Indian Army chief Gen. Bikram Singh is in Jammu and Kashmir today as part of his maiden visit after being Army Chief. He would also visit the headquarters of the Northern Command at Udhampur
This is Gen. Singh’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming the charge May 31.
Gen. Singh had a detailed discussion on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the senior army commanders, particularly relating to the efforts aimed at checking the infiltration from across the border.
He was given a detailed briefing by Northern Command chief of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik, about the situation prevailing on the borders, and the concentration of militants at the launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC).
Gen. Parnaik briefed Gen. Singh about the efforts undertaken by the Indian army to curb infiltration by combination of high technology, sensors and night vision devices, and the human resources by effective deployment of the troops to check the intrusions.
It was also revealed how Pakistan provided “cover fire” to infiltrators at the Indian posts in Poonch district.
Sources said that the army chief was also keen to know about the presence of the militants in the hinterland and the steps being taken to neutralize them.
The issue of revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was also discussed.