Itanagar: Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army Gen Manoj Pande has conducted a comprehensive review of the military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first visit of the Indian Army Chief to the China border after last month’s clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
Indian Army PRO said General Pande visited various forward posts along the border with China in the Rest of Arunachal Pradesh (RALP) and some other strategically key posts during his visit on January 22.
Senior commanders posted in Arunachal Pradesh along the LAC briefed the army chief about the overall security scenario in the border areas. Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) tweeted,” Gen Manoj Pande #COAS visited units & formations along LAC in Eastern #ArunachalPradesh & was briefed on operational preparedness & security situation. #COAS complimented troops for maintaining sharp vigil & exhorted all to continue working with same zeal & devotion.”
General Pande’s visit to the crucial command came six weeks after the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in an area along the LAC in Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 2022.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, on January 3, dedicated 28 border infrastructure projects constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from the Siyom Bridge site in Arunachal Pradesh. BRO India completed 103 infrastructure projects in 2022 at Rs 2897 crore Out of these, 28 projects constructed in seven Border States/ UTs at Rs 724 Cr are being dedicated to the Nation.
On January 21, General Manoj Pande reviewed the Army’s military preparedness along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during his visit to the headquarters of the eastern Army command in Kolkata. The Eastern Command takes care of the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.
General Pande earlier said that the situation along the border with China is “stable” but “unpredictable”, and Indian troops are adequately deployed to deal with any contingencies. He said that we are ready to take any challenge put up by the enemy.
General Pande also mentioned a slight increase in Chinese troops in their areas across the eastern sector. But Indian troops are closely watching the movements and activities there.
It should be mentioned that the Indian Army has been focusing on enhancing infrastructure along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Indian Army significantly shored up its operational capabilities along the LAC in the eastern theatre. It came up with a number of infrastructures helpful for the troops.
The Army implemented an effective surveillance mechanism to boost the overall monitoring of the areas in the last few years.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on January 3 said, “The situations we faced in the northern sector in the past, and the way we were able to counter the adversary strongly, could not have been possible without adequate infrastructural development. Praising BRO for its commendable infrastructure development in border areas.”
