Be ready for all contingencies, Army chief tells troops on LoC

Reviews security in hinterland; meets Murmu

JAMMU: On his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming charge as the Indian Army Chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Thursday interacted with the troops deployed on the Line of Control and asked them to remain prepared for all contingencies.
The Army chief also reviewed the prevailing security situation in the hinterland before meeting Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, with whom he discussed issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of infiltration attempts and the ongoing anti-terrorist operations.
General Naravane took charge as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on January 1 and reached Udhampur, the headquarters of Army’s Northern Command, on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit to the newly created Union Territory.
The Army chief was briefed by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General-officer-commanding, Northern Command, on the prevailing situation along the LoC and also in the hinterland.
Gen Naravane appreciated the efforts of the Northern Command to meet the challenges posed by inimical elements, a defence spokesperson said.
Later in the day, accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the chief visited troops along the LoC to review the prevailing situation and operational readiness of the units of Jammu-based White Knight Corps, the spokesperson said.
"The need to remain prepared for all contingencies was reinforced by the COAS," the spokesperson said, adding that he also expressed satisfaction over the people friendly measures undertaken by the Army.
Gen Naravane was briefed by General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Harsha Gupta and some commanders.
He also interacted with the soldiers and lauded their unwavering dedication to duty and high standards of professionalism.
In the evening, the Army chief met Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu at Raj Bhavan, with whom he discussed issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of infiltration attempts and the ongoing anti-terrorist operations.
A Raj Bhavan spokesman said during his meeting with the Army chief, Murmu appreciated the synergy between the Army, other security forces and the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
The Lt Governor lauded the Army's role in safeguarding the territorial integrity and the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir while conducting successful anti-terrorist operations in coordination with local police and central armed police forces in the hinterland, the spokesman said.
This was the first visit of Naravane to Jammu and Kashmir, after he took over as the army chief on January 1. Earlier on January 9, he had visited forward posts in Siachen Sector in Ladakh, which in now separated from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.