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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Military Digest: Another Kargil Vijay Diwas, another reminder of some uneasy questions that should not be wished away
In just a few days, the country will celebrate the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas, marking the successful eviction of the Pakistan Army from the icy heights it had intruded upon in 1999. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the failures that allowed Pakistani troops to occupy Indian territory without detection. Celebrated annually on July 26, Kargil Vijay Diwas honours India's victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999. And while the bravery of the young officers and troops who snatched victory from the enemy's hands in the most treacherous terrains must be commemorated, it is equally important not to forget that there are many questions which remain unanswered till today. There have been numerous public accounts in recent years where senior officers have revealed that there were tell-tale signs indicating something was amiss weeks or months before the intrusions were actually discovered. Officers who were part of the higher echelons at the time have claimed over the years that it was known to Military Operations (MO) Directorate and Military Intelligence (MI) that Pakistan Army was replacing regular infantry battalions along the Line of Control (LoC) with Northern Light Infantry (NLI) units, the ones which eventually intruded into Indian territory. They claimed that the intelligence agencies and Army leadership made insufficient efforts to determine the reasons for this move, as well as where they were being utilised and for what purposes. The unrealistic frontage of 121 (Independent) Infantry Brigade headquartered in Kargil was 227 km, and it had about eight to nine battalions, including a BSF battalion under its Order of Battle (ORBAT). There was one battalion each in Dras, Kaksar, Chhani Gund, one in the central sector and one in Batalik. The brigade had 26 Maratha LI in Mushkoh and 9 Mahar in the gaps created by the withdrawal of the 28th Infantry Division, which had moved to the valley for counterinsurgency operations. This move has also been adversely commented upon in retrospect. The then Brigade Commander, Brigadier Surinder Singh, who was later moved out in the midst of operations and has since challenged his subsequent dismissal from service in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), has claimed over the years that he sounded sufficient warnings. In a conversation with this correspondent some years ago, Brig Surinder Singh mentioned that he had conducted a reconnaissance as soon as he was posted as Brigade Commander. He said that he found some defences had to be prepared, and he made a detailed report, requesting defence stores and identifying possible points of intrusion. The higher formation headquarters is alleged to have refused this request, as well as the demand for mines to be laid on LoC. He also said that he briefed higher headquarters on the sand model in the operations room and war-gamed it in August or September 1998. In Mushkoh, posts were vacated in the winter for six months and in Batalik for four to five months. The then brigade commander claimed that he advised against removing the battalions from these places, but they were still removed, which resulted in gaps being created on the LoC that the enemy exploited. According to Lt Gen K H Singh, who commanded the 27 Rajput Battalion during the Kargil conflict, a significant information gap existed at the end of 1998. By March 1999, there were reasonable inputs about the intrusions by Pakistanis. The General also said that tell-tale signs of the intrusions were revealed much earlier than when they were actually discovered in May 1999, and he gave examples of having seen signs of intruders while on a helicopter sortie with the GOC of the Division. In this context, a former officer of the 5th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (5 Para), ex-Major Manish Bhatnagar, has also raised several questions regarding the discovery of the intrusions and how these were subsequently handled during the conduct of operations. Bhatnagar was court-martialled in 2001 and dismissed from service. He had been found guilty of 'acts prejudicial to good order and military discipline' and handed out what seemed to be an excessive punishment disproportionate to the offence. The more serious charge against him pertained to disobeying a command to attack a position reportedly occupied by the Pakistan army. However, this charge could not be proven during his court-martial, and Bhatnagar was found not guilty. Bhatnagar contended during his trial that he had reported Pakistani intrusions well before they were discovered in May 1999 but that the Army top brass had disregarded his warnings. Bhatnagar's contention is that in January-February 1999, he observed and reported enemy activity at Point 5770, the northernmost and highest peak later reclaimed from Pakistani army regulars as part of Operation Vijay on June 29, 1999, by the 27th battalion of the Rajput Regiment. Bhatnagar said that he repeatedly reported enemy activities and exchange of fire while he was in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation close to Point 5770 and that he even spotted an enemy bunker and reported as above, in regular written situation reports, message log books and conversations up the chain of command to his then commanding officer, Col A K Srivastava. These reports were sent up the chain of command to Brigadier P C Katoch, then commander of the 102 Infantry Brigade and Major General V S Budhwar, then general officer commanding of the 3 Infantry Division. These claims and statements cannot be wished away, and till a definite answer is found to them, they will continue to resonate on every Kargil war anniversary.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Joy in Kila Raipur as bill paves way for return of bullock cart races
