Srinagar/Udhampur, June 15
On his first visit to any state after he assumed office last month, Chief of the Army Staff General Bikram Singh arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on a two day-visit today. Soon after his arrival from Udhampur this afternoon, General Bikram Singh took stock of the security situation in the Valley. He was received by Lt Gen Om Prakash, GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps.

The Army Chief, accompanied by his wife and President of the Central Family Welfare Organisation Bubbles Singh called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan this evening. He was accompanied by Lt Gen KT Parnaik, Northern Army Commander, and Lt Gen Om Prakash.

During their more than an hour-long meeting, the Governor and the Chief of the Army Staff discussed various issues relating to internal and external security situation. Other issues having a bearing on the security management were also reviewed.

This was General Bikram Singh’s first meeting with the Governor after he took over as Chief of Army Staff. Recalling his earlier association with General Bikram Singh, while he served as the GOC, 15 Corps, the Governor wished the Army Chief a successful tenure.

The Army Chief is visiting forward areas during which he would interact with troops and address officers before returning to New Delhi tomorrow. Bubbles Singh would visit patients at 92 Base Hospital, besides attending a Central Family Welfare Meet organised in her honour, Defence Spokesperson Lt Col JS Brar said.

General Bikram Singh’s visit comes at a time when the infiltration bids by militants from across the LoC have gone up following melting of snow along the mountain passes. The security officers say the situation in the valley is well under control, and pressure is mounting on the militants operating here, even as the number of militancy-related incidents has increased since last month.

At Udhampur, the Army Chief had a detailed interaction with Lt Gen KT Parnaik, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, said PRO, Defence, Northern Command, Lt Gen Rajesh Kalia. The Army Chief was apprised of the current security situation and the operational preparedness in Northern Command, besides the complex dynamics of the proxy war situation in the state.