Section 7

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<mark>5 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT OPERATION BANDAR – BALAKOT AIR STRIKES.</mark>

<mark>5 Things You Must Know About Operation BANDAR – Balakot Air Strikes. When the Air Force sent its package of 12 Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft to attack the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in Balakot on February 26, it code-named it ‘Operation Bandar (Monkey)’, to maintain secrecy.</mark>

<mark>“In order to maintain secrecy and ensure that the plans don’t leak out, the Balakot operations were given the codename Operation Bandar,” senior defence sources said. Without detailing any specific reason behind the name, sources said monkeys have always held a special place in India’s war culture as seen in the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama’s lieutenant Lord Hanuman quietly sneaked into Lanka and destroyed the entire capital city of the demon Ravana.</mark>

<mark>5 Things About Operation BANDAR</mark>

• ➢ On February 26, 12 Mirages having taken off from multiple air bases crossed over into the Pakistani air space and carried out missile attacks on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province.

• ➢ The attacks carried out by the Indian Air Force, pilots had dropped five Spice 2000 bombs out of which four penetrated the rooftops of the building in which the terrorists were sleeping. The attacks were carried out at 3.30 AM and within a few minutes after dropping the bombs on their designated targets, the Indian Air Force planes returned to their bases.

• ➢ The aircraft used in the attack belonged to the No 7 and No 9 squadrons of the Indian Air Force and included the non-upgraded planes as the upgraded Mirages of the No 1 squadron did not have the air to ground strike capability at that moment.

• ➢ While some of the Mirage aircraft carried out the attack on Jaish positions, a team of other few Mirages and Su-30MKI combat aircraft kept the Pakistan air force planes away from causing any hindrance or launching any counter-offensive. As per the Air Force briefings to the government, 80 per cent of the bombs had been dropped successfully on their targets and had carried out the requisite damage to the enemy locations.

• ➢ The operations were ably supported by the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control systems (AEW&C) plane Netra.

• ➢ The Indian Air Force had also kept its team of Garud commandos on stand-by for any kind of operations that may have been required due to any kind of emergency there. The Indian Air Force is also planning to reward the IAF pilots who took part in the attack with Vayu Sena Medal for Gallantry for their acts of bravery. (ANI)

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<mark>7 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WING COMMANDER ABHINANDAN VARTHAMAN</mark>

Abhinandan Varthaman is an IAF pilot who has stolen all Indian hearts by his bravery. He is a true example of the son of Indian soil who did everything to serve the motherland. Let us see some interesting and inspiring facts about Wing Commander Abhinandan.

Abhinandan Varthaman is a wing-commander in the Indian Air Force. As we know that India-Pakistan in 2019 was

engaged in military confrontation (Balakot air strike) and Abhinandan was held captive for about 60 hours in Pakistan after his aircraft was shot down. And now, safely he came back to India his motherland.

Interesting facts about Abhinandan Varthaman

1. Abhinandan was born on 21 June, 1983 . His family belongs from Thirupanamoor village which is 19 km from Kanchipuram. His father Simhakutty Varthaman is a retired Air Marshal and his mother is a doctor.

2. Do you know that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's father, ret. Air marshall S Varthaman was a consultant for the film Kaatru Veliyidai. It is Mani Ratnam film starring Karthi and Aditi.

3. He has done his early schooling at Sainik Welfare School in Chennai. He has done his graduation from the National Defence Academy and on 19 June, 2004 , he was commissioned to the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. On 19 June, 2006 , he was promoted as Flight Lieutenant and to Squadron leader on 8 July, 2010 . Do you know before assigned to MiG-21 Bison squadron, he was a Su-30 MKI fighter pilot.

4. Wing Commander Abhinandan is married to a retired IAF Squadron Leader Tanvi Marwah and has two children. His brother also serves the Indian Air Force. Abhinandan likes reading and he is an outstanding speaker.

5. Let us tell you that Wing Commander Abhinandan is one of the very few soldiers who was captured by the Pakistan army during the India-Pakistan military confrontation. And the good thing is that he came back alive.

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6. The most important is that, Wing Commander Abhinandan is the only pilot who has destroyed an advanced PAK F-16 fighter jet with IAF MiG21 fighter plane. No doubt, he has created a history in the world.

Note : Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was caught by Pakistan on 27 February after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet was hit in a dogfight with Pakistan Air Force and came down across the line of Control (LoC). Finally, he was released and handed over to India at the Wagah-Attari border crossing on 1 March. Before the incident, he was posted with the MiG-21 squadron in Srinagar.

7. According to the Defence Ministry, on the Independence Day 2019, Wing Commander Abhinandan awarded with Vir Chakra. Let us tell you that it is the country's third-highest war time gallantry medal.

No doubt, Wing Commander Abhinandan exemplary courage and dignity has inspired us and set an example. He has become a symbol of a new and fearless India.

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<mark>8 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GORKHA RIFLES</mark>

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The country's first Field Marshal Sam 'Bahadur' Manekshaw, an officer in a Gorkha Rifles regiment but not a Gorkha himself, once said: 'If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha.'

Here is the 8 Interesting Facts about Gorkha Rifles (GR): -

• ➢ Contrary to popular belief that the British East India Company was the first to recruit Gorkhas as soldiers, Army officers contend it was, in fact, Maharaja Ranjit Singh who raised a battalion of Gorkhas to serve in the Sikh Army around 18091814

• ➢ There are about 32,000 Nepalese Gorkhas currently serving in the Indian Army's seven Gorkha Rifle regiments (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th), each of which has five to six battalions (around 800 soldiers each).

• ➢ The 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th regiments went to the British Army after Independence in 1947. These have now been consolidated into one Gorkha regiment in the British army.

• ➢ The Army chief Bipin Rawat who is also first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is from the Gorkha Rifles. In fact, several Army chiefs have been officers in on of the Gorkha regiments.

• ➢ The Gorkha Rifles war cry is "Jai Maha Kali, Aayo Gorkhali! (Hail Goddess Kali, the Gorkhas are here!)", or simply "Aayo Gorkhali Charge!" All the Gorkha regiment soldiers carry a 'khukri', which is a long knife that curves inward. The insignia of all the Gorkha Rifles regiments is a pair of crossed 'khukris'.

• ➢ All the non-Gorkhas in the Gorkha Rifles have to learn Nepali so they can communicate with their regiments.

• ➢ The Gurkhas took part in the two world wars, the Falklands conflict and British operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, East Timor and Sierra Leone, according to Reuters.

• ➢ The Gorkha Rifles regiments had a tradition of sacrificing a male buffalo on the festival of Dussehra. The defence ministry in 2015 put an end to that tradition.

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<mark>23 INTERESTING AND INSPIRING FACTS ABOUT KUMAON REGIMENT</mark>

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<mark>The Kumaon Regiment is known for its extreme level of courage and is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. It is mainly composed of Kumaonis from Uttarakhand and Ahirs from the plains of Haryana. Their bravery is known to have seen on every occasion including at Rezang La in 1962. Given below are some</mark>

<mark>amazing Kumaon Regiment facts: -</mark>

1 . The Kumaon Regiment is named after the region of Uttarakhand. It is one of the two regiments that are named after the regions of Uttarakhand. The other one is Garhwal Rifles.

2 . It was one of the first troops to be raised in the 19th century. To be precise, it was raised in 1813.

3 . The name ‘Kumaon’ did not come up at the beginning but it was known as the19th Hyderabad Regiment till 1945 after which it got changed.

4 . The men of the regiment also belonged to the Russell Brigade of the Hyderabad Nizam. They were known for their valor.

5 . The regiment was distinguished by this sign of a demi-rampant lion holding a cross. This same sign was also badged to the coats of arms of the Russell family.

6 . Kumaonis also served in the famous Berar Infantry of the Nizam’s forces.

7 . The Russell Brigade and the Berar Infantry were maintained as British forces but were paid for by the Nizam.

8 . The Brigade under Nizam came to be known as the Hyderabad Contingent in1853. It also became a part of the British Indian Army after 1857.

9 . More number of Kumaonis entered the composition of the Russell Brigade and the Berar Infantry between 1854 and 1917.

10 . During World War I, the first all-Kumaon battalion was formed in Ranikhet on October 23, 1917. It was known as 4/39th Kumaon Rifles and was redesignated as 1st Battalion, 50th Kumaon Rifles in 1918.

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11 . The 19 was added to the Kumaon badge in 1924 when the Kumaon battalions became part of the Hyderabad Contingent.

12 . The prefix of 19 was attached to the Hyderabad Regiment on October 27, 1945, after Independence.

13 . The motto of the Kumaon Regiment was ‘Parakramo Vijayate’ meaning Valour Triumphs. They also have three war cries namely, Kalika Mata Ki Jai (Victory to the Great Goddess Kali), Bajrang Bali Ki Jai (Victory to Bajrang Bali), and Dada Kishan Ki Jai (Victory to Dada Kishan – a form of Krishna).

14 . During World War II, the 19th Hyderabad Regiment fought very bravely in the regions of Hong Kong, eastern theatre in Burma, Malay Peninsula, and Iran.

15 . Kumaon Regiment fought the very first battle of independent India. Two battalions of Kumaon Regiment fought valiantly at the Indo-Pak war of 1947-48.

<mark>16</mark> <mark>. Major Somnath Sharma of 4th battalion Kumaon Regiment was the first soldier to be honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for fighting bravely against the Pakistanis in the Battle of Budgam even though his left hand was plastered.</mark>

17 . The Kumaon Regiment attacked Chinese defenses in the Battle of Walong of 1962 and captured them. It is believed that this was the first time that India attacked the forces instead of being defensive.

<mark>18</mark> <mark>. The 13 Kumaon fought the Battle of Rezang La in which 120 Indian soldiers stood strong against 1300 Chinese soldiers. It was one of the greatest last stands in the history of human warfare.</mark>

<mark>19</mark> <mark>. Major Shaitan Singh of 13 Kumaon was honoured with PVC for his commendable courage in Battle of Rezand La in which he went from post to post inspiring his men to stand strong against the Chinese soldiers.</mark>

20 . Ladakh Scouts along with the Kumaon Regiment were able to achieve a decisive edge over Pakistan in the region of Siachen Glacier which they captured during Operation Meghdoot in 1984.

21 . Besides the Kumaon Scouts, the regiment has 19 battalions, three of which are of Naga Regiment.

22 . The Regiment was awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra and not only one but four Ashok Chakras, three of which went to 15 Kumaon and one to 13 Kumaon.

23 . The Regiment has produced the highest number of Army chiefs by any infantry regiment - General S.M. Shrinagesh, General K.S. Thimayya, and General T.N. Raina. The picture given below is of Gen Thimayya.

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<mark>21 ‘POWERFUL’ FACTS ABOUT THE GRENADIERS, THE LONGEST SERVING REGIMENT OF INDIAN ARMY</mark>

<mark>When France began recruiting Grenadiers sometime in the 17th century, they went for the most powerfully built men capable of hurling grenades to great distances. That feature remained a staple identity of grenadiers all over the world. Grenadiers, whether in India or elsewhere, have the reputation of being fearsome soldiers who are entrusted with destroying enemy fortifications. Though hurling grenades is not a specialty reserved to The Grenadiers anymore, the main task of assault on the enemy remains the core responsibility.</mark>

<mark>Compony Quartermaster Havildar</mark> Abdul Hamid, PVC

<mark>1. The Grenadiers is the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army post-Independence.</mark>

<mark>They have won three Param Vir Chakras in three different conflicts. They also have over 2 Ashok Chakras, over 50 Shaurya Chakras, and over 70 Sena Medals among other honours such as Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra and Kirti Chakra.</mark>

<mark>2. Formed in 1779, it is also the oldest grenadier regiment in all of the Commonwealth countries (or the entire British Empire).</mark>

<mark>This regiment was formed 36 years before the British formally formed their own grenadier regiment known as Grenadier Guards after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.</mark>

<mark>3. The Grenadiers is also the longest continuous serving regiment in any Commonwealth country.</mark>

<mark>Longest serving means the number of years in service, which is different from oldest regiment. This regiment has the distinguished record of remaining in unbroken service since the time of its formation.</mark>

<mark>4. Like some other Indian Army regiments, Grenadiers were raised as part of the Bombay Army of the East India Company.</mark>

<mark>5. After 1857, they became part of the British Indian Army and remained in service till 1947 when they became part of Indian Army.</mark>

<mark>6. The first mention of grenadiers comes from a 1684 record about a small group of European settlers on an island in Bombay.</mark>

<mark>7. Before 1757, there was at least one company of grenadiers in the Bombay Army.</mark>

<mark>8. In 1757, Robert Clive raised the first two companies of grenadiers in the 1st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry.</mark>