INDIA. Mumbai: During his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control (LOC).
The COAS accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, Chinar Corps Commander, visited the formations and units, wherein the local Commanders briefed him on the existing security situation and the measures instituted to foil infiltration by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Naravane interacted with the troops and complimented them for their high morale and the high state of operational preparedness. While appreciating the current state of peace prevailing along the LOC, he cautioned all commanders and troops to not let their guard down and to remain prepared to meet any emerging security challenges effectively. The Army Chief also complimented all Government agencies for their close coordination in maintaining peace in the region and reaching out to the people wholeheartedly to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The army chief was also briefed by local commanders on the measures being taken to identify and target networks of over ground workers involved in radicalization and recruitment of youth into militancy, the defence spokesman said in a statement. He added that efforts to prevent local recruitment and facilitate the surrender of local militants were also discussed.
C-in-C ANC visits units in Nicobar
Similarly, the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command Lt Gen Ajai Singh visited the military units and formations in the Nicobar Group of Islands on Thursday. He visited Naval Air Station Baaz, Campbell Bay, and Air Force Station Car Nicobar, where he was briefed about operational readiness and preparedness.
During his visit to INS Baaz, the southernmost military airfield of India, and the outpost at Indira Point, the southernmost point of India, Lt Gen Ajai Singh encouraged the personnel to maintain high vigil and appreciated their dedication. At Car Nicobar, he honoured the personnel and families who had lost their lives during the Tsunami on December 26, 2004, by laying a wreath in their memory at the Tsunami Memorial there.
He interacted with the troops of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineer Force as well as defence civilians stationed at Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar. He complimented all ranks for their performance and exhorted them to continue the good work and maintain a high state of alertness and operational readiness. Lt Gen Singh advised the personnel to continue strict protective measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ANC is the first and only tri-service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the union territory. It was created in 2001 to safeguard India’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing the rapid deployment of military assets in the region. It provides logistical and administrative support to naval ships which are sent on deployment to East Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
A contract to procure 11 Airport Surveillance Radars
In the meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with M/s Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems Ltd, Mumbai for procurement of 11 Airport Surveillance Radars with Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
The procurement, for Rs 323.47 crore, will be made under the ‘Buy & Make’ category. The installation of these radars will increase the air domain awareness around airfields and enhance safety & efficiency in flying operations of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The signing of this contract is an achievement of the Government towards ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and the objectives envisaged in the program. This would enable absorption of technology, skill development, and indigenous manufacture, boosting employment opportunities, a Defence Ministry statement said.
