Tag: army

Army jawan commits suicide at DRDO facility in Odisha

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A 35-year-old army jawan allegedly shot himself dead with his service rifle at DRDO’s Radar Observatory Air Surveillance unit in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place when the army jawan, identified as Sepoy Raj Sekharan, a native of Tamil Nadu, was on duty at the facility of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Kiyarbanka village in Mahakalpada police station area around 2 am on Sunday.

He was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to a nearby government-run hospital, where he was declared brought dead, a police officer said.

As per preliminary investigation, it seems to be a suicide case but further probe is underway, Inspector Bimal Kumar Mallik of Mahalakpada police station said, adding the rifle was seized and sent for examination.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Army called in amid fresh tension in Manipur; Assam Rifles deployed after senior cop abducted briefly

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Army was called in as fresh tension mounted in Manipur on Tuesday and four columns of the Assam Rifles were deployed in Imphal East after a senior police officer was abducted allegedly by cadres of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei organisation, from his residence, officials said.

The officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar, posted in the operations wing of the Manipur Police, was rescued after a swift action by police and security forces, the officials said.

The officer has been admitted to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Giving details of the incident that took place around 7 pm on Tuesday (February 27), the officials said that a group of cadres owing allegiance to the Arambai Tenggol attacked the house of Kumar at Wangkhei in Imphal East.

The reason for this indiscriminate firing was that the officer concerned had arrested six members of the group for their alleged involvement in vehicle theft, the officials said.

Following the arrests, a group of Meira Paibis (Meitei women group) had protested and blocked roads demanding their release.

In the Tuesday evening attack, armed cadres allegedly belonging to the Arambai Tenggol ransacked the house and damaged at least four vehicles with gunfire, they said.

Detailing the chaotic events, M Kulla, the police officer’s father, explained, “We tried to talk to the armed men after they entered, but all of a sudden they started firing at the vehicles and properties. So we had to rush inside and lock ourselves.” The father, according to the officials, called his son and informed about the incident.

The officer rushed with his team only to be abducted as they were outnumbered by the cadres allegedly belonging to the Arambai Tenggol.

The Manipur Police acted promptly, mobilising forces to launch a successful rescue operation, ensuring Kumar’s safe return within hours.

The state government had to take help of the Army as the situation worsened after the rescue efforts.

Officials said that four columns of the Assam Rifles were requisitioned and deployed around the area where the incident took place. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is not applicable in valley areas.

The Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force, functions under the operational command of the Army.

The region has witnessed escalating violence since May 3, with over 180 casualties reported after a “Tribal Solidarity March” in the hill districts protested the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The Meiteis, constituting around 53% of Manipur’s population and residing predominantly in the Imphal Valley, contrast the tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, who make up 40% and primarily inhabit the hill districts.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Japan military to relax hairstyle regulations to boost better recruitment in armed forces

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Japan’s Ministry of Defence is planning to relax hairstyle regulations to encourage youngsters to enrol for the armed forces. The move comes following a long period of poor recruitment numbers. According to the Mainichi’s report, a panel, set up by the Ministry of Defence on January 18, came up with ways to improve the recruitment process through discussions.

According to reports, the relaxation on haircuts comes into effect in April 2024. Women in Japan’s armed forces will no longer be asked to cut their hair short, while men will also no longer have to mandatorily get a buzz cut to be in the force.

Last year, the Defence Ministry of Japan lifted the ban on tattoos.

ALSO READ | Two planes collide on runway in second crash in Japan

According to the Defence Ministry, each of the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) branches in Japan has its own set of rules and regulations on appearance, and each educational unit also sets its local standards. The hairstyle standards for men and women have been set as per the tight training schedule, which does not offer much time to take care of the appearances.

Now, after the relaxed rules, women in the armed forces will be allowed to have long hair, which can be tied such that it doesn’t obstruct wearing helmets or hats. For men, athletic hairstyles will be the standard.

ALSO READ | Japan’s Cabinet OKs record $56 billion defence budget for 2024 to accelerate strike capability

Earlier in July 2023, the ministry received a report on boosting the human resource base from an expert panel that was assigned to undertake a discussion on the measures to secure the SDF personnel and improve their treatment. The report, filed after discussions, highlighted the amendments in hairstyles and hair colour. The report suggested that the regulations be changed or abolished in case they lack rationality and the ministry took it under review, reported Mainichi.

