NEW DELHI/AMRITSAR, Dec 30: A cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to its ‘hit’ team, an assortment of jammers and spoofers and multi-layered patrols by security personnel are some of the measures taken by the Border Security Force (BSF) to check the increasing infiltration of drones carrying drugs and arms from Pakistan into India.
The well-fortified and fenced border along the two neighbouring countries is witnessing an “onslaught” of drones, the most being in Punjab, with sightings more than tripled and shooting of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) gone up multiple times in 2022 as compared to the last year, official data showed.
Each BSF ‘hit’ team at the border that brings down a drone through rifle firing or use of jamming technology is being rewarded with a cash incentive of Rs 1 lakh, according to latest policy decision taken by the force sometime back to motivate the troops in battling the drones menace, a senior BSF officer told PTI.
A similar amount of reward was announced by the Jalandhar-based Punjab frontier of the force in April for the locals or the public who inform the BSF about those elements who use drones to get drugs and arms from Pakistan, he said.
This year, till December 25, the BSF has downed 22 drones and the reward of Rs 1 lakh each has been handed out to more than a dozen ‘hit’ or shooting teams deployed on the front, till now. An awardee could be a single trooper or more than one on a case-by-case basis, he said.
All the 22 drone kills, this year, have taken place along the Punjab border.
Only one drone each was shot down by the BSF in 2020 and last year (in Jammu in 2020 and in Punjab in 2021), the data said.
According to official data, drone sightings along the 2,289-km-long India-Pakistan International Border (IB) running along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat has increased from 77 in 2020 to 104 last year and 311 this year (till December 23). Almost 75 per cent of these sightings have been made in Punjab, where drones have been majorly used by the other side to push in and drop drugs.
The border guarding force has also deployed an assortment of electronic jammers and spoofers to block the frequencies and navigation path of these narcotics and arms carrying drones leading to their immobilisation.
Jammers and spoofers are gadgets that emit electromagnetic waves and send fake GPS (global positioning system) signals respectively to cripple a flying drone and they are subsequently taken down either by controlled piloting of the device called ‘soft kill’ or just by firing at it using a gun, also called a ‘hard kill’.
“There have been few instances where the electronic devices deployed by the force in the border areas jammed the drones originating from Pakistan and once the device gets stationary in the air, it was shot down,” a senior officer said refusing to disclose further details.
What BSF is doing now is that it has deployed a number of quick position-changing ‘hit’ teams and ‘depth patrols’ in the border areas so that they can make maximum kills and even if the drones escape after dropping the payload of drugs or arms, criminal elements are not able to pick it up, the officer said.
The Punjab Police has provided as many as 200 of its personnel to carry out this task with the paramilitary force.
BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh had said last month that the force has been “bombarded” by the onslaught of drone flights at the western front from across the Pakistan border.
“The BSF has has been at the receiving end of the drone menace for quite some time… The versatility of the drone, which is very well known, has been posing problems to us with respect to nefarious elements who have found new uses of the drone and the anonymity, the quick flight and quick getting back bypassing the frontiers of the country by going to a sufficient height,” he said.
The problem, the DG said, was grave.
“We do not have a foolproof solution as of now. They (drones) have been bringing across narcotics, arms and ammunition, counterfeit currency and all kinds of things,” the BSF chief said.
The force has now begun performing a forensic analysis of the chips recovered from the downed drones to analyse their flight path, launching and landing point, timing and GPS coordinates, Singh said. (Agencies)
Pak drones: BSF gives Rs 1L reward to border ‘hit’ teams; deploys spoofers to jam flights
Amit Shah, JP Nadda, CM Yogi, L K Advani, Smriti Irani express grief as PM Modi’s mother passes away
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi, on Friday.
In a series of tweets, Amit Shah said, “It is very sad to know about the demise of the Prime Minister @narendramodi ji’s respected Mataji Hira Ba. Mother is the first friend and teacher of a person’s life, the pain of losing her is undoubtedly the biggest pain in the world.”
“The struggles Heera Ba faced to nurture the family is a role model for all. Her sacrificial ascetic life will always be remembered. The entire nation stands with Prime Minister Modi and his family in this hour of grief. The prayers of crores of people are with you. Om Shanti,” the Union Home Minister added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also condoled the death of PM’s mother and said her life was “very inspiring.”
