No Chinese intrusion in Arunachal: Gen Sidhu

Itanagar, June 15 (UNI) The Army today rejected the alleged recent Chinese intrusion into Arunachal territory and termed it as ''untrue'' and ''unfounded''.

General Officer Commanding of the 5-Mountain Division Major General D S Sidhu said the visit of the Parliamentary delegation to Bumla to review the situation in the state recently, was ''purely defence related''.

The intrusion allegation of MP Kiren Rijiju might be related to some other sector in the state but no such thing had happened at the Tawang sector, Gen Sidhu said while interacting with the media during a function at Bomdila under West Kameng district.

On transfer of the battalion manning the Tawang frontier, he clarified that the Jat and the Maratha regiments were shifted out and the Sikh regiment was put in their place out of a routine exercise.

''The regiments are transferred every two years and the present battalion had finished their durations. This has nothing to do with the alleged Chinese situation mishandling,'' he added.

On the contrary, the General assured to lead the media for an independent and impartial probe to clear the issue once and for all.

''If interested, I will personally lead the media team to the LoC and LaC so that the whole misinformation campaign is buried forever,'' he added.

On suggestions to conduct workshops and seminars to educate the youth of the state about the role of Army and avenues available for employment, Gen Sidhu said the Army functioned under strict codes of rules and regulations and the matter would have to be given a thought.

However, he admitted that tribal boys lagged behind in physical fitness for recruitment in the Army, particularly in running races.

UNI