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By:

Vinod Chavan

30 September 2025 at 3:04:23 pm

Birder Cop finds an Australian tagged bird

Latur: G. Thikanna, serving in the Andaman Police Department as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Communications was posted on one of the most remote and lesser-inhabited islands in the world to complete a one-month tenure. This island lies about 140 nautical miles away from the capital city, far from his family and loved ones in Port Blair. Life there is challenging, with no mobile network and no regular power supply. The only source of electricity is a portable generator that runs for about...

Birder Cop finds an Australian tagged bird

Latur: G. Thikanna, serving in the Andaman Police Department as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Communications was posted on one of the most remote and lesser-inhabited islands in the world to complete a one-month tenure. This island lies about 140 nautical miles away from the capital city, far from his family and loved ones in Port Blair. Life there is challenging, with no mobile network and no regular power supply. The only source of electricity is a portable generator that runs for about three hours a day just enough to charge communication devices and essential equipment. This was his second visit to the island in 2025. On the morning of June 16, 2025, during a routine inspection of the shoreline, he noticed a small bird moving along with the tidal waves. What caught his attention, however, was that the bird was having some colour tags on it legs. The photographs revealed that the bird had three tags: a red flag leg above the knee and a yellow tag under the knee on it right leg. The left leg had a metal ring. The red flag had a code which read DYM. In March 2026, Dr. Raju Kasambe, ornithologist and former Assistant Director at Bombay Natural History Society, and founder of Mumbai Bird Katta, visited South Andaman for a birding trip by his venture. Thikanna shared his observation and photographs with him. Dr. Kasambe took great interest and asked Thikanna to send the photographs. He identified the bird as Sanderling (Calidris alba), which breeds in the extreme northern parts of Asia, Europe and North America. After studying the shorebird Colour Marking Protocol for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) Dr. Kasambe realized that the bird was tagged in South Australia. He informed the EEAF team and Ms. Katherine Leung reverted with the information about the tagging of this tiny migratory wader, which weighs just 40-100gramms. The wader was tagged on 13 April 2025 by Ms. Maureen Christie at the Danger Pt, Brown Bay, near Port Macdonnell, in South Australia. That means the wader had reached Narcondam Island after two months and three days on its return journey back the its breeding grounds in extreme northern parts of Asia. The straight-line distance the bird had flown was an amazing 7472km and it hadn’t yet reached its final destination – the breeding grounds. This is first record of resighting of any tagged bird on the Narcondam Island, as the island remains mostly inaccessible to bird watchers. Interesting, the Island is home to the endemic Narcondam Hornbill, a species which is not found anywhere in the world. Mr. G. Thikanna is associated with the Andaman avians Club which conducted bird watching and towards creating awareness about birds in the Andaman Island. Other members of the club have congratulated him on the great find in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

India Strikes, Targets Hit

India’s calibrated military response to the Pahalgam massacre signals resolve without reckless escalation.

A security personnel keeps vigil at Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib following Operation Sindoor in Patna on Wednesday. Pic: PTI
A security personnel keeps vigil at Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib following Operation Sindoor in Patna on Wednesday. Pic: PTI

The barbarous atrocity wherein Pakistan-sponsored terrorists slaughtered more than 25 persons, mostly innocent Hindu tourists, in Pahalgam on April 22 was a cowardly terrorist attack. No matter how much Pakistan may deny it, the ISI’s imprint was unmistakably present. The attack provoked a wave of collective anger and grief in India. Pakistan’s motive, which was to promote the selective killing of Hindus, was aimed at tarnishing India’s global image and send a fanatical message to provoke a strong reaction from India. It had hoped to create mayhem by exploiting Hindu-Muslim religious sentiments.


Such well-planned attacks, which call into question national security, cannot go unpunished. As emergency measures, India initiated several actions: suspending the Indus Water Treaty, cancelling visas of Pakistani nationals, reducing diplomatic relations, and closing the Attari-Wagah border.


But that was certainly not enough. Simultaneously, India launched diplomatic efforts to build international pressure on Pakistan by seeking to return it to the FATF grey list and to craft a befitting response that the global community would see as proportionate, yet effective. The objective was to act decisively without triggering a reckless response from Pakistan. This required proper planning at the level of government and armed forces, the deployment of appropriate platforms and weapons, and the protection of Indian citizens. The civil defence drill conducted nationwide was a step in the right direction.


A befitting reply came in the form of Operation Sindoor, executed on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. The operation appears to have been meticulously planned, involving all three services. The Indian Army maintained a close watch on the borders; the Navy ensured maritime vigilance; and the Indian Air Force delivered a deterrent strike on Pakistani soil. The goal was to inflict damage on terrorist infrastructure and hurt Pakistan’s morale. The Indian Air Force appears to have achieved its objectives.


The selection of platforms and weapons depends on the mission. For Operation Sindoor, the Dassault Rafale was ideal, equipped with Meteor beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, an advanced electronic warfare suite, and superior radar and communication systems. Rafale’s Thales RBE2 AESA radar and frontal stealth capability enabled pilots to operate with superior situational awareness and under high-pressure conditions.


India used a variety of high-precision, long-range weapons, including SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions—giving it flexibility, accuracy, and the ability to strike selectively. The MBDA SCALP (or Storm Shadow) is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile designed for deep precision strikes. HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, is an air-to-ground system designed for medium-range tactical missions against both stationary and mobile targets. Loitering munitions, often referred to as ‘kamikaze drones,’ provide surveillance, target identification and precision engagement.


Using these systems, India targeted nine locations within Pakistan, including a Jaish-e-Mohammed base in Bahawalpur and a Lashkar-e-Taiba base in Muridke. These strikes specifically targeted key terror bases and training facilities - organisations long involved in attacks on Indian soil. By relying on advanced precision weaponry and real-time intelligence, the Army, Navy, and Air Force coordinated their efforts, carefully avoiding Pakistani military installations.


Reflecting on the action, the Indian Army declared: “Prhaaraay SnnihitaaH, Jyaay PrshikssitaaH – Ready to strike, trained to win.” It asserted that justice had been served.


In support of Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of External Affairs said it was essential to bring the perpetrators and planners of the April 22nd attack to justice. The MEA noted that, even 15 days after the attack, Pakistan had taken no verifiable action to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil or in areas under its control. Instead, it had resorted to denials and counter-allegations. Intelligence monitoring of Pakistan-based terror modules indicated that further attacks were imminent. India, therefore, had a compulsion to both deter and pre-empt.


India has delivered a restrained yet clear message to Pakistan. Whether it is enough for Pakistan to learn a lesson remains uncertain. Given its past behaviour, India must remain fully prepared, not just for Pakistan’s provocations, but also for the strategic games of the China-Bangladesh-Turkey trio.


Jai Hind.


(The author is a retired naval aviation officer and defence analyst. Views personal.)

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