The bullock cart races of Kila Raipur are all set to make a comeback, with Punjab Vidhan Sabha passing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025, clearing the legal roadblocks that had long stalled these traditional races. The president of the Kila Raipur Sports Association, Col Surinder Singh (retd), expressed his happiness and thanked everyone who supported the cause. (HT Photo) President Droupadi Murmu had already given her assent to the bill earlier this year on February 27, paving the way for the resumption of bullock cart racing under certain conditions. With the Punjab assembly now formally passing the bill, organisers can once again begin preparing for the return of one of the Punjab's oldest rural sporting traditions. The president of the Kila Raipur Sports Association, Col Surinder Singh (retd), expressed his happiness and thanked everyone who supported the cause. 'It is a historic day for us. After years of legal hurdles and tireless efforts by our association, the path has finally cleared. This sport is not just a competition, it's our heritage,' he said. Col Singh recalled the difficulties faced by the organisers over the past decade. 'After the Supreme Court's 2014 ban, it became nearly impossible to organise bullock cart races. While states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka fought alongside their governments and succeeded in getting laws passed for Jallikattu and Kambala, here in Punjab, our association had to fight the case on its own — from the high court to the Supreme Court — without any financial help from the government,' he said. He added, 'We sent a proposal to the President back in 2019, and after years of delay, we received assent in 2024. Now, with the bill passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, it is time the state issues clear guidelines to all deputy commissioners to allow these races at village fairs.' The event, famously known as the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics, has been celebrated since the 1930s and gained global attention for its display of traditional Punjabi sports. The bullock cart race was the star attraction — until the 2014 ban under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 brought it to a halt. As per the new law, strict conditions will govern the conduct of such races. These include the presence of a veterinary team during the event, ensuring animals are fit and healthy, that races are not conducted under extreme heat, and other welfare measures in line with animal safety rules. Nirmal Singh, general secretary of Malwa Doaba Bullock Association said, 'We have made untiring efforts from the past 14 years and our efforts have borne fruits and all the bullock cart racers are happy and eagerly waiting for the race'. With the bill now officially in place, villagers, sports fans, and traditionalists are eagerly waiting for the return of thunderous hoofbeats at the tracks of Kila Raipur.
India Gazette
10-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
"Will try to finish the operation by this afternoon" says NDRF commandant on Gambhira bridge collapse rescue
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], July 10 (ANI): The operation of rescue and relief at the site of the Gambhira bridge collapse incident in Vadodara, Gujarat is in its closing stages. Commandant Surinder Singh, from National Defence Rescue Force (NDRF) Commandant, on Thursday, said that in total two teams and a sub-team have been at the site and are working on the rescue operation. 'Yesterday, District Administration informed us of this around 9 am, they demanded one team of the NDRF to retrieve the victims. So, we sent one team here. We started our rescue operations as soon as we reached here. We assessed that one team won't be enough and we would need more teams. So, we deputed one more team. Later one more sub-team was deployed. So, two teams and one sub-team are here,' said Surinder Singh. Adding further, Singh said, 'We are continuing the rescue operation. So far,13 bodies and 5 live victims have been retrieved. Our priority is to check the area at the earliest and retrieve bodies as well as live victims. We will try to finish the operation by this afternoon.' A section of the Gambhira bridge connecting to Vadodara and Anand collapsed a day ago and fell into the Mahisagar river below. The rescue operation continued this morning and Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya visited the site on Thursday. The Collector and other officials of the local administration have been visiting and taking stock of the relief and rescue operations on site of collapse since Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased in the bridge collapse. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who died in the bridge collapse in Vadodara. He also announced Rs 50,000 for the injured. (ANI)
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Utkarsh of MGU secures 5th spot in NSS initiative
Gorakhpur: , a student of Mahayogi Gorakhnath University (MGU), Gorakhpur, made his institution proud by securing the fifth position in the state under the 'Social Media Posting' category of the 'Student-Police Experiential Training Phase 2.0' programme, stated the MGU media cell. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative was jointly organised by the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Uttar Pradesh Police to foster civic awareness and collaboration. A dedicated NSS volunteer at MGU, Utkarsh was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Director General of Police (Rules & Manuals), UP. The certificate was formally presented by MGU vice-chancellor Surinder Singh and circle officer Vijay Anand Shahi. Congratulating Utkarsh, Singh praised the programme, highlighting its role in nurturing confidence, discipline, leadership, and a sense of social responsibility among students. "Such initiatives empower students to become 'Police Mitras' and drive positive change in the society," he added. TNN
SBS Australia
23-06-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Punjabi brothers win gold & silver medals at Dairy Industry Association of Australia
These annual awards recognise excellence in dairy processing across Australia. Having won major accolades at the awards, Surinder Singh told SBS Punjabi that they credit their success to the 'traditional Indian' dairy heritage. The brothers say they've maintained a strong connection with their community while combining traditional knowledge with modern innovations. Listen to the inspiring story of these Indian-origin dairy entrepreneurs via this podcast. 🔊 Find all our podcasts and stories that matter here at SBS Punjabi Podcast Collection. 💻 For news, information and interviews in Punjabi from across Australia and the homeland, you can tune in to SBS Punjabi live from Monday to Friday at 4pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website . 📲 Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram
