IMPHAL, Feb 19: The Union Minister of Defense AK Antony has landed in the state capital on his two days official visit of two states of the region this morning.
The Union Minister during his visit will take stock of the existing operational related activities that have been carried out by the Indian Army in order to restore normalcy in the states of Nagaland and Manipur.
The Union Defense Minister after having several rounds of meeting with the officials of Indian Army concerned operating in Nagaland yesterday arrived at Imphal Airport this morning at around 12.45 pm by an Indian Air Force flight from Dimapur.
The Union Defence Minister soon after his arrival at the Imphal Airport along with Dr. KV Jacob, Officer on Special Duty of Ministry of Defence and JS Lyer. Asst. Private Secretary were again airlifted by an army helicopter upto army headquarter at Leimakhong this afternoon.
According to an official source the visiting Union Defense Minister and his subordinate staffs as soon as they reached Leimakhong army head quarter attended an operational briefing and interactions with the troops and was briefed by the GOC 57 Mountain Division this afternoon.
On the other hand the visiting Union Defense minister and his visiting officer after completion of operational briefing at Leimakhong Army Headquarter this afternoon return to Imphal Airport by Army helicopter and returned to Delhi by Indian Air Force Flight aroud 2.45 pm this afternoon.
The official release of the PIB Defence wing Imphal added that, the Union Defence Minister AK Antony visited Leimakhong Military Station today accompanied by the chief of army staff, Gen VK Singh, the Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Bikram Singh, 3 Corps Commander, Lt Gen NK Singh and Sitanshu Kar, ADG (M&C) of MoD.
The visit was part of the defense minister`™s two days visit of the NE to review the security arrangements and progress on infrastructure for the defense forces, stated a release of the PIB Defence. The RM was briefed by the GOC, Maj Gen DS Hooda, AVSM, VSM** of the Red Shield Division, at Leimakhong. The RM appreciated the progress on various Defence infrastructure and security arrangements made by the Red Shield Division in the state of Manipur and lauded the efforts of all troops in maintaining the lowest state of violence in Manipur in the last few decades. He also appreciated the projects initiated by the Red Shield Division for the people in the remote areas of Manipur.
The PRO (Defence) Col Ajay Chowdhry stated that the RM visited `DISHA`™ the boys hostel created by Red Shield Division for the unprivileged children. The RM gifted a 46` LCD TV to the hostel and complimented the COAS, Gen VK Singh for his vision and GOC 57 Mtn Div for constructing and running the hostel impeccably. The RM also had lunch with troops of the Red Shield Division in Leimakhong where he interacted very closely with the soldiers and enquired about their well being and what he could do for them as the RM.The RM expressed his appreciation by complimenting all ranks for their efforts in making the visit a success and then proceeded back to Delhi.
In the meantime, in order to maintain law and order and to prevent any untoward incident during the official visit of the Union Minister this afternoon to the state capital and Imphal Airport, tight security preventive measures were taken up in an around the Imphal Airport under the supervision of the OC Singjamei Police station this afternoon, and there was no report of any untoward incidents happening during the visit of the Union Minister this afternoon, the source added.
