Ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on his age row, the Army Chief, General VK Singh, today paid an “unscheduled” visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said the visit was not a part of his planned itinerary.
The General was accompanied by Air Marshal DC Kumaria, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command, and Lt Gen AK Chowdhary, Director General Military Operations (DGMO).
General Singh’s visit assumed significance in the backdrop of the apex court’s judgment on his age row, which is scheduled for tomorrow.
“General VK Singh accompanied by Air Marshal DC Kumaria and Lt Gen AK Chowdhary arrived at the Technical Airport here today in Brazilian aircraft Embraer this morning,” said officiating Defence PRO SN Acharya.
They were received by Group Captain M Giridhar, Officiating AOC, Jammu Air Force Station, Maj Gen BK Dhingra, MGGS SD, Northern Command HQ, and Maj Gen Surinder Singh, GOC, Tiger Division, said Acharya.
After their arrival, they were flown to the Northern Command HQ in garrison town of Udhampur, 65 km from here. The Army Chief, on his way to the garrison town, conducted a brief aerial recee of areas in Udhampur and Doda districts in an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
In Udhampur, the Army Chief was received by Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C, Northern Command. The General was briefed on all security issues by the Army Commander, Northern Command and later they reviewed the situation in the Northern Command Theatre, said the Defence PRO.
This was the first visit of the Army Chief to Jammu and Kashmir this year.
Later, General Singh chaired a high-level joint security meeting at the Udhampur-based Northern Command in which all General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and top IAF officers took part.
The Army Chief also reviewed the synergy of operational scenario of the Army and Air Force in the state. In the evening, the General flew back to New Delhi.
Tomorrow, he will leave on a two-day visit to Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
