M A I N   N E W S

Terrorists sneaking in despite fencing, says Gen Vij
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15
Fencing along the Indo-Pak border has helped in bringing down the infiltration to almost negligible levels, although the terrorists were still making attempts to sneak in from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief of Army Staff General N.C. Vij said today.

In his last Army Day Parade address as the Chief of the Army Staff General Vij said the biggest achievement for the Army was the completion of the fencing along the 700-km border despite the cross-border terrorism.

“Our soldiers faced numerous difficulties while fencing the borders, but got the job done in a record 12-month period,” he said.

The parade which saw the Army unveil its armaments and equipments just before the Republic Day parade also had Lt Gen J.J. Singh, the GOC-in-C, Western Command and Chief of Army Staff designate present on the occasion.

The parade was led by Major-General Thomas Mathew, GOC Delhi Area, the grand finale of which was the Motor Cycle Display by ASC Tornadoes from the Army Service Corps Centre, Bangalore.

Addressing the officers and the jawans Gen Vij said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was heading fast towards peace which would give a big psychological boost to the country.

“Besides, people of Jammu and Kashmir are cooperating with troops wholeheartedly following a successful Sadhbhavna Operation carried out by the Army to reach out to the masses.”

He also observed that terrorism had been considerably contained in Assam and West Bengal in the wake of coordinated operations by the Indian and Bhutan troops.

The Army Chief had also attributed “several good changes” in the North-East as a result of number of initiatives taken in the region by the government.

Peace talks in Nagaland were moving ahead and efforts were on to improve the situation in Manipur, General Vij said.

Also, the Indian Army was rapidly adopting the latest technology, especially the IT, to meet future challenges, he said.

The Army Chief, however, underlined the need for high-class training to junior-level officers, saying courses for them would begin on April 15 at the Binaguri Military Station.

All officers, the Army Chief said, would at least become Colonels following government approval to the A.V. Singh Committee Report. Also, there will be an annual increase of 400 officers now, General Vij added.

During the parade, General Vij presented Sena Medals to 16 awardees for acts of gallantry. While the senior-most of these was Col Harindura Kumar Shrawat of the Madras Regiment the junior-most was Paratooper Nahar Singh.