HT Correspondent

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

JAMMU :   Army chief General MM Naravane on Friday reviewed security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with top commanders at Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur.

He visited forward locations along the Line of Control (LoC) in BG sector of Poonch and met J&K Lieutenant governor GC Murmu on the last day of his two-day visit before returning to New Delhi.

Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane visited headquarters Northern Command at Udhampur today (Thursday).

He was briefed about the prevailing situation along the LoC and also in the hinterland by army commander Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.

The army chief appreciated the efforts put in by Northern Command to meet the challenges posed by inimical elements,” said Defence spokesman Col Abhinav Navneet.

The army chief, accompanied by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, also visited troops on the LoC to review prevailing situation and operational readiness of the units of White Knight Corps.

“General Naravane was briefed by Lt Gen Harsha Gupta, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps and commanders on the ground. He interacted with the soldiers deployed on the LoC and lauded them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism,” said the spokesman.

‘Be ready for all contingencies’

The army chief also asked the troops to be prepared for all contingencies.

General Naravane commended the standard operating procedures institutionalised to ensure safe-secure environment and mission readiness of the troops. He conveyed his satisfaction on the people-friendly measures undertaken in quick timeframe. Later, General Naravane, accompanied by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, called on L-G Girish Chandra Murmu and discussed prevailing security situation.

LG Murmu appreciated the synergy between the Army, other security forces and the civil administration in maintaining law and order situation in the freshly carved out Union Territory.

Srinagar : Security has been beefed up in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir ahead of the Republic Day with a massive deployment of forces around the venues of the January 26 functions across the Valley, officials said on Thursday. It will be the first Republic Day celebrations in the Valley after Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was withdrawn on August 5 and the erstwhile state was divided into two Union Territories.

The security has been tightened at various places in the city as well as in other districts of the Valley ahead of the Republic Day, the officials said. Security has been strengthened around the venues for the Republic Day functions HTC