In a tweet, Jaishankar stated, “I am saddened to hear about the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heera Ba. Her life was very inspiring. I pray to God to give the departed pious soul a place at his feet. My deepest sympathies are with the Prime Minister and his entiree family at this difficult time. Om Shanti!”
Union Minister Smriti Irani also expressed grief and said, “The demise of PM Narendra Modi ji’s mother Heera Ba is very painful news. Mother has a special place in a person’s life. I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place at his feet and give strength to the Prime Minister and his family to bear the loss. Om Shanti.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief and highlighted the value of a mother in one’s life and said that it’s a void “impossible to fill”.
“I am deeply pained by the passing away of Hira Ba, mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The death of a mother leaves such a void in one’s life that is impossible to fill. I express my condolences to the Prime Minister and his entire family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!” the Defence Minister tweeted.
BJP National President JP Nadda expressed condolence and said her “affection and truthfulness gave the country successful leadership”.
“I express my deepest condolences on the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s respected mother. The struggling and virtuous life of Heera Baji is always an inspiration, whose affection and truthfulness gave the country successful leadership. Mother’s departure is an irreparable loss; it is impossible to fill this emptiness,” Nadda said in a tweet.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid a heartfelt tribute to PM Modi’s mother and highlighted her image of being extremely simple and loving that will always be remembered.
“The news of the demise of respected Mataji Heeraben ji of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is very sad. My heartfelt tribute to her. The values that Heera Baji gave to his family while living a very difficult and struggling life, the country has got a leader like Narendra Bhai,” he said in a tweet.
“Her image of being extremely simple and loving will always be remembered. May God give peace to the departed soul and give strength to Narendrabhai and the Modi family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” Gadkari added.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that Heera Ba was an epitome of struggle, hard work and affection, the circumstances in which she raised the family is a role model.
“It is very sad to know about the demise of Prime Minister Modi ji’s revered mother Heera Ba. Mother plays the supreme role in the making of a person, no one in the world can fill her absence,” Mandaviya tweeted.
“Heera Ba was an epitome of struggle, hard work and affection, the circumstances in which she raised the family is a role model. His life spent in sacrifice and penance will always be alive in our memory. The whole country is with Modi ji and his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he added.
Expressing grief over the demise of PM Modi’s mother, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the death of a mother is an unbearable and irreparable loss for a son.
“For a son, a mother is the whole world. The death of a mother is an unbearable and irreparable loss for a son. The demise of the respected mother of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very sad. May Lord Shri Ram grant the departed pious soul a place at his holy feet. Om Shanti!” Yogi tweeted.
“Losing one’s mother is the most painful event in one’s life. My heartfelt condolences to Narendrabhai and all members of his family. May God give them the strength to bear this immense loss. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti!” he added.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Heeraben Modi was a symbol of simplicity, humility and conviction.
“For 100 glorious years, Heeraben Maa blessed us all with her affection. She was a symbol of simplicity, humility and conviction. As she leaves for the heavenly abode, with teary eyes, I join millions in prayers. May her blessings always be with us,” Sarma said in a tweet.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also expressed grief over the demise of the Prime Minister’s mother.
“Regards at the feet of the mother who created a great personality like Narendra Modi, the Triveni of devotion, penance and action. Respected mother will always remain an inspiration,” Chouhan said.
Expressing condolence on the demise of PM Modi’s mother, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami prayed for strength to the Prime Minister and all his family members to bear the immense loss.
“Expressing condolence on the demise of Heera Ba, mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami has prayed to Baba Kedar to give strength to the Prime Minister and all his family members to bear this immense suffering and to grant the divine soul a place at his feet,” Uttarakhand CMO said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also condoled the death of the Prime Minister’s mother who passed away at 100, and said that she was the epitome of simplicity and high values of life.
“Deeply saddened by the passing away of Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi’s mother Pujya Hiraba. Pujya Hiraba was an epitome of generosity, simplicity, hard work and high values of life. I pray that God rest her soul in peace. AUM Shanti,” Patel tweeted, roughly translated from Gujarati.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also expressed grief on the demise of PM’s mother.
“Respected Mataji Heeraben Modi ji dedicated her 100 years of Karmayogi and ascetic life at the feet of God. The demise of the respected mother of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is very sad. Mahadev give a place to the virtuous soul at his holy feet. Om Shanti!” ML Khattar said in a tweet.
Heeraben Modi, 100, passed away at around 3:30 am today at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad, according to a bulletin from the hospital. She was hospitalised on Wednesday after her health deteriorated.
