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NDTV
an hour ago
- General
- NDTV
Footprints In The Sand: How Pagis' Unique Skill Helped Gujarat During Op Sindoor
They can identify the enemy just by seeing footprints in the white desert sand in Kutch, and technical advancements may have been made, but security forces continue to depend on them for their expertise, including during Operation Sindoor. The unique skill has been perfected by the 'Pagis' (meaning scouts), local residents who walk barefoot in the white desert, their eyes focused on patterns in the vast landscape, noticing even a slight disturbance. After the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor with precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan on May 7. Pakistan then targeted civilian and military sites in India on three successive days, prompting India to strike back and attack military installations, including key air bases. Along with other border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, Gujarat was also targeted by Pakistan, and the services of Pagis were mobilised by the authorities. Gujarat shares a 508-km border with Pakistan. The land border between the two countries is mostly the Rann of Kutch, a massive salt marsh in the Thar Desert that is difficult for security forces to patrol. Additionally, over half a dozen districts in the state share a sea border with the neighbouring country. Officials from the Border Security Force and Gujarat Police said the skills of the Pagis have been utilised during peacetime - when they help thwart the smuggling of drugs and other contraband - and during phases of tensions with Pakistan, including 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war - and the escalation after Operation Sindoor was no different. Pagis use their extraordinary skill and instinct to locate not only places in the desert without any maps but people and animals in a group - guessing their weight, height and even gender - by merely seeing the footprints of both camels and humans. "Naturally, they make the most coveted and unparalleled 'soldiers' on the line of defence," an official said. "We used all our resources, including the Pagis, during Operation Sindoor. We have a sufficient number of Pagis in the border areas, who work for us during peacetime as well. Pagis are experienced, and though some may have retired from our services, we still depend on them for their expertise. They help track the intruders in the border areas," said Vikas Kunda, Superintendent of Police, Kutch West. The Pagis, the officials said, helped them be sure that there were no enemies - terrorists or otherwise - entering Gujarat from the Pakistani side. The Gujarat Police have a post called Pagi and 25 Pagis were recruited by the force in a single year in 2014. Their numbers have only increased since then. The Pagis also serve as guides to the Border Security Force. The BSF conducts extensive patrolling on 168 km of the Pakistani border, where fencing is not feasible. This is where the skills of the Pagi prove especially useful - many Pakistani drug smugglers have been arrested or killed in these areas and drugs worth crores have been seized because of the information provided by them. History Ranchhor Das Rabari, a scout and tracker who helped the Army on the India-Pakistan border at Kutch in 1971, was immortalised by Sanjay Dutt in the Hindi movie 'Bhuj: The Pride of India', which also starred Ajay Devgn. General Sam Manekshaw bestowed the title of Pagi on Ranchhor Rabari for being a scout for the Army since 1965. The title was a mark of respect and authority, recognising his knowledge and unique skills. The Gujarat State School Textbook Board introduced a chapter on Ranchhor Pagi in its Gujarati subject textbook for Class 7 for the 2023-24 academic year. There is also a Ranchhor Das checkpost at the Kutch border named after him. Osman Abdulla Namori, a 71-year-old Paggi, retired from the Gujarat Police two years ago, but his services were called upon during the recent tensions. "My eyes have become weak. But they are still trained to identify the trespasser in the sands. I also help detect thieves and criminals in my area in Nana Dinara (near Khavda village in Kutch district)." About passing on his skills to the younger generation, he says, "My children didn't have the potential to take up my profession. But other youngsters in my village have been inspired. It requires extraordinary skill to read the little nuances from marks in the desert. Not everyone has it," says Namori.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Yuki Bhambri Wins, Rithvik Bollipalli Loses In French Open Men's Doubles Opening Round
India's Yuki Bhambri and his American partner Robert Galloway secured a hard-fought victory but Rithvik Bollipalli's search for his maiden win in a Grand Slam main draw continued in the French Open men's doubles opening round, here on Wednesday. Bhambri and Galloway edged out Robin Haase and Hendrik Jebens 6-3 6-7(8) 6-3 in a fast-paced high-quality first round match. However, Bollipalli and his Colombian partner Nicolas Barrientos suffered a tame straight set defeat. Canada's Gabriel Diallo and Briton Jacob Fearnley, who knocked out Stanislas Wawrinka in the singles on Monday, dominated the contest, winning 6-0 6-2 in just 56 minutes. Bhambri was a live wire at the net, dispatching some delectable volley winners and was also solid with his strokes from the back of the court. His court coverage was also tremendous. They saved two set points in the