The Hindu : `Army has no role in nabbing Veerappan'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 08, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Army has no role in nabbing Veerappan'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPT. 7. Reiterating that defence forces had a pivotal role in protecting India's sovereignty and security along its borders, the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Training and Coordination), J. B .S. Yadava, today said the army was not a force to catch ``thieves and bandits''.

``The police is capable of nabbing the bandit and it will not fall back on us. There is no role for the army and it is time that the State police started learning to do its own job'', he said answering presspersons' queries on a State's request or deploying army to nab the forest brigand, Veerappan.

``We could at best offer logistics support making available para-military forces'' to help police personnel in covering the hilly terrain. It was ``unfortunate the army is being called for what is not its primary task.''

External threat

Answering other queries, Lt. Gen.Yadava said ``Our country is still facing a threat from Pakistan'' and accused the neighbour of trying to destablise India through ``terrorism''. ``It is sheer organised terrorism on the part of Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, besides spreading it to Punjab, Hyderabad, West Bengal and even in south India." Asked whether there was a long-term solution for easing the tension on the borders, Lt. Gen. Yadava wanted Pakistan to stop the infiltration process. ``Our army is well equipped and in a state of preparedness to be in an advantageous position.''

Heavy deployment of India's armed forces on the border and mounting international pressure had brought about an attitudinal change in Pakistan, making it adopt a defensive posture.

``There have been several cases of infiltration of Pakistan - trained terrorists', he said adding it was high time Islamabad stopped the exercise.

Admitting that there was a shortfall in army manpower, Lt. Gen. Yadava said it was bound to affect the operational efficiency of the defence forces. ``The shortage has to be addressed seriously by the army headquarters and more and more people have to be motivated. The State Government could also play a leading role in encouraging the younger generation to join the armed forces.''

Explaining that the training schedule for defence personnel was undergoing a massive change-matching the IT scenario, Lt. Gen. Yadava said efforts were on to further improve and upgrade training modules especially in technical services and sophisticated weaponry. ``The need of the hour are literate youth with at least 10 Plus-Two qualification for the defence forces to work towards meeting futuristic Information Technology needs".

Earlier, reviewing a passing-out parade by 236 cadets, including 56 women led by the Officers Training Academy Under Officer, Ayon Chaudhuri, Lt. Gen. Yadava noted that the current battlefield environment needed not a stereotype military leader but an intellectual, who could think logically, plan meticulously and execute the plans boldly and enterprisingly.

"Science and Technology have had a profound impact on warfare. Emerging technologies today are responsible for the ongoing revolution in military affairs and in the coming years there will be a much greater impact of these on the art of warfare", he added.

Lt. Gen. Yadava presented the Sword of Honour award for the best all-round cadet to Ayon Chaudhuri and the OTA gold medal to the Senior Under Officer, Harneet Reen, in the women's category.

The Meiktila Company bagged the Chief of the Army Staff Banner and also the Commandant's banner.

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`Army has no role in nabbing Veerappan'