Arup Raha likely to be next IAF chief
New Delhi: Air Marshal Arup Raha is likely to be the next chief of the Indian Air Force, after incumbent NAK Browne retires on December 31. Raha’s appointment for the top job is likely to be announced by the end of this month after the Appointments Committee of Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister clears his name, sources said here on Friday. Raha, an ace fighter pilot, at present in the Vice Chief of IAF and is the senior most three-star officer.
IAF launches its 3G Cellular Network
New Delhi: IAF on Friday launched its 3G Cellular Network named AFCEl (Air Force Cellular) thereby becoming first among the services to have commissioned its own captive 3G network. Inaugurated by Air Chief NAK Browne, the network aims to bring all the units and stations of the IAF under the overarching umbrella of 3G connectivity. While Phase I of the project will ensure mobile connectivity to all air warriors in the National Capital Region, Phase II will cover the rest of the bases. The IAF will provide handsets to all its one lakh plus personnel to enable them to avail of the new technology.
India-Pakistan judicial panel to visit 3 jails
New Delhi: The India-Pakistan joint judicial committee will visit three jails — Amritsar, Tihar and Jaipur — to interact with Pakistani prisoners about their condition and explore whether their release could be expedited. The three-member panel of retired judges, comprising India’s Justice MA Khan and Pakistani Justices Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Abdul Qadir Chaudhry, will visit Amritsar jail tomorrow, Tihar jail in Delhi on December 28 and Jaipur jail on December 29. The panel will meet Pakistani prisoners lodged at these jails, examine their living conditions and prison records and pursue the scope for whether their release could be expedited, official sources said.