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Following the review, the ministry has now relaxed the hairstyle standard. However, the report on hair colour is still under review. There have been various opinions in the ministry, and the officials have not yet reached a result on accepting anything other than dyeing the hair grey, reported Mainichi.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Army rescues over 1,200 stranded tourists in Sikkim

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian Army has rescued 1,217 tourists stranded in high-altitude areas in eastern Sikkim due to snowfall and inclement weather, officials said on Thursday, December 14.

The rescue mission by the Trishakti Corps of the Army continued till late in the night on Wednesday, December 13, as the tourists were moved to safer areas and provided with shelter, warm clothing, medical aid and hot meals, they said.

Arrangements are being made for their return to state capital Gangtok, the officials said.

Soldiers even vacated their barracks to enable the accommodation of the stranded tourists, they added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Sikkim flash flood: Military firearms, explosives carried away in Teesta; Army asks people to be alert

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Due to severe flooding in Sikkim, certain military equipment including firearms and explosives were carried away in the Teesta river. The Army has asked people to be vigilant and report any unfamiliar objects to the nearest police station.

“In light of the severe flooding in Sikkim, certain military equipment including firearms and explosives were carried away in the Teesta river. We urge people to be vigilant and report any unfamiliar objects, crates, packages, firearms, or any suspicious items to the nearest PS. Army has established lookout teams all along the river downstream,” PRO Defence, Guwahati, issued a statement.

On day three after a flash flood wreaked havoc in Sikkim’s Teesta basin, the death toll rose to 22, including seven army men. Of the 22 deceased, 15 have been identified as men, six as women while the gender of another body could not be ascertained as it was mangled.

Also read | Sikkim Flash Floods | Teesta project may not have factored in climate change, says expert

A total of 103 people, including the 15 jawans, remained missing after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday, October 4, triggered the flash flood.

So far, 2,411 people trapped due to the flash floods have been evacuated, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin. Altogether 7,644 people displaced by the floods have been sheltered at 26 relief camps in four affected districts.

Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the release of Rs 44.8 crore as an advance amount from the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim. The Ministry has formed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), which will visit the affected areas of Sikkim soon to make an assessment of the damage caused due to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), cloudburst and flash floods, according to an official statement.

The Centre has assured the Sikkim government of all possible help. The central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is standing shoulder to shoulder with Sikkim, the statement said.

With inputs from PTI

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Sikkim flash floods Highlights: Death toll rises to 18, 26 injured, nearly 100 missing

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Sikkim flash floods Highlights: The death toll rose to 18, with 29 injured and 98 people missing after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin on Wednesday. The flood in Sikkim that started around 1:30 am was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, the officials said. In the wake of severe weather, State government has announced closure of all educational institutions until October 15. Akasa Air has offered rebooking option to passengers travelling to or from Sikkim between October 5 and 11. Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak said over 3,000 tourists from various parts of the country, were reported to be stranded in different parts of Sikkim. The government has urged all tourists to postpone any plans to travel Sikkim until situation eases.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Flash flood in Sikkim’s Teesta river claims 5 lives, leaves 23 Army personnel missing

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Five people died and 23 Army personnel are reported missing due to a flash flood that occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley in North Sikkim. The Defence PRO in Guwahati said the incident occurred following a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim around 1:30 am.

The Indian Army’s search and rescue mission for the 23 missing soldiers is ongoing, with one soldier successfully rescued, and currently in stable condition, they said in a statement.

“Troops of Trishakti Corps Indian Army launched a massive search and rescue operation to trace the 23 missing soldiers. The search operations are being undertaken under conditions of incessant rains, fast-flowing water in the Teesta River with the roads and bridges washed away at many places. By evening of 4 Oct 23, one soldier has been rescued and the search operations for balance 22 personnel continue,” they said.

“The family members of the missing persons have been contacted and informed about the situation. All other Indian Army personnel posted in Sikkim and North Bengal are safe and they are unable to contact their family members due to disruptions of mobile communication,” they informed.

