Terror attacks in Jammu region: Shift Jammu Division back under Nagrota Corps from Western Command, Karan Singh urges Centre

New Delhi, July 11

As terrorists frequently target the Jammu region, veteran Congress leader Karan Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to shift the Jammu Division back under the Nagrota Corps from Western Command at Chandigarh to ensure better and integrated dominance of the area.

“I do have one suggestion for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. For many years, the Jammu Division was under the Nagrota Corps whose headquarters are hardly thirty miles away from Jammu. Some years ago, for some obscure reason, the Jammu Division was removed from Nagrota and placed under Western Command in Chandigarh, over 200 miles away,” Singh said in a statement.

“I think that the old system should be retained to ensure better and integrated dominance of the area in a militancy environment. To keep the area under constant surveillance, it would be useful to enhance the strength of the troops,” Singh said, suggesting that the Jammu Division be returned to the Nagrota Corps.

His statement assumes significance in view of the fact that terrorists have carried out five attacks in Jammu region in the last month.

Singh – a former Jammu and Kashmir Governor and the son Hari Singh—the last Maharaja of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—said the spate of terrorist attacks in the Jammu region was a matter of great concern.

“I trust the civilian and military authorities are making every effort to track down the militants as soon as possible. My deep sympathy to the bereaved families and prayers for the recovery of those wounded in these attacks,” he said.