Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 5: Lt. General Gurmeet Singh is arriving in Srinagar tomorrow to take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Srinagar-based 15 Corps also known as Chinar Corps.
Lt General Gurmeet Singh was Additional Director General Military Operations at Army Headquarters prior to his posting as GOC 15 Corps. He has earlier served as Brigadier General Staff (BGS) at the 15 Corps and Commander of 79 Infantry Brigade.
Lt General Singh was the GOC of Rashtriya Rifles’ Delta Force responsible for anti-insurgency operations in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban areas of Jammu region two years ago.
He will replace Lt Gen Om Prakash, who has been shifted to Army Headquarters New Delhi. General Singh will assume charge next week as Corps Commander.
Lt General Singh will head the most sensitive 15 Corps of Indian Army at a time when militancy of late has shown upward trend in Kashmir valley.
After relative calm over the years on militancy front, the militant activities are increasing for past couple of months with large number of local boys joining the militancy.
The Army has reports that large number of militants are waiting across the LoC ready to infiltrate into Kashmir. According to Army sources, around 800 militants are waiting on launching pads and they are ready to infiltrate into Kashmir and are making efforts to slip in.
General Singh also takes over at a time when the security agencies apprehend militant spill over in Kashmir after the withdrawal of United States led NATO forces from Afghanistan. Security agencies apprehended that there may be similar type of spill over as was in 1990 soon after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
The General has been chosen for this coveted post for his vast experience in handling militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
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