SRINAGAR : Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat arrived here today on a day-long visit to review the overall security situation besides paying tributes to soldiers martyred in an ambush by militants in Shopian district in south Kashmir.
This is the first visit of Army chief after his warning to people not to try to disrupt the counter insurgency operations in the Valley.
Three soldiers were killed and five others, including a Lt Colonel and a Major were injured when militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ambushed their vehicles in Shopian in the wee hours yesterday. A woman was also killed in the encounter.
A defence ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that Gen Rawat arrived and paid homage to martyrs.
He said the mortal remains of two soldiers will be flown to their respective native places in Kerala and Jaipur, Rajasthan via Delhi while local solider Lance Naik Ghulam Mohiuddin Rather will be laid to rest in Anantnag.
Gen Rawat and other senior Army officer paid tributes to martyrs.
Defence sources said he will also review the overall security situation, including on the Line of Control (LoC) during his stay in the valley. He will be briefed about the measures taken to prevent any infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK),where a large number of militants are waiting in launch pads to sneak into this side.
Senior Army officers will brief the COAS about the recent successful operations and other measures to deal with the situation.
As many as 20 soldiers lost their lives in avalanches in north and central Kashmir districts while nine others, including 31-year-old Major Satish Dahiya were martyred fighting militants. A total 22 militants were also gunned down in the valley during the period.
Gen Rawat has recently warned of stern action against those who will disrupt anti militant operation in the Valley. The warning came after reports said that people were hitting the streets where security forces were launching search operations against militants.
However, the warning evoked sharp reaction from mainstream political parties besides separatists in the valley.
Despite warning there were reports from at least three places that security forces had to suspend anti militancy operations in the Valley after protests by locals. (AGENCIES)
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