Remain prepared for all contingencies: COAS
Naravane visits forward areas in Rajouri
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane today called upon the troops to remain prepared for all contingencies as he reviewed security situation, both on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and hinterland, in Jammu and Kashmir during his first visit to the Union Territory after taking over as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Gen Naravane and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh also met Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu for comprehensive review of security scenario in the Union Territory including the anti-militancy operations especially in the Valley and ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army on the LoC almost regularly in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
“The need to remain prepared for all contingencies was reinforced by the Chief of Army Staff during his interaction with the troops,” an official statement issued by Defence spokesman after conclusion of two-day visit of Gen Naravane to Jammu and Kashmir, said.
Gen Naravane commended the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) institutionalized to ensure safe and secure environment and `Mission Readiness’ of the troops. He conveyed his satisfaction on the people friendly measures undertaken in quick timeframe.
Sources said the Army chief joined by Northern Army Commander called on Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu here this afternoon and discussed prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. They were reported to have discussed the situation prevailing on the LoC where Pakistan has quite often been indulging in ceasefire violations targeting civilian areas and ongoing anti-militancy operations in J&K especially the Valley.
There have been reports that security forces planned to intensify anti-militancy operations in the Valley which had taken a hit post August 5 Central decisions including scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The Lieutenant Government was appreciative of the synergy between Army, other security forces and civil administration in maintaining peaceful law and order situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the official statement said.
Sources, however, said that number of security aspects of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir figured during half an hour long meeting between the Lieutenant General, the Army chief and the Northern Command chief.
Steps required to keep Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley free of violence figured prominently at the meeting, sources said.
A UT Government spokesman said the Lieutenant Governor and the Army chief discussed several important inter-related issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of attempts at infiltration and the ongoing anti-terrorist operations.
The Lt Governor lauded the Indian Army’s role in safeguarding the territorial integrity and the internal security of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir while conducting successful anti-terrorist operations in co-ordination with the J&K Police and Central Armed Police Forces in the hinterland, the spokesman said.
Last week, the Lieutenant Governor had chaired the meeting of Unified Headquarters in Jammu in which top Army Commanders and officials of all Central Armed Police Forces, Intelligence Agencies, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration were present.
In the morning, GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh gave detailed briefing to the Chief of Army Staff on the prevailing security scenario on the LoC with Pakistan and the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gen Naravane appreciated the efforts put in by the Northern Command to meet challenged posed by the inimical elements.
The Army chief, the Northern Command chief and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen Harsha Gupta visited various forward areas on the LoC in Rajouri district to review situation prevailing there in the wake of constant shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops in violation of ceasefire agreement and infiltration attempts by the militants under the cover of Pakistan shelling.
Lt Gen Gupta gave detailed brief to the Army chief on the LoC situation.
Gen Naravane interacted with the troops on the ground and lauded them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standards of professionalism.
Post abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh by the Central Government on August 5, there has been spurt in ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops on the LoC in J&K especially the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Pakistan army was also trying to facilitate infiltration attempts by the militants on the LoC under the cover of ceasefire violations but their bids have been foiled by the Indian troops.
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