second set tie-break and had a match point but Bhambri's forehand kissed the net. Haase succeeded in stretching the game to the decider. Bhambri and Galloway broke Jebens in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead and consolidated the break. Bhambri ended the match with a angled volley winner. Bollipalli and Barrientos, who won the ATP 250 Chile Open in March, struggled to serve well and make returns, gifting away easy points to their rivals. Often the Indo-Colombian combo left gap on the court for their rivals to exploit. The Indian was broken early with Diallo and Fearnley making some superb returns on his serve. His partner Barrientos too struggled badly to get going and in no time the Canadian-British pair had raced to a commanding 4-0 lead. Fearnley's ferocious forehands from the baseline were already too hot to handle and Bollipalli's lack of control while serving made it too easy for the Canadian-British team. The Indian struggled to pick a half-volley at 15-30 to offer two set points to the rivals and made a volley error on the following point to surrender the opening set. There was no twist in the tale except that Barrientos managed to hold his serve in the second game of the second set while Diallo and Fearnley continued to spit fire. Bollipalli served a double fault to be down by a match point but saved the chance in game eight. Barrientos could not return a powerful Diallo forehand and then sent a ball wide on the next match point. Later in the day, India's Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will also be in action in the men's doubles.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Talks On": Russian Envoy On India Buying More S-400 Air Defence Systems
Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov on Wednesday said discussions between India and Moscow on the procurement of more S-400 air defence systems are "ongoing" as both countries continue to solidify the special and privileged strategic partnership. In an exclusive chat with IANS, Mr Alipov, while citing various reports on Operation Sindoor, termed the performance of the S-400 system and jointly-manufactured BrahMos missiles as "exemplary". "From what we know, India has clearly stated the goals and undertaken actions after having identified the targets and the terrorists. As far as we know, during the operation, the S-400 system was used and the BrahMos missiles were engaged. Judging by the reports available, the performance of these weapons was exemplary," Mr Alipov told IANS. India has a longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. The cooperation is guided by the IRIGC-M&MTC mechanism, headed by the Defence Ministers of both countries. Time-tested partners, both countries have been involved in several bilateral projects, including the supply of S-400, licensed production of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI, supply of MiG-29 and Kamov helicopters, INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov), production of Ak-203 rifles in India and BrahMos missiles. New Delhi and Moscow acknowledge that the military technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research and development, co-development and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems. As the Indian Armed Forces successfully retaliated and also inflicted significant losses on Pakistan earlier this month, the S-400 air defence system has been credited with shooting down several incoming missiles from across the border. Sources had indicated earlier that, considering the strategic planning and military preparedness, New Delhi may procure more S-400 air defence systems soon. "Our discussion, on this particular topic, as on many others, is ongoing. It is a continuous one, but it would be incorrect for me and also premature to speak about the results of it at the moment," Mr Alipov said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Business
- NDTV
New Venture For Virat Kohli, Becomes Strategic Investor In This Sport
Star India batter Virat Kohli was on Wednesday announced as a strategic investor in the World Bowling League (WBL). The World Bowling League recently announced MLB superstar and three-time World Series Champion Mookie Betts' Team OMG as the first franchise in the league. "I started bowling when I was 11 years old, spinning the ball by 12," Kohli said in a release. "It is evident how popular the sport is while being under-appreciated as a business proposition. Adi K Mishra's vision to redefine bowling is unique, and after our success with Team Blue Rising in the E1 series, I'm thrilled to join the WBL as an investor and partner." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV
an hour ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Aryna Sabalenka Steamrolls Into French Open Third Round
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant start to the French Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jil Teichmann in the second round on Wednesday. The three-time Grand Slam winner has dropped just five games at Roland Garros so far this year as she bids to reach the final in Paris for the first time. Sabalenka, 27, conceded a surprise early break of serve in the third game but quickly rallied to win the opener. The Belarusian then advanced into a 4-0 lead in the second set as she proved too powerful on Court Suzanne Lenglen for her Swiss opponent. Sabalenka will face Olga Danilovic in the next round, after the 34th-ranked Serb fought past former world number seven Danielle Collins in three sets.
