In a significant display of commitment to maintaining security and operational readiness in the region, Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, visited the White Knight Corps based in Nagrota. During this visit, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the “highest standards of alertness and professionalism” in anti-terrorist operations amidst ongoing security challenges.
Following this high-level visit, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, the General Officer Commanding of the White Knight Corps, made an inspection of the Kishtwar sector. His presence in the area was aimed at overseeing the ongoing counter-terror operations, which are intensifying due to the recent violent incidents. Accompanying Lt Gen Sachdeva were senior officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and various intelligence agencies, highlighting the collaborative effort required to neutralize threats in the region.
The heightened focus on the Kishtwar area comes after a Junior Commissioned Officer of the Army’s Special Forces was killed in a firefight with terrorists on November 10. This incident followed an earlier tragedy, where two Village Defence Guards were abducted and murdered in the Kuntwara forest region on November 7. Current intelligence suggests that a small number of terrorists are still concealed within the dense forest terrain, prompting an extensive joint search operation by the security forces, which has been ongoing since the reported killings.
Reports indicate that as the security forces pursued leads on the terrorists’ movements, they engaged in a firefight that resulted in the fatal injury of the Junior Commissioned Officer. The exchange of gunfire underscores the urgency and danger of the operations being conducted in Kishtwar and neighboring areas.
The White Knight Corps shared updates on social media, confirming the operational oversight and emphasizing the critical need for synergy among all stakeholders involved in operations against terrorism. They noted the importance of teamwork in ensuring peace and security in the region. “#GOC emphasized the need for close #synergy among all stakeholders to eliminate remaining threats and commended their unwavering commitment to maintaining #peace and #security in the region,” articulated one of the posts from the White Knight Corps.
Additionally, the past week also witnessed a visit from the Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, who assessed the operational statuses of different units, including those in the Kathua region. He interacted with troops, commending them for their professionalism in the face of ongoing challenges and urged the command staff to stay abreast of global geopolitical developments to better prepare for future threats.
Both the Northern Command leadership and the Chief of the Army Staff have expressed confidence in the capabilities of troops in ensuring security, reflecting the Indian Army’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring stability in sensitive areas. The strategic collaboration among various military, police, and intelligence personnel underscores the imperative of joint operations in addressing the persistent security threats facing the region.
