's Facebook page and circulated among mediapersons by the Akal Takht secretariat, has fuelled speculation among Sikh religious and political circles. According to sources, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is believed to be seeking to strengthen its political position by forging ties with hardline Sikh factions. Political analysts view the meeting as an effort to prevent these hardline groups from aligning with Waris Punjab De, a move that could further marginalise SAD already grappling with declining influence in the Panthic circles. The Facebook post, accompanying the photographs, reads, "Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, associated with a struggling (revolutionary) family, whose three brothers were martyred during the struggle, has been unwell for some time. A visit was made to his home to check on his health and meet with him." Stating that Mand's three brothers were allegedly killed in police encounters during the period of 'struggle' (militancy) in Punjab, Jarnail Singh Sakhira, the chief organiser of Sarbat Khalsa and a confidant of Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, said that Mand was unaware of Giani Gargaj's visit, which was sudden and unexpected. According to Sakhira, Giani Gargaj came with the intention of discussing "certain matters", but Mand insisted that such discussions could only take place in a private one-on-one meeting. Sakhira further said that team Sarbat Khalsa previously received informal 'feelers' from Waris Punjab De leader Amritpal Singh, detained under the National Security Act, seeking their support. However, the team chose to remain neutral. "We interpret Giani Gargaj's visit as an attempt to secure Mand's support, which could potentially strengthen the SAD's position," Sakhira said, adding that another meeting between the two religious leaders could be held in the future.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
BSF Busted Infiltration Bid By 50 Terrorists Backed By Pak During Op Sindoor
Samba(Jammu And Kashmir): The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration bid by 45-50 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on May 8, using heavy mortar fire to destroy enemy posts after Pakistan attempted to facilitate the infiltration along the International Border (IB) under the cover of ceasefire violations, BSF officials confirmed to ANI. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SS Mand, the BSF effectively responded to the shelling, destroyed enemy posts, and prevented the terrorists from entering Indian territory. The BSF official also added that the forces were well prepared and responded with heavy bombardment to stop the infiltration facilitated by Pakistan. "Our brave soldiers have inflicted great losses on them. We got intelligence that a large group is trying to infiltrate. We were ready for them and we detected them on 8 May. They were a group of 45-50 men... They were advancing to our location... We assessed the situation and since our scenario was war-gamed, we inflicted heavy bombardment on them... As expected, they retaliated with heavy fire from their posts... We opened up with heavy and accurate fire on them. That was a major factor. They were seen running away from their posts. We sorted them out in 1.5 hours..." DIG Mand told ANI. Mand added that BSF officers were present alongside soldiers at forward posts, which played a key role in boosting troop morale. He also praised the role of women soldiers, saying, "Our women troops stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, carrying out all duties effectively. We are truly proud of them." He further added, "Our officers were present with the soldiers on the forward posts. This was a major factor in the morale of our troops being very high... We decimated their bunkers and degraded their fire capacity... Our jawans are still very energised and if the enemy takes any action again, we will retaliate with ten times more force... BSF has these clear orders... Our women soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and executed all orders and duties effectively... We are really proud of our women troops..." Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Poonch Brigade headquarters on Wednesday. He met Indian Army soldiers and BSF personnel stationed in the area. In another development, the BSF has resumed the ceremonial evening retreat at all three Joint Check Posts (JCPs) along the Punjab border. The Beating Retreat ceremony, also known as the flag-lowering event, has resumed at the Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadqi JCPs. The event had been suspended on May 9 following the "barbaric" Pahalgam attack and the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor to avenge the victims of the terror attack. It is now open to the public again. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After India's strike on terror infrastructure, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as attempted drone attacks targeting civilian areas along the border regions. In response, India neutralised Pakistani air defence apparatus, radar infrastructure, and communication centres, and inflicted heavy damage across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding on the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
50 terrorists tried to enter India under cover of Pakistani shelling on May 8: BSF
