Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 26: General Officer-in-Command (GOC) Lt General Subrata Saha today handed over the reins of Srinagar-based 15 Chinar Corps to Lt General Satish Kumar Dua. Lt General Dua assumed the charge at Badami Bagh cantonment here today.
A Defence spokesman said that Lt Gen Dua was commissioned into the Regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) in December 1979 and has thus been associated with the soldiers and people of State ever since he began his journey in the Army.
“A Graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command Course and National Defence College, the General Officer has held varied prestigious command, staff and instructional appointments that include command of his unit 8 JAK LI (Siachen) and Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir and command of a new Counter Terrorism Force, IGAR (East) which he raised in the North East. He has been a Commando Instructor and has also represented the country as the Defence attaché in Vietnam, Combodia and Laos,” the Defence spokesman said.
On assuming command, he conveyed his greeting to the people of Kashmir and the entire Chinar Corps fraternity.
The appointment of SK Dua has come at a time when Kashmir region is witnessing a surge in militancy with local militants outnumbering their foreign counter-parts.
The Defence spokesman said that the Lt Gen Subrata Saha, who was given a befitting farewell by the Chinar Corps, was popularly regarded as the “people’s General”.
“He channelized all energies towards the betterment of Kashmiri people through a two pronged approach of addressing the idea of militancy by introducing the concept of 4Es: Education, Empowerment, Engagement and Employment and neutralizing the ‘menace of terrorism’ through a robust counter infiltration grid on the LC and relentless operations against the terrorists in hinterland,” he said.
“During his tenure, Army’s contribution in the aftermath of 2014 floods which brought the ‘Jawan and Awaam’ (people and Army) closer as never before, will always remain etched in the conscience of the people of Kashmir,” the Defence spokesman said.
Lt General Saha proceeds to Army headquarter to assume another challenging responsibility of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
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