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Journalism of Courage
On her first official visit to Kashmir as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, President Pratibha Patil on Friday visited forward areas in North Kashmir’s Tanghdhar sector.
One of the first stops on her five-day tour was the Army’s Sharaat post on the LoC, which is located at an altitude of 9,600 ft. Here, she had a detailed interaction with the troops manning the forward posts. According to Army chief Deepak Kapoor, Patil was “briefed about the latest equipment that the Army has installed on the LoC to prevent infiltration, and was also shown the arms and ammunition recovered from militants and infiltrators.”
Patil was then flown to the garrison town of Baramulla where she addressed a large ‘sainik sammelan’: “You have been safeguarding the borders thousands of kilometers away from home.
I assure you that the Government will try to provide every facility to you and your families so that you can perform your duties without any worry.”
President Patil asserted that the country’s progress depends on the safety of its borders. She went on to say that she was confident that the country’s borders are in safe hands. “Our troops are strong and are equipped with the latest weapons…I am confident that any attack or violation of our borders will be dealt with resolutely and firmly,” she said.
Patil also shared a ‘bada khana’ or feast with 300 soldiers at the 19th infantry division in Baramulla.
President Patil’s visit to the LoC gains significance as recently Pakistani troops had been blamed for violating ceasefire in the same sector.
