The Hindu : National : ‘Signal about defence preparedness’

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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008
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‘Signal about defence preparedness’

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: One of the reasons behind deciding on the Siliguri region in north Bengal as venue for the two-day “Shock and Awe” demonstration of sophisticated land and air warfare weaponry beginning on Friday is to “send out covert signals to certain neighbouring countries in the region about India’s defence preparedness,” a well placed Army source told The Hindu on Tuesday. Nearly 2,000 personnel from the Indian Army and Air Force will be engaged in the demonstration.

An array of heavy weaponry will be fired at specially made targets to provide fire support to a simulated offensive in what is being billed the “biggest such exercise in recent times to be held in the eastern part of the country,” Defence spokesman, Group Captain R.K. Das said here.

There will be a major concentration of the latest weaponry for the exercise.

The firepower weapons will include Bofors guns, army aviation helicopters, infantry mortars and automatic grenade launchers. The display, under the aegis of the Eastern Command and Eastern Air Command, will be held in the Teesta Field Firing ranges lying between the Lish and Bish rivers.

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