The army has withdrawn leave of its soldiers and recalled them for active duty in the wake of increasing tension between India and Pakistan. Troops have also been withdrawn from internal security duties in Gujarat and sent to the border areas. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has cleared the entire MiG-21 Bis fleet for flying after detailed checks. Defence Minister George Fernandes, accompanied by the chiefs of the Army and Air Force, watched a massive fire power demonstration at the Mahajan field firing range ahead of Bikaner in Rajasthan today. ‘‘The joint army and air force exercise focuses on synergised operations to penetrate into enemy territory and destroy ground-based defences for the army to attack. The air force is also training to provide air support to the army and sanitise the air space,’’ said an official. Colonel Shruti Kant, an army spokesman, added: ‘‘The army formations and units, earlier diverted from Operation Parakram for internal security duties in Gujarat, have been relieved of these duties post haste and have started moving to their operational locations. Such a move has been undertaken keeping in view the emerging security scenario after the attack at Kaluchak.’’ UK TO US: SCREWS TIGHTEN ON GENERAL EU slap on Pak wrist: EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten said Pakistan should not be used as a ‘base for terrorism’. ‘‘There is never any justification for murdering innocent men, women and children and that is true in Afghanistan, it’s true in New York, it’s true in Jammu and Srinagar and it’s true in Belfast and London too’’ The situation along the LoC continues to be tense. The ‘‘routine small arms’’ firing has intensified to mortar shelling and three persons were killed in Rajauri today. ‘‘One terrorist was killed when an army patrol foiled an infiltration bid in west Lachchipur in Uri sector. The incident occurred at about 3 am yesterday. This is the first infiltration bid detected in this sector after the snow has started melting and weather has become conducive to movement across the mountainous terrain along the LoC,’’ said Kant. Meanwhile, the IAF today cleared its MiG-21 Bis aircraft fleet for operational flying and training sorties. The six squadrons (about 100 aircraft) will take to the skies again. An IAF spokesman, Squadron Leader Rajesh Dhingra, said the squadrons were being progressively cleared for operational flying after undergoing special checks on each aircraft. Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh was today appointed as the flag officer-commanding-in-chief southern naval command. Posted as the Chief of Personnel at the Naval Headquarters at present, Singh will take over his new appointment by May 31, according to Commander Rahul Gupta, the naval spokesperson. Commissioned into the Navy in Jan ‘66, Singh is a specialist in gunnery who earlier looked after policy and tactics. Former naval chief Vishnu Bhagwat wanted Singh to stay on as his deputy chief while Defence Minister George Fernandes pushed for Vice Admiral Harinder Singh. Singh thereafter headed the implementation cell in MoD, wherein he steered issues relating to restructuring of the higher defence organisation in the MOD and other ministries.
