Talking tough on the first day after taking charge as Army Chief, General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Friday warned Pakistan that India’s response will be “intense and immediate” in case of an incident like beheading of an Indian soldier near the lOC last year.
Giving this stern message, Suhag also said reaction by India would be “more than adequate. I can tell you that our response to any such act will be intense and immediate”.
His response came when asked how did India give a befitting reply to Pakistan after the beheading of lance Naik Hemraj along the line of Control(lOC) in Poonch sector on January 8 last year by Pakistani troops. Outgoing chief General Bikram Singh had said on Thursday India had given a befitting reply to Pakistan after the beheading incident and Suhag said his predecessor had conveyed it in his interaction with media.
Incidentally, Suhag’s warning came almost at the same time when the Army killed two militants in an overnight encounter in Keran sector near the lOC. The search operation continued during the day and two more persons were shot dead on Friday, a defence spokesman said. The militants were killed when they were trying to ex-filtrate to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Defence sources said that Army patrolling party comprising of 15 RR and 7 Garhwal intercepted a group of persons at Sondi Gali near line of Control. “After challenging the group, they fled from the scene and disappeared. We launched a combing operation in the dense forest. During the search operation, militants fired upon the Army which resulted in the cross firing. During the operation two militants were gunned down,” spokesman said adding that two more militants were killed on Friday afternoon.Meanwhile, listing out his focus areas, Suhag said after inspecting the customary guard of honour, they would be to enhance operational preparedness and the effectiveness of the Indian Army.
“Force modernisation, infrastructure development, optimisation of human resources, welfare of serving personnel and ex-servicemen are issues that are very close to my heart,” the new Chief said adding he would do his best for the welfare of men behind the gun and “to provide them the required equipment and weapons for performing their assigned roles.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the government for reposing “faith” in him as Chief. BJP had earlier opposed the process of designating Suhag as the new Chief by the UPA government in its last days in office in May.
But soon after NDA came in power, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had said the new government would continue with the appointment made during UPA’s tenure. Questions were also raised over his appointment by Union Minister and former Army Chief Gen VK Singh.