Northern Command chief reviews operational preparedness of troops

Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar on Tuesday visited the White Knight Corps to review the operational preparedness of troops and discuss the security situation with senior officers, the military said.

The visit of the General Officer Commanding-in-chief of Udhampur-baser Northern Command to the 16 Corps headquarters came amid intensified anti-terror operations, especially in the remote forest areas of Kishtwar district, where a Junior Commissioned Officer and two village defence guards (VDGs) were killed by terrorists in two separate incidents in the past five days.

The GOC-in-C met with the GOC of Nagrota-based White Knight Corps, Lt General Navin Sachdeva, and discussed the security situation among other matters.

In an official statement, Northern Command stated that Lt Gen Suchindra met Lt Gen Sachdeva to review the operation preparedness. “The Army commander exhorted all ranks to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and alertness in anti-terrorist operations,” the statement read.

Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of Special Forces along with three other soldiers were injured during an anti-terror operation in Kishtwar. Kumar later succumbed to his injuries. The incident took place when the security forces were searching for terrorists, who had brutally killed two village defence guards in forest area of Kishtwar on Thursday.

The Northern Army commander’s visit holds importance as a massive search operation is still continuing in Kishtwar. The ultras have used the tactics of ambush against the soldiers and J&K Police in which security forces have suffered many casualties in the past two years, specifically in forest areas of Jammu division. The dense forest areas are continuously giving the terrorists an edge who target security forces by remaining hidden in bushes.

Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva later visited Kishtwar and held discussions with the ground troops and officers who are overseeing the search operation.

Army in a post on X stated, “GOC White Knight Corps alongwith GOC CIF Delta, J&K Police and intelligence agencies, visited Kishtwar sector to review ongoing counter-terror operations. GOC emphasised the need for close synergy among all stakeholders to eliminate remaining threats and commended their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region.”

Highly trained terrorists from Pakistan have been able to infiltrate into J&K and are hiding in forest areas that has become a threat for the locals living in these areas. Sources informed that a close eye is being kept on the over ground workers (OGWs) who are helping these terrorists to sustain in jungles by providing food, water and other necessities.