Army Chief inaugurates shooting node

Jammu, Sep 30 (UNI) Expressing satisfaction over the Army's efforts to counter terrorism and infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief Gen JJ Singh today said his ''Iron fist in velvet glove'' policy had resulted in people-friendly operations.

Inaugurating the Northern Command's shooting node, which has been constructed in a record time, he told mediapersons that the policy of the army has been very successful.

The state of the art node has seven firing ranges. These are the first of their kind in the Northern Command and are seminal in the army's quest for securing a berth in international events including the next Olympics.

Some parts of the firing ranges would also be open for budding student shooters of the Jammu region.

Appreciating creation of modern facilites, Gen Singh hoped that personnel in the northern command and students of the region would utiilise the ranges to improve their shooting skills.

The shooting range has been developed as part of the ''Mission Olympics'' vision of the army Chief and its construction was approved in January this year.

General Singh also visited the Crossed Swords Division at Akhnoor where he was briefed by its GOC Maj Gen Bikram Singh. He also visited the HQ of the Counter-Insurgency Force 'Uniform' (CIF 'U') at Reasi where he was briefed by its GOC Maj Gen Vinay Bhatnagar. He complements all ranks of the force for their success in counter-insurgency operations. The Army Chief was accompanied by Northern Army commander Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor and xvi corps GOC Lt Gen T K Sapru.

UNI HGV SK KP2123