Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 23: Army chief Gen Bikram Singh today reviewed security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir especially Ladakh where People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China had intruded about 10 kilometers inside the Indian territory at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah besides top Commanders of the Army at 16 Corps Headquarters at Nagrota.
Gen Singh visited forward posts on the Line of Control (LoC) at Kalsian in Nowshera sector and had a meeting with Army officers at 25 Div Headquarters in Rajouri. He would visit formation headquarters at Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi tomorrow before returning to New Delhi.
The Army chief met the Chief Minister for about one and a half hours from 6.10 pm to 7.30 pm at his official residence here while he had more than an hour long meeting with the Governor at Raj Bhawan followed by the dinner. He will have a night halt at Tiger Division here.
This was for the first time that Gen Singh met Mr Vohra and Mr Abdullah as an Army chief in separate one-to-one meetings.
Official sources said the situation along Sino-Indian border in Leh figured prominently during the General’s meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister in addition to security scenario in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir including the LoC.
The Army chief is reported to have shared his view point on the situation in Leh and other parts of the State with Mr Vohra and Mr Abdullah, sources said and added that there was detailed discussions on frequent Chinese transgressions in Ladakh followed by 10 kilometers deep intrusions in DBO sector last week.
Gen Singh’s meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister assumed significance as they came at a time when the PLA had intruded 10 kilometers deep inside the DBO sector at Leh and installed a camp there. The PLA helicopters were reported to have provided air cover to their jawans in establishing the camp, which was detected on April 15 followed by a flag meeting between the two sides on April 18.
In addition to this, sources said, the situation on LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir also figured during the meeting. The Army chief also discussed the internal security scenario on militancy front with the Governor and the Chief Minister.
An official handout issued by the Raj Bhawan said the Chief of Army staff met Mr Vohra at the Raj Bhavan this evening.
“During their hour long meeting, the Governor and the Army chief discussed various matters related to internal and external security management. The Army chief also briefed the Governor about the recently reported movements of Chinese in Ladakh region,’’ the handout said.
Another Government handout said the Army chief accompanied by the GOC-in-C Northern Command and the GOC 16 Corps met the Chief Minister and discussed various matters related to prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir including situation in Leh in detail. Gen Singh briefed the Chief Minister about the current visit to the State.
Earlier in the day, Gen Singh landed at the Technical Airport and was received by GOC Tiger Division Maj Gen Ashwini Kumar and Air Commodore P E Patange.
He flew to 16 Corps Headquarters at Nagrota where he had a high level review of security scenario with Northern Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda and all other Commanders of 16 Corps.
GOCs of 14 and 15 Corps headquartered at Leh and Srinagar respectively were not present in the meeting.
Sources said the Army chief discussed the situation on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and internal areas across Jammu region with the Commanders. He also had an elaborate briefing on Ladakh situation with Lt Gen KT Parnaik.
They added that the Commanders briefed the Army chief on situation prevailing on the LoC where a number of militants were camping on other side awaiting an opportunity to sneak in. They were of the view that the militants would make infiltration attempts in the summer and apprised the Army chief about their preparedness to counter such bids.
The Army chief had a detailed briefing on presence of militants across LoC and number of the ultras operating within the State.
He called upon the troops to remain alert.
An Army handout issued by SN Acharya, officiating PRO (Defence), Jammu said the Army chief took stock of operational and logistics preparedness and was briefed by the formation Commanders on the situation along the LoC.
Mr Acharya said Mrs Bubbles Singh, president Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), accompanied the Army chief. She interacted with ladies of the station and complimented the families of 16 Corps on implementation of several innovative welfare schemes. She dwelt upon institutionalized measures undertaken to upgrade the quality of life of families of all ranks as also various welfare measures.
In the afternoon, the Army chief flew-in to Nowshera sector of Rajouri district and visited forward posts. He interacted with the Army jawans deployed in the forward posts.
Later, the Army chief reviewed security scenario in the border district of Rajouri at a high level meeting of local Commanders at 25 Div Headquarters. The meeting lasted more than half an hour.
The GOC-in-C Northern Command and the GOC Nagrota accompanied the Army chief during his visit to forward posts in Kalsian and security review meeting at 25 Div Headquarters in Rajouri.
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