Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Army Chief General MM Naravane today arrived in Kashmir to review the security situation in the Valley amid escalation in ceasefire violations on the Line of Control.
General Naravane exhorted the troops to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges at all times.
Defence spokesperson in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia told NVI that the Army chief reached Kashmir today on a two-day visit and reviewed the prevailing security situation. He arrived in the valley amid COVID-19 pandemic which has affected Kashmir also.
“He was accompanied by the northern army commander, Lt Gen YK Joshi and Srinagar based 15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju,” Colonel Kalia said. He said that General Naravane visited the formations and units in the hinterland today.
“While interacting with jawans, the army chief highlighted that it was the dawn of a new era of development, peace and prosperity in Kashmir and applauded them for their high level of morale and motivation,” the defence spokesperson said.
He said that the Army chief further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively at all times. “General Naravane extolled the close coordination among all government agencies towards maintaining vigil and peace in the valley and reaching out to the people wholeheartedly to combat the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic together,” he said.
Later in the day, the army chief visited 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, where he appreciated the excellent work and vital critical care being provided by the doctors and support staff.
“He commended them for being the lifeline of the Valley. He was then briefed by the GoC 15 Corps in Srinagar on the overall situation pertaining to the Line of Control and the hinterland,” Colonel Kalia said.
The army chief also met members of the civil society later in the evening today, the defence spokesperson said.
Tensions along the border have escalated after the recent infiltration bid by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, which was foiled by the Indian Army. Five militants were killed in the operation as the Army lost its five soldiers from elite Special Forces.
In another incident on Sunday, three civilians including a woman and a minor boy were killed in heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan at Chowkibal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
