Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Governor NN Vohra, Army chief Gen Bikram Singh and Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today held a high level review of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir in over 40 minutes long meeting at Raj Bhawan this afternoon even as Gen Singh called upon the troops to marginalize the terrorists to ensure that they didn’t regain the power to strike.
The Army chief’s meeting with the Governor along with top Commander of the Northern Command came just a day after Brigadier level officers of India and Pakistan met at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district and decided to maintain ceasefire but within hours of the meeting, Pakistan backed militants tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district this morning.
Gen Bikram Singh flew here this morning and proceeded to 16 Corps Headquarters at Nagrota, where he was briefed on latest security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir especially along the Line of Control (LoC) by Lt Gen Chachra and GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda.
Gen Singh stressed for utmost vigil on the LoC by the troops to thwart infiltration attempts by the militants.
In their meeting with Mr Vohra, Gen Singh and Lt Gen Chachra apprised the Governor about security scenario, incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC and International Border and Army’s preparedness to deal with any emergency situation.
They were closeted for over 40 minutes.
There had been reports that Pakistan based militant commanders were plotting to disrupt Parliament and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir due this year. The Army Commanders, however, assured the Governor that the troops were fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation on the border and won’t allow the militants to infiltrate.
Earlier, on his arrival at 16 Corps Headquarters, Gen Singh addressed ninth biennial conference of the Rashtriya Rifles.
In his address, he exhorted the Rashtriya Rifles to continue marginalizing terrorists through people-friendly operations while praising their contribution to development.
“Rashtriya Rifles (troops) should continue their efforts towards marginalizing terrorists through clean and people-friendly operations while following the law of the land,” Gen Singh said.
He emphasised on the need to avoid collateral damage and ensure dignity and human rights of people during counter-terrorist operations in the State. He said the Army has been ensuring that there was no collateral damage during search and cordon operations and added that track record of Army on this front has been quite good.
The Army chief lauded the force in restoring and maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir and contributing towards development and nation building.
In his address, Northern Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra thanked the State administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other agencies for their support and cooperation.
The Army Commanders paid glowing tributes to soldiers of the force who laid down their lives during counter-militancy operations in the State.
The Rashtriya Rifles, even as it conducted operations to quell terrorism, has concurrently undertaken people-friendly activities. It has assisted locals of remote areas with aids and has given an impetus to development, growth, education and communal harmony though its civic action programmes.
The Army chief, who flew here this morning from New Delhi, returned this afternoon after addressing the Rashtriya Rifles conference and meeting the Governor.
Worthwhile to mention here that both Defence and Home Ministries have alerted troops, para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir to remain on high alert during 2014 when both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were due in the State as there were reports that the militants could try to disturb the polling process.
While Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in April-May, the State would go to Assembly polls in November-December.
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