The Prime Minister informed the nation about her demise early Friday morning.
PM Modi paid floral tribute to his mother Modi at Gandhinagar residence and carried the mortal remains of for the last rites. PM Modi’s brother Somabhai Modi and other family members also arrived at the residence of Heeraben Modi.
Informing about her demise, the Prime Minister posted a heartfelt tweet early this morning, “A glorious century rests at the feet of God… In Maa, I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values.”
Will not compromise on national security for good relations with our neighbours: Def Min Rajnath Singh
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India wants to have and maintain friendly relations with its neighbours, but it will not be done at the cost of national security.
Speaking at the 90th annual pilgrimage of Sivagiri Mutt here, Singh recalled former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s remark that we can change friends but not our neighbours.
“Therefore, we need good and friendly relations with our neighbours. However, we will not compromise on national security to maintain good relations. We do not want good relations with anyone at the cost of our national security,” the Defence Minister said. (Agencies)
Star Wicket-Keeper Rishabh Pant Suffers Injuries In Car Accident
NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant today met with a car accident near Manglaur in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district and suffered minor injuries, according to local police.
Pant suffered multiple injuries on Friday when his BMW car collided with a road divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
“Rishabh Pant met with an accident between Manglaur and Narsan in Haridwar district,” they said in a tweet. “He has now been shifted to a hospital in Dehradun after receiving primary treatment in a hospital in Roorkee.”
The team did not give details on the 25-year-old’s injuries.
“He himself was driving the car when it hit the divider on Delhi Narson border. He was immediately taken to Saksham Hospital but will be shifted to Max Hospital for further treatment,” a source said.
Pant was left out of the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka as he was supposed to join NCA for strength and conditioning programme ahead of February’s Border Gavaskar Trophy.
He played a big role in India’s two-Test series win against Bangladesh.
Army opens fire after suspicious movement near LoC
POONCH/JAMMU: Army troops opened fire on Thursday after observing suspicious movement near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.
The shots were heard at around 7.15 pm in the Khari Karmara area. There was no report of any loss of life or injury, they said.Army troops also fired illuminating bombs to take a close look at the area to ensure that there is no movement of terrorists from across the border amid inclement weather.
Massive Fire Damages 13 Houses, 10 Shops In South Kashmir’s Anantnag
SRINAGAR: At least 13 “inter-connected” houses and around ten shops were gutted in a massive midnight fire, augmented by the blast of “ten gas (LPG) cylinders”, in Dangarpora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Friday.
An official from Fire and Emergency Services Department said that at least 200 houses were saved by the “timely” action.
“At 2:56 a.m., we received information about the fire. Since the Fire Service Station is just a half a kilometer from the area, we rushed a number of fire tenders immediately,” news agency GNS quoted an official as having said, adding, “By the time we reached, the fire had spread extensively as at least ten LPG gas cylinders had exploded as a result of which there was extensive damage.” He said that adequate number of fire tenders and men were rushed to the area. “Since there was adequate availability of water and firefighters along with locals put their best effort, we were able to prevent the fire from spreading further.”
He said at least 200 houses were saved in the very densely populated area of the south Kashmir district.
Sources told news agency GNS that the 13 houses suffered damages and most of them have been completely gutted along with at least 10 shops.
A firefighter was also injured in the operation and has been admitted to Government Medical College Anantnag.
Soccer star Pele, Brazilian legend of the beautiful game, dies at 82
SAO PAULO: Pele, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.
The standard-bearer of the beautiful game had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalised for the last month with multiple ailments. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death.
Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionised the sport a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field.
He carried Brazil to soccer’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.
In the conversation about soccer’s greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pele.
Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pele’s goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition).
The player who would be dubbed The King was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament.
He was carried off the field on teammates’ shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.
Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pele was the emblem of his country’s World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy. The image of Pele in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere.
As does his trademark goal celebration — a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.
Pele’s fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.
When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the US President who stuck out his hand first.
“My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America,” the host said to his visitor.
But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pel is.
Pele was Brazil’s first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.
Opposing fans taunted Pele with monkey chants at home and all over the world.
He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants, said Angelica Basthi, one of Pele’s biographers.
He is key for Black people’s pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer.
Pele’s life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician — Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport — a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.
He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.
As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent.
He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team.
Pele spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on Oct. 23, 1940, Pele grew up shining shoes to buy his modest soccer gear.
