The 6th Sikh Battalion leaves permanent footprints in Congo

Only conclusive proof to validate UN Report will be the Paternity and DNA tests. Why the Court of Inquiry has skirted this positive proof to identify the fathers?
Indian Army probes reports of its UN peacekeepers fathering kids in Congo
VARINDER BHATIA : Chandigarh, Tue Jun 07 2011, 02:36 hrs An entire battalion of the Indian Army is in the dock after allegations in Congo that Indian peacekeepers fathered around a dozen children while posted there on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2008.
Based on the allegations, the Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry against the 6th Sikh Battalion, which comprises 12 officers and 39 jawans. A UN probe into the matter had been inconclusive.
The CoI is being conducted at Meerut, where the 9th Infantry Division is based. The 6th Sikh Battalion is part of the 37th Infantry Brigade, which comes under the 9th Infantry Division. The CoI is being presided over by Brig. M M Masur, Cdr, 9 Artillery Brigade, and includes Col. Sunil, Deputy Commander, 32 Infantry Brigade and Col. P V Ramakrishnan, Commanding Officer, 299 Fd Regt. as members.
The allegations surfaced after DNA tests commissioned by the UN in Durla, Congo, showed that the children were born with “distinctive Indian features”. The UN wrote to Army Headquarters, requesting further investigation. The latest reminder for action was sent in August 2010.
Following the UN letters, Army Headquarters wrote to Western Command in January this year asking it to inquire into the matter. The CoI was ordered on May 24.
An Army official at HQ confirmed that an inquiry has been ordered. “There are some allegations and we are investigating into the issue,” the official said. “We have received a report from UN. Their inquiry into the allegations was inconclusive, that is why we are investigating the matter here.”
The 6th Sikh Battalion was posted in Congo in 2008. After allegations that soldiers had sexually exploited local women, the Battalion was sent back to India and stationed at Chandimandir. In 2009, the alleged victims of the exploitation started giving birth, and the UN ordered an inquiry.
Earlier, in March 2008, allegations surfaced that three Indian officers posted at the UN Mission in Congo had sexually exploited a local woman while holidaying in South Africa. Before that, in 2007, there were allegations that Indian blue berets had exchanged food and information for gold with Rwandan rebels in Congo’s North Kivu. There were separate allegations that Indian soldiers had paid minor Congolese girls in North Kivu for sex. In most of these cases, the Army has given a clean chit to its personnel.
Indian Army probes reports of its UN peacekeepers fathering kids in Congo

Support new army chief General Bikram Singh

Set aside differences and support new army chief
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi | Thursday, May 31, 2012
General Bikram Singh is slated to take over as army chief on June 1, as General VK Singh demits office. The change of guard is a major event for the nation and is comprehensively covered by the media. This time, however, so much has already been covered in the media that one wonders what is left unsaid!
However, the unavoidable polarisation regarding this high office needs to stop now. The change of command must be as significant as it has always been. For, we are talking about the future security and well-being of the nation, as well as of the most enduring and the most respected institution of our country.
While many have given diverse opinions on the succession of the chiefs, I am firmly of the view that the change needs to be welcomed by all. Being an optimist, I am of the view that change, irrespective of the circumstances in which it takes place, always augers well for the future. Both the outgoing and the incoming chiefs are men of honour, who have risen to this highest appointment because of their diligence, highest character qualities and great professional acumen.
There have undoubtedly been aberrations where petty-minded individuals, albeit holding public appointments at extremely high levels, have muddied the waters on parochial and other grounds and have played partisan politics of the lowest variety. They will get their retribution in due course, but it is important that we must shed past baggage at the earliest, as an entirely fresh start is essential.
The new chief must have a free hand in commanding this great army of ours, unfettered with obligations on the one hand and the burden of reproach on the other. The nation in general and the military, including the veterans, have to be fully supportive and honour the new chief, for only then can he act with courage and conviction.
When the present chief assumed command a little over two years back, I had written the following: ‘Let me remind the new chief that even if in future he goes on to hold other prestigious appointments in or outside the government, they will never be able to match this appointment — in prestige; in satisfaction; and the affection he will get from his vast command and indeed from the whole country.
He will also have to reciprocate to the maximum extent by his deeds. Consequently, he must command with honour and neither let carrots being dangled in his face nor pressures and threats change or influence the decisions he takes.’
The present chief, in my opinion, has done even more, although there are some who may not agree with me. I now urge the new chief to also keep this in mind and further hone this wonderful machine that has served the nation with distinction. In recent months, there has been some talk of polarisation within the army and of the existence of small coteries. If true, such actions and even thinking needs to be nipped in the bud with a heavy hand. I have no doubt that the new chief will do so as his predecessor has done.
I have known both Generals for many years and have the greatest respect for both. Let me cite an example that will perhaps showcase the thinking and makeup of the new chief. About a year back, I had a brief halt at Kolkata. Over a drink that General Bikram Singh had graciously organised, I had asked him what he was planning to do about the date of birth issue that had already started appearing in the media.
His spontaneous reply was, ‘If it is my luck, I will command the army but if I am not lucky, so be it; I will not do anything that will show the army in any adverse light!’
Although the outgoing chief has been accused by some of rocking the boat, my firm view is that the boat needed to be rocked vigorously. He has exposed corruption in the defence ministry, the defence PSU’s and the arms mafia that was short-charging the army and the nation.
The meager funds available for modernisation of the armed forces were siphoned off and shared by corrupt officials and others. The chief had also undertaken to improve the internal health of the army, which he has carried out with missionary zeal and spared no one, senior or junior.
The transformation of the army is another long outstanding measure that has commenced. The new chief will need to pursue them with vigour. The bottom line is that we now have to throw away all the negatives of the past and support the new chief in taking the army to even greater heights.
The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff
Set aside differences and support new army chief

