Army chief rules out retaliatory strikes

The Army Chief was replying to a question after a briefing at the 57 Mountain Division headquarters here.

A senior officer here said, “The Army chief’s views are definitely not ordinary in the circumstances, but they are not surprising. There is an urgent need to project ourselves not as a vengeful force propagating individual vendetta but as a force looking to aid the government in ensuring that peace talks take place in a composed atmosphere.”

This projection of a tolerant, less reactionary force is in line with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statements ove r the last two days, in Nagaland as well as here.

The minister, who addressed troops here this afternoon said, “Our job is to help the state government, not substitute it.” On the Manorama Devi rape and murder case, Pranab said the tussle between the State and the Army over forensic access continued.

He added the court of inquiry ordered into the incident over a year ago was yet to complete investigation.

The Defence Minister left for the Army’s IV Corps headquarters at Tezpur this evening, before a possible visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow morning.

Kalam on 3-day N-E visit

New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam will visit Sikkim, Meghalaya and Mizoram for three days starting tomorrow. During his tour, he is scheduled to address the legislative assemblies of Sikkim and Mizoram — which he is visiting for the first time as President.

He would also inaugurate a Conclave on HIV/AIDS in Shillong, being organised by the Assam Rifles Wives’ Welfare Association, on September 23.

President Kalam will also interact with the students of Sir Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School in Gangtok and with the those of Mizoram University in Aizawl. In Aizawl, he will visit Sairang Village to meet students. —ENS