Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Army Chief General MM Naravane today confirmed that there are eight positive Covid-19 cases in the Indian army so far while asserting that the morale of soldiers is high despite the lockdown situation.
The COAS, who is on a two-day visit to J&K, was talking to a selected group of reporters in Kupwara today. “So far, we have only 8 positive cases in the entire Indian Army, of which 2 are doctors and 1 nursing assistant, 4 are responding well to treatment and we had one case in Ladakh, now he is fully cured and has joined duty,” he said.
The Army Chief arrived in the Union Territory yesterday to review the security situation in the Valley. He visited north Kashmir’s Kupwara district today to interact with soldiers guarding LoC and to take stock of the operational preparedness by the Army.
Over the past few weeks, tensions have gripped Kupwara district where earlier this month, five militants and as many soldiers of Special Forces Squad (SFS), including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed in a close fight.
Three civilians including a minor boy and a woman were killed in Chowkibal area of Kupwara on Sunday, in heavy shelling by Pakistani troops.
“Soldiers are doing an excelling job. I want to compliment them, not only those who are in J&K but those guarding northern borders and northeast also,” Gen Naravane said.
Talking about the recent infiltration bid, he said that earlier this month, a group infiltrated into this side and there was an encounter in which a JCO and four gallant soldiers were killed. “We were able to foil the infiltration attempt. The operation was conducted in very difficult conditions amid snowfall in the area. The route infiltrators had taken would not have been possible without the support of Pakistani army,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that when India is fighting the pandemic and exporting medicines to other countries to fight Covid, Pakistan is exporting terror,” he added.
Meanwhile, Defence spokesperson in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that on the second day of his two-day visit to Kashmir, General Naravane continued to review the security situation along the line of control.
“The army chief accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen YK Joshi and Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju visited the formations and units, wherein the local Commanders briefed the Army chief on the existing security situation and the measures instituted so that infiltration bids by terrorists are foiled,” Colonel Kalia said.
He said that the army chief was briefed by the local Commanders on the situation on the Line of Control, cease fire violations, retaliations, counter infiltration operations and operational preparedness being maintained.
“During his interaction with the soldiers on snowclad heights, he was appreciative of the sharp vigil and alertness along the Line of Control and high morale of the troops,” Colonel Kalia said.
He said that the Army chief also asked the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the Line of Control and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across and exhorted the soldiers to remain alert for any eventuality.
