Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 1: Lieutenant General AK Bhatt took over as the Corps Commander of Srinagar based 15 Corps while Army today foiled an infiltration bid in Tanghdar sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Lt Gen Bhatt, who replaced Lt Gen JS Sandhu, is the 47th Corps Commander of 15 Corps, also called the Chinar Corps. He was commissioned into the regiment of 9th Gorkha Rifles (Chindits) and has had an illustrious military career spanning 36 years during which he has held varied prestigious command, staff and instructional appointments.
The GOC has an incisive understanding of Jammu and Kashmir having served here thrice before becoming Corps Commander. A Graduate of Staff College Camberley (UK), Lt Gen Bhatt has also held several appointments in the Army Headquarters and had an instructional appointment at Commando School, Belgaum.
He has also represented the country as the Deputy Force Provost Marshal in Lebanon. Before taking over as Chinar Corps Commander, the General Officer was tenanting the prestigious appointment of Director General Military Operations (DGMO) in Army Headquarters.
Earlier, the outgoing Corps Commander, Lt Gen Sandhu, was given befitting farewell at Badami Bagh Cantt. He is proceeding to New Delhi to assume the charge of Military Secretary (MS).
Lt Gen Sandhu’s tenure will be defined by the successful execution of ‘Operation All Out’ launched by the Security Forces in which a large number of militants were killed in Kashmir. He also gave impetus to improving the education infrastructure, coaching facilities, skill development, sports and youth empowerment. In his farewell message, Gen Sandhu complimented all ranks of Chinar Corps for their dedication and thanked civil administration and people for their support.
And Army today foiled an infiltration attempt in North Kashmir’s Tanghdar sector. Sources said that a group of 3-4 militants tried to infiltrate in the general area of Shiv post manned by 6 Garh Rif at around 4:30 a.m. However, alert Army troops challenged them and fired at them forcing them to flee back. Army immediately launched an operation in the area.
A Defence spokesman said here that an attempted infiltration bid by militants was successfully repulsed by alert Army troops in Tangdhar Sector in North Kashmir during the early hours today.
“A group of four terrorists attempted to infiltrate under the cover of darkness and thick jungles in the mountainous terrain in general area of Kalban in Tangdhar but were spotted by alert troops. They were engaged with heavy fire and terrorists were seen running away into the thick jungles towards the Line of Control”, said the spokesman.
He added that search operations in the sector were launched. He said that the repeated attempts of infiltration in North Kashmir continue to be foiled by the alert and watchful Army units based on sound intelligence thus eliminating the nefarious designs of Pakistan troops to foment trouble in the Valley.
A 10-year-old boy who was seriously wounded at the site of an encounter in Chaigund village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district last week has succumbed to injuries.
Musharaf Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Najar suffered critical injuries in his head and face on Jan 25 after a shell exploded at the encounter site while a group of people were clearing the debris of the house which was razed to ground by the security forces during the gun battle. On Jan 24, two local militants were killed in an encounter while civilian minor boy Shakir Ahmad Mir died and two girls were injured at Chaigund Audoo, Shopian.
The minor succumbed to injuries in the wee hours today after battling for life for six days at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
A pall of gloom descended at Datmudoor-the native village of Musharaf when his body reached his home today at around 7:15 am for last rites.
The internet services remain suspended in Shopian while people have been observing shutdown since January 25.
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