Army chief visits J&K forward areas ahead of second phase polling

Srinagar: Ahead of the second phase polling in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag today visited the forward areas and reviewed overall security situation prevailing in the Valley. “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited the forward posts in the Tangdhar and Machhil sectors and the Dagger Division at Baramulla. At each location, the COAS was briefed by the Commanders in the field about the situation along the Line of Control and the hinterland,” a defence spokesman said.[caption id=“attachment_1705271” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag. PTI[/caption] He said General Suhag was received by Lt Gen DS Hooda, Northern Army Commander, and Lt Gen Subrata Saha, the Chinar Corps Commander, on his arrival in Srinagar. “The COAS was apprised in detail about the robust counter infiltration grid,” the spokesman said, adding the Army chief appreciated the effectiveness of the grid and the much higher success rate this year in neutralising infiltration attempts, which had contributed significantly towards ensuring a secure environment in Kashmir. General Suhag also inspected the recoveries of weapons and IEDs made during the counter-insurgency operations. “The COAS complimented the commanders on the high level of integration achieved with the police and paramilitary forces and expressed his satisfaction with the efforts put in for resource mobilisation, innovative surveillance techniques and other security measures which were showing excellent results,” the spokesman said. The Army chief interacted with the troops and expressed his happiness at the high state of morale and operational preparedness displayed by them. In the second of five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, 18 constituencies, spread over five districts - two in the Valley and three in Jammu region - will go to polls tomorrow. PTI