Pele’s talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth squads. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the senior squad.
Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home.
He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.
The name Pele came from him mispronouncing the name of a player called Bil.
He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country’s championship team.
His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.
The 1966 World Cup in England — won by the hosts — was a bitter one for Pele, by then already considered the world’s top player.
Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pel, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup. He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup.
Night temp increases in Kashmir due to cloud cover
Srinagar, Dec 30: The minimum temperature recorded further increase in Kashmir Valley on Friday due to a cloud cover, officials said today.
Kupwara in north Kashmir received highest snowfall of 20cms (7.87 inches) followed by Gulmarg (16.5cm), Qazigund(15.0cm), Pahalgam (10.0cm), Kokernag (5.0 cm), and Srinagar (3.0 cm) in last 24 hours till 0830 hours, mostly late in the afternoon on Thursday, a meteorological department official told GNS. Ladakh’s Leh district also received traces of snowfall, he said.
Meanwhile, most places recorded a rise in night temperature and for the first time in more than fortnight that mercury increased above normal in the Valley even though it hovered in sub-zero level.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.3°C against last night’s temperature of minus 3.2°C. The temperature was 1.8°C above normal for the summer capital, the official said. Srinagar has so far seen the coldest temperature this season on December 25 when mercury plummeted to minus 5.8°C.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 2.0°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.3°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 4.9°C against minus 4.5°C on the previous night. The minimum temperature was 0.3°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.0°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.7°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against minus 4.8°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.7°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 0.8°C against minus 3.3°C on the previous night in the north Kashmir area, he said. The official said that the temperature was 1.7°C above normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 7.3°C against 6.0°C on the previous night. It was 0.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital which also remained engulfed in fog this morning, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.8°C (above normal by 0.3°C), Batote minus 0.5°C (below normal by 2.7°C), Katra 6.5°C (0.1°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 1.8°C (2.4°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.2°C and 6.2°C respectively, the official said.
Active Covid Cases In Country Rise To 3,552
New Delhi, Dec 30: India recorded 243 new coronavirus infections, raising the tally to 4.46 crore, while the active cases have increased to 3,609, according to Union health ministry data updated on Friday.
The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4,46,78, 158 and the death toll stands at 5,30,699 with one fatality reported from Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.11 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.16 per cent, the ministry said.
It said 2,13,080 tests for detection of Covid have been conducted in the last 24 hours.
The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry’s website.
It said an increase of 57 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,43,850, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry’s website, 220.09 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020. India crossed the two-crore mark on May 4, three crore cases on June 23, 2021, and four crore cases on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
TBS, Bhaderwah campus organised an industrial visit
Bhaderwah December 29 : The Business School, Bhaderwah Campus, University of Jammu organized an industrial visit for the students of MBA at Chenab Textile Mills, a part of Sutlej Textiles and Industries Ltd., a Blue-chip company of K. K. Birla Group.
The purpose of the trip was to introduce and familiarize the management students with the production and manufacturing processes of industry.
During the visit the faculty members had a thought provoking interaction with Mr Umesh Gupta, Executive President and Mr Manoj Jha, Vice President of Chenab Textile Mills on various issues.
During the visit Ms Kanika Sambyal, Sr. HR officer/welfare gave a detailed presentation in which she informed that Chenab Textile Mills is one of the largest and the oldest industrial unit of the state which was set up at Kathua in 1962 with initial capacity of 12,600 spindles. Since then the Company has continuously been investing on modernization and expansion of capacities. Currently the Mill has a capacity of more than 2,34,600 spindles producing Synthetic blended Grey & Dyed Yarn, Cotton Dyed & Mélange yarn.
She also informed that Chenab Textile Mills has been awarded the right to use USTERISED Trade Mark by Uster Technologies AG, Switzerland. This right to use this trademark signifies excellent quality management systems followed by the Mills.
The industrial visit was organized under the overall guidance of Prof. Rahul Gupta, Rector, Bhaderwah Campus who appreciated the efforts of TBS faculty for taking new initiative and also thanked President and Vice President of Chenab Textiles Mills for providing our management students a learning opportunity necessary for their holistic development.
Mr. Mohammad Avais (Head of Department), Dr. Sunil Bhardwaj, Dr. Rohit Bhagat (Placement Coordinator) and Dr. Umesh Choudhary accompanied the students during the industrial trip. Overall the industrial visit was a great success.