The Hindu : National : Troop cut will not affect border security: Vij

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

National

National

Troop cut will not affect border security: Vij

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 16. The Chief of the Army Staff, General N.C. Vij, said on Tuesday that the strength of troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir would be reduced soon.

Talking to presspersons after laying the foundation stone for the Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology here, Gen. Vij said the reduction would not affect the Army's ability to check cross-border infiltration.

He said this issue had been taken into account before deciding to cut troops. Gen. Vij declined to specify the number that would be pulled back and where they would be redeployed for "operational reasons."

Gen. Vij said the Army had been able to counter infiltration — in the first six days of November four crossover attempts by militants had been thwarted.

Arjun tank trials

He said trials of the indigenous battle tank, Arjun, would start in December, and added that it had to be put through accelerated trials to establish its reliability. Gen. Vij said there were plans to build a satellite specifically for the armed forces.

The Army was also planning to earmark a portion of welfare funds for education, he said. "We are speaking to all the commands to compulsorily set aside a certain percentage of funds for education," he said.

Since over one-third of the 1.2 million troops were involved in active operational duty, Gen. Vij said, there was an adverse impact on the education of soldiers' children. He said around 60,000 students were studying in nearly 1,500 schools run by the Army and that the intake in these schools would be doubled in the next few years.

Outcome soon

Gen. Vij said further action against the suspended officer, Major Rehman Hussein, would depend on his `culpability' in the alleged rape of a woman and her minor daughter in Jammu and Kashmir. Maj. Hussein had been suspended and placed under arrest for "disobedience and violation of operational procedures."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National