Troops on high alert to foil intrusion bids
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 26: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and 3 Service chiefs today joined the nation in paying tributes to martyrs of 1999 Kargil war even as Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Devraj Anbu declared that Kargil-like situation will not be allowed to happen again and that the troops were ready to meet with any eventuality.
“Kargil Vijay Diwas: Nation’s gratitude to the brave men & women of armed forces who keep our country safe & secure,” Kovind said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the sacrifices of armed soldiers and officers during the Kargil conflict of 1999.
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“Remembering our brave soldiers, who fought gallantly for the pride of our nation and the security of our citizens during the Kargil War,” he tweeted
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the three Service chiefs paid glowing tributes to armed forces personnel who laid down their lives during the Kargil war in 1999.
Jaitley accompanied by Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa paid homage to Kargil war heroes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in the Union capital.
“Salute to the valour of our soldiers on #KargilVijayDiwas,” Jaitley tweeted.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on this day every year, marking successful conclusion of the war with Pakistan in the Kargil-Drass sector of Jammu and Kashmir in 1999.
The Indian soldiers successfully gained back the high altitude outposts occupied by Pakistani intruders culminating in Operation Vijay on the day.
Over 500 Indian armed forces personnel laid down their lives during the 60-day long war.
Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command Lt Gen Devraj Anbu joined the celebration of `Kargil Vijay Diwas’ at Drass by paying tributes to the martyrs and inter-acting with some families of the soldiers, who had laid down their lives during the war, and had reached Drass, the second highest cold region of the world in Kargil district.
Speaking to reporters at Drass, the Northern Army Commander declared that Kargil-like situation will not be allowed to happen again and the troops are totally prepared to meet any eventuality.
“Our troops are fully alert along the frontiers. They are guarding the borders very effectively. We are ready to meet with any eventuality,” he said.
“We are trying to resolve the issue on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Borders in Ladakh,” Lt Gen Anbu said.
He added that security forces are on high alert to foil any infiltration bid on the LoC including in Kargil and Drass sectors in Ladakh region, where India shares boundary with Pakistan. Pakistan army regulars had captured Kargil heights in 1999 leading to a war, which India won after about two months of relentless operation killing many intruders and forcing others to flee.
“Our troops are well prepared and alert to meet any eventuality, he said, adding the Kargil-like situation would not be allowed to happen again.
Regarding overall security situation in the Kashmir valley, Lt Gen Anbu said: “Army and other security agencies are working in close coordination to carry out anti-militancy operations and they have achieved many successes in the recent past, both along LoC as well as hinterland.
He said it was because of the close coordination that security forces eliminated 36 militants, including some self-styled commander in the Valley during the past three months.
“Alert troops also foiled a number of infiltration attempt from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” he said adding scores of militants were gunned down immediately after they sneaked into this side.
Lt Gen Anbu maintained that large number of trained militants are waiting at launch pads near LoC in PoK to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to snowfall. However, he added, that the troops were maintaining very high alert and were fully alive to the situation to thwart infiltration attempts by the militants.
Lt Gen Anbu said relations between the people in Kashmir and Indian Army were getting strengthening day by day and, as a result, more than 14,500 students are getting education in 45 Army Goodwill Schools all over Jammu and Kashmir.
“This has helped more than 1,000 local youths to get employment,” he added.
Without naming China, he said, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Ladakh is disputed as it hasn’t been demarked yet. “We resolve the local issues, if any, at the local level,” he added.
Lt Gen Anbu along with GOC 14th Crops PJS Pannu and all ranks paid tribute to the martyrs and laid wreath at the Drass war memorial. He also interacted with Army jawans, Veer Naris and war heroes.
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