The Border Security Force (BSF) stopped a big infiltration attempt by around 45 to 50 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on May 8, a senior BSF officer said. The attempt was reportedly supported by Pakistan and carried out under the cover of cross-border shelling. According to BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SS Mand, Pakistan violated the ceasefire and used heavy firing to help the terrorists cross the International Border. DIG Mand told news agency ANI, "Our brave soldiers have inflicted great losses on them. We got intelligence that a large group is trying to infiltrate. We were ready for them and we detected them on 8 May." 'They were a group of 45-50 men... They were advancing to our location... We assessed the situation and since our scenario was war-gamed, we inflicted heavy bombardment on them,' he added. Describing the incident in detail, Mand said, 'As expected, they retaliated with heavy fire from their posts... We opened up with heavy and accurate fire on them. That was a major factor. They were seen running away from their posts. We sorted them out in 1.5 hours." He said that BSF officers were present at forward positions, which helped maintain high morale among the troops. He praised the dedication of women soldiers as well. 'We decimated their bunkers and degraded their fire capacity... Our jawans are still very energised and if the enemy takes any action again, we will retaliate with ten times more force... BSF has these clear orders," Mand added. Speaking about women soldiers, he said, "Our women troops stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, carrying out all duties effectively. We are truly proud of them." In a related development, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, visited the Poonch Brigade headquarters on Wednesday. He met Army and BSF personnel stationed in the area. Meanwhile, the BSF has resumed the Beating Retreat ceremony at three Joint Check Posts along the Punjab border — Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadqi. The daily flag-lowering event had been suspended on May 9 after the Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor. It is now open to the public again. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Indian forces targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Following India's strikes, Pakistan responded with shelling along the Line of Control and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as drone attacks. India countered by damaging Pakistan's air defence, radar, and communication systems, and hit 11 of their airbases. On May 10, a ceasefire understanding was reached aiming to stop military action on land, sea and in the air. (With ANI inputs)
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF crushed infiltration bid of 50 terrorists facilitated by Pakistan during Op Sindoor in J-K's Samba: DIG Mand
The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration bid by 45-50 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir 's Samba district on May 8, using heavy mortar fire to destroy enemy posts after Pakistan attempted to facilitate the infiltration along the International Border (IB) under the cover of ceasefire violations , BSF officials confirmed to ANI. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SS Mand, the BSF effectively responded to the shelling, destroyed enemy posts, and prevented the terrorists from entering Indian territory. The BSF official also added that the forces were well prepared and responded with heavy bombardment to stop the infiltration facilitated by Pakistan. "Our brave soldiers have inflicted great losses on them. We got intelligence that a large group is trying to infiltrate. We were ready for them and we detected them on 8 May. They were a group of 45-50 men... They were advancing to our location... We assessed the situation and since our scenario was war-gamed, we inflicted heavy bombardment on them... As expected, they retaliated with heavy fire from their posts... We opened up with heavy and accurate fire on them. That was a major factor. They were seen running away from their posts. We sorted them out in 1.5 hours..." DIG Mand told ANI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Direct Shopping From Adidas Franchise to 50% off Adidas Buy Now Undo Mand added that BSF officers were present alongside soldiers at forward posts, which played a key role in boosting troop morale. He also praised the role of women soldiers, saying, "Our women troops stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, carrying out all duties effectively. We are truly proud of them." He further added, "Our officers were present with the soldiers on the forward posts. This was a major factor in the morale of our troops being very high... We decimated their bunkers and degraded their fire capacity... Our jawans are still very energised and if the enemy takes any action again, we will retaliate with ten times more force... BSF has these clear orders... Our women soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and executed all orders and duties effectively... We are really proud of our women troops..." Live Events Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Poonch Brigade headquarters on Wednesday. He met Indian Army soldiers and BSF personnel stationed in the area. In another development, the BSF has resumed the ceremonial evening retreat at all three Joint Check Posts (JCPs) along the Punjab border. The Beating Retreat ceremony, also known as the flag-lowering event, has resumed at the Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadqi JCPs. The event had been suspended on May 9 following the "barbaric" Pahalgam attack and the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor to avenge the victims of the terror attack. It is now open to the public again. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After India's strike on terror infrastructure, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as attempted drone attacks targeting civilian areas along the border regions. In response, India neutralised Pakistair defence apparatus, radar infrastructure, and communication centres, and inflicted heavy damage across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding on the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced.