The Army has attributed this flash flood to the sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake, stating, “due to sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River in Lachen valley. Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details.”

“Release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water level upto 15-20 feet high downstream. This has led to Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam getting affected. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway,” they added.

The NHPC has also responded to the crisis, noting, “Lhonak Lake, 90 km upstream from Teesta-V Dam, has been suspected of outburst resulting into flash flood in the region. Due to sudden increase of inflow, water level rose by 19 metres above normal level, overflowed from the top. Power generation from Teesta-V Power Station has been stopped. Currently assessing the situation in aftermath of the unprecedented flash flood in Teesta river, Sikkim. Actual damages shall be assessed when the water level recedes to normal and the approach road to dam is restored.”

“Lhonak Lake is a glacial-moraine-dammed lake, located in Sikkim’s far north-western region. It is one of the fastest expanding lakes in the Sikkim Himalayan region, one of the 14 potentially dangerous lakes susceptible to Glacial lake outburst flood (GLOFs),” it informed.

Earlier, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rescued seven persons from Singtam. One team was deployed at Gangtok and two teams at adjoining areas of Sikkim in West Bengal, the NDRF had said.

“Three bodies have been recovered from Singtam during rescue and relief efforts,” a Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority official said.

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), in a press release, stated that a “cloudburst in portions of Lhonak Lake, which caused the rise of water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River basin in the early hours of Wednesday,” damaged many establishments in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi districts.

All schools located in the four districts of Sikkim will remain closed till October 8, the education department said in a circular. Defence officials said establishments along the Lachen valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details.

23 army personnel have been reported missing due to a flash flood that occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley after a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim: Defence PRO, Guwahati https://t.co/zDabUMrCaI pic.twitter.com/uWVO1nsT2T

— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2023

#WATCH | Sikkim: A flood-like situation arose in Singtam after a cloud burst.

(Video source: Central Water Commission) pic.twitter.com/00xJ0QX3ye

— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2023

Border Road Organisation (BRO) has already launched rescue operations and 80 locals have been safely evacuated so far, Defence officials said. A steel bridge at Singtam, also known as Indreni bridge, in Gangtok district has been completely washed away by Teesta river water early on Wednesday. The 120-metre-cable suspension bridge is an important thoroughfare.

#WATCH | Sikkim: Aftermath of flash floods in Singtam after a cloud burst. pic.twitter.com/jB460Lex4j

— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2023

The CM held a meeting with senior officials at the Singtam Nagar Panchayat office and asked them to keep vigil. In a statement, the chief minister said his thoughts and prayers are with all during this difficult hour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help. “Spoke to Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge…,” Modi said.

What is a cloudburst

Cloudburst is a sudden, very heavy rainfall, usually local in nature and of brief duration. Cloudbursts are especially common in mountaineous regions.

With inputs from PTI

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nine soldiers killed as Army vehicle plunges into gorge in Ladakh

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nine soldiers were killed and another was critically injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Leh district of Ladakh on Saturday, officials said.

The accident occurred near Kiari in southern Ladakh’s Nyoma, the officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Leh P D Nitya said the Army vehicle, with 10 personnel on board, was on its way to Nyoma from Leh when its driver lost control and it plunged into a gorge at 4.45pm on Friday, August 19.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the death of the personnel.

“Saddened by the loss of Indian Army personnel due to an accident near Leh in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation,” the defence minister said on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured personnel have been rushed to the Field Hospital. Praying for their speedy recovery,” Singh said, without mentioning the number of soldiers killed and injured in the accident.

SSP Nitya said a police team rushed to the accident site and all the injured soldiers were shifted to an Army medical facility where eight personnel were declared dead. Another jawan died subsequently, she said.

The officer said one more jawan was undergoing treatment and his condition was stated to be “critical”.

Condoling the death of the soldiers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we lost our valiant soldiers, as their vehicle fell into a gorge.” “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My sincerest condolences to them. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he posted on ‘X’.