Meet the first Sikh soldiers to guard the Queen

These are the first two Sikh soldiers to have the honour of guarding the Queen.
Signaler Simranjit Singh, 26, and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh, 28, proudly pose with their guns while on duty in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Signaler Singh made history as the very first Sikh soldier to wear his turban on Public Duties guarding the monarch and protecting the Crown Jewels. He was soon joined by Lance Corporal Singh.

On duty: Signaler Simranjit Singh (left) and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh (right) are the first Sikh soldiers to guard the Queen
The proud soldier from Coventry enthusiastically took on the duty for the first time in May this year. He serves with 21st Signal Regiment based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, while Lance Corporal serves with 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps based at Wattisham, Suffolk.

Turbans, long hair and beards are considered a mandatory religious uniform for all Sikhs. Keeping uncut hair is required according to the Rehat Maryada, the Sikh instruction for living.
Courtesy, Brig Saranjit Singh, Signals
Armed and ready to protect One: Meet the first Sikh soldiers to guard the Queen- Mail Online

War widow gets promised land after 37 yrs

Vijay Mohan, Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, June 14
It was a battle that took 37 years. Now at the age of 70, Balwant Kaur, whose husband was killed in action during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, has finally got possession of the land promised to her by the state government as a mark of recognition of her husband’s sacrifice.

She was promised 10-acre land in Ludhiana district by the Punjab Government and is now in the possession of eight acres. The remaining land is yet to be handed to her as some issue pertaining to entries are still to be sorted out.

Balwant’s husband, Hav Kehar Singh of the Sikh Regiment, had died fighting in the Leepa Valley in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Punjab Government’s policy to help war widows, the Revenue Department initially allotted her 10 acres in the riverbed of Churwal village, near Ludhiana.

Since the area was unusable, she sought alternative land that could be used for cultivation. As the area re-allotted to her was under the possession of some villagers, she had to embark on another battle for getting its possession.

Over the years, uncooperative attitude of the subordinate staff, original files going missing and bureaucratic hassles became the order of the day. Ultimately, the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, ordered recompiling of the case file.

In 2003, the matter was reported to the Chief Minister during a public hearing, who ordered immediate action and a progress report. However, nothing moved even thereafter. It was in 2004 that the new case file reached the DC.

Though Balwant Kaur and her sons kept visiting the offices concerned regularly, there was no progress on ground. Meanwhile, an appeal filed by the then occupants of the land was dismissed by the court.

It was in late 2008 that the DC forwarded the case to the Revenue Department, but the inaptness of the subordinate staff came to the fore. Issuing incorrect orders, officials facing corruption charges and bureaucratic lethargy led to further delays.
War widow gets promised land after 37 yrs