Former Indian Army Chief General Vishwa Nath Sharma, who played a major role in 1987 stand-off with China, passed away of natural causes around 4 am on Friday in the National capital. He was 96. The cremation is will take place on Saturday at 10:30 am at the Brar Square at Delhi Cantonment. 

General Sharma’s earlier tenure (June 1987 to May 1988)

As the Eastern Army Commander, the term was eventful and coincided with the military standoff against China at Sumdorong Chu along the Line of Actual control in Arunachal Pradesh.The incident is known among military historians as the “Wangdung incident” and it began in June 1986 when a Chinese attempt was discovered to alter the un-demarcated LAC near the of village Sumdorong Chu in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. 

The then Indian Army Chief General K Sundarji had responded and launched operation ‘chequerboard’ in summer of 1987. This involved a massive mobilisation of 10 army divisions alongside multiple squadrons of the Indian Air Force. It ranged across the entire northeast Himalayan region.

The military stand-off is considered the third Sino-Indian military conflict — the earlier ones being in 1962 and the 1967 near Natu La in Sikkim. 

Sad to inform the passing away of ex COAS Gen VN Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (Retd) at 0410 hr today at Delhi.

Cremation is planned tomorrow at 1030 hr at Brar Square. Om Shan