Also Read: Industrialist Ratan Tata conferred with Udyog Ratna award in Maharashtra | WATCH

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Punjab rains: Army, NDRF rescue 300 people from flood-hit areas as Beas River swells

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Army and NDRF teams on Thursday rescued nearly 300 people from marooned villages in Punjab’s Kapurthala as relief and rescue work continued in some of the flood-affected districts in the state. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Karnail Singh said six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Army pressed six boats to rescue the people caught in the floods and all those evacuated have been shifted to relief camps.

A total of 22 villages have been affected by floods in the Beas River due to the release of excess water from Bhakra Dam, he said while expressing hope that the situation would improve by Friday. He said some flood-affected people are living inside ’dhusi bundhs’ (embankments) in ’deras’ to look after their fields, while nearly 40 people are reluctant to leave their marooned houses and their cattle.

Some parts of Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Rupnagar and Kapurthala districts were submerged following the release of excess water from the Pong and Bhakra dams this week. In the afternoon, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann toured the flood-affected areas of the Hoshiarpur district in a boat to take stock of the situation.

For LIVE updates on the weather, click here.

Mann said the entire government machinery including the helicopter of the state government is at the disposal of people in this hour of crisis. The chief minister said the state government has already ordered a ’’special girdawari (survey)” to ascertain the loss incurred to people due to floods in the state.

Mann assured the people that his government will ”compensate the people even if they had lost a hen or a goat due to the floods”. He said there is no need for people to panic as the state government is there to extend all help to those affected.

The flood situation in the Rupnagar district remained grim as more water was being released into the Sutlej River from Bhakra Dam. The Army is assisting in the rescue operations and NDRF teams are working round-the-clock to prevent breaches and to rescue the people trapped in marooned villages.

Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains has been camping in the district and is supervising the rescue and relief operations. The Army and NDRF teams were also assisting in the rescue and relief work in some of the affected areas of Gurdaspur district. Medical teams in the district have been sent to houses via boats to check on people stuck in their homes for three days and those who don’t want to move out, officials said.

In Kapurthala, one person was feared to have drowned in the flood waters of the Beas River in Mand areas of village Talwandi Kuka in the Bholath sub-division when he was rescuing his cattle, officials said on Thursday. In Chandigarh, Chief Minister Mann told reporters that the latest flooding in some areas of the state was caused by heavy rains in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and the subsequent release of excess water from the Pong and Bhakra dams.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which manages the Bhakra and the Pong dams, on Wednesday, said it will release excess water in a controlled manner for the next four to five days to take the level in their reservoirs to a safe limit. The Bhakra dam on the Sutlej and the Pong dam on the Beas — both in Himachal Pradesh — are brimming after heavy rain in their respective catchment areas. Last month too, several parts of Punjab were affected by a downpour in the state between July 9 and 11 that flooded vast tracts of farmlands and other areas, besides paralysing daily life.

Mann said the water levels in Bhakra and Pong dams stand at 1,676 feet and 1,396 feet, respectively, and the water was being released in a controlled way. In Harike, he said the water released from Pong and Bhakra gets collected and added, “We are releasing water from there”.

”We are in regular touch with the Himachal Pradesh government and BBMB authorities and we are hopeful that water will recede by evening,” he said. Mann reiterated that his government has urged the Centre to relax the norms for increasing disaster relief for flood victims.

In Hoshiarpur, the floodwater level in the villages near the banks of the Beas in the Mukerian, Tanda, Dasuya and Talwara areas of this district slightly decreased on Thursday. However, in the affected villages, the floodwater has caused significant damage to the residents’ household belongings. Moreover, the crops standing in the flooded fields have also been adversely affected.

Raminder Singh, the Chief Agriculture Officer of Hoshiarpur, stated that standing crops, particularly paddy, spanning approximately 5,000 acres of farmland, have suffered severe damage in the flood-affected regions. Approximately 90 per cent of the paddy crop has been adversely affected, he said.

Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said that the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and some non-governmental organisations are still engaged in the work of evacuating the people trapped in the flood-hit regions in the district. More than 5,500 inhabitants of the flood-affected villages have been sent to relief camps and safer places. Mittal appealed to the affected people to voluntarily vacate their houses and go to safer places or the relief camps established by the local administration.

Teams of the Health Department and the Animal Husbandry Department are engaged in relief work in flood-affected regions to save the people from water-borne diseases, she said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow