^ One hundred ninetyone recruits passed out from the Brigade of Guards Regimental Centre, Kamptee at a colourful and impressive passing-out parade. Here is Maj Gen TK Kaul pining medals to outstanding Guardsmen
^ Gen NC Vij, the then COAS reviewing the Army Day parade. You can see the indigenous Mobile Satelite Terminal for disaster management and Out of Area (OoA) contingencies first displayed during Republic Day Parade 2004 and later widely used during the Tsunami relief
^ Gen Joginder Jaswant Singh took over as the Chief of the Army Staff from NC Vij who retired on January 31 after over 43 years of meritorious service. Here he is paying tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti
^ Gen NC Vij handing over the command to new Army Chief, Gen JJ Singh
People living in the remote areas of Ladakh region do not have access to medical facilities. The Army, deployed in this area, conducted a number of medical camps under operation Sadbhavana last year:
^ Photos from the camps
^ Indian Army launched operation Sahyog, a welfare programme to provide succour to the people in the remote areas who have been ravaged by insurgent activities in Assam. One of the activities under the operation is taking children on excursions to historical and heritage sites in various parts of the country. These tours have received a huge response from children.
From an article entitled "
15 Assam Excels in UN Peacekeeping Operation":
The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed some disturbances on January 9 last when Hizbullah attacked an Israeli patrol in the disputed Shebaa farms. Shebaa farms is an area under dispute between the two countries and is located close to Blue Line, the border of Lebanon and Israel. the incident resulted in death of an Israel Defence Force (IDF) officer and critical injuries to three others. The IDF carried out an immediate retaliation with artillery and mortar shelling and air raids on Lebanese side of Blu Line.
An Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) patrol team patrol, that had gone to Bastra farm area for observation from Lebanese side of Blue Line, got trapped in firing, resulting in killing of a French officer, Maj Jean-Louis Valet and wounding of his Swedish colleague. the observer group patrol team was missing thereafter:
^ Fifteen Assam (INDBATT VII), which has been deployed in Lebanon as part of United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) since December last year was tasked to trace the OGL patrol, Maj KK Bhatacharya along with this Quick Reaction Team (QRT) moved to Bastra farm, when the shelling from IDF side was still in progress. Unmindful of the dangers involved and with firm desire to fulfill the missio on hand, the officer reached Bastra farm travelling 10-12 kms and extricated the OGL patrol members to safety. Col T Sambaiah, Commanding Officer himself brought the medical team to ensure timely evacuation of other casualties.
^ French casualty being evacuted
^ Maj Gen A Pellegrinl awarding UNIFIL Force Commander appreciation cards to Indian troops
