Pakistan intensifying efforts to increase strength of terrorists along LoC: Army
Jammu: Pakistan has intensified its efforts at increasing the strength of terrorists in launch pads along the Line of Control over the past few days and pushing infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir, a top Army officer said on Tuesday.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh added that Pakistan is also initiating ceasefire violations.
If the Pakistan Army continues with its disruptive course, the Indian Army will respond with resolve and the costs will be prohibitive for them, he said.
A day after the government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and proposed to split it into two union territories, Lt Gen Singh chaired a meeting of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security Agencies at Srinagar to review the operational readiness to meet any contingency that could adversely impact the security situation.
According to a press release issued by Udhampur-based Army officials, Lt Gen Singh also said necessary security arrangements had been put in place to ensure peace and security.
The Army Commander highlighted that over the past few days, Pakistan had intensified its efforts at increasing strength of terrorists in launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC), initiating ceasefire violations, pushing infiltrators across the LoC, calibrating terrorist actions in the hinterland and also exploiting the social media to launch a disinformation campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Army has given a befitting response, thwarting their nefarious designs of causing disturbances in our country, he said.
He urged people not to fall prey to the "enemy's evil designs to poison their minds with incessant propaganda" and exhorted them not to proliferate rumours as well as dissuade their near and dear ones from indulging in rumour-mongering.
Lt Gen Singh warned that if the Pakistan Army continued with a disruptive course, the Indian Army would respond with resolve and the cost would be prohibitive for them.
Giving details of security of the hinterland, it was highlighted that counter-terrorism and law and order grids had been strengthened.
The security forces are suitably deployed to guard important vulnerable points and areas, prepared for crowd control, emerging law and order situations, and also to conduct effective counter-terrorist operations, a defence spokesperson said.
The Army Commander stated that security forces were maintaining a high state of alertness and readiness to counter any inimical designs.
Serving a note of caution to those who harbour plans to disrupt peace and harmony within, Lt Gen Singh stated that they would be dealt with firmly.
The Army Commander complimented all the agencies for their synergised efforts to ensure peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
