TEZPUR:With most of the militants shunning violence, peace and tranquillity have returned to Assam following Operation Rhino, the anti-insurgency operations of the army in 1990, a top military commander said on Sunday.
“The anti-insurgency ‘Operation Rhino’ had now become ‘Operation Sadhvavana’ (Goodwill) resulting in transformation of conflict into peacetime,” said GOC (4 Corp) Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, addressing a gathering at the ‘Fauji Mela’ here.
With the improving internal situation, he said, it was for the first time that the ‘Mela’, aimed at bettering relations between the army and civilians, was held “on the street” for the public to participate.
Listing the social causes the army had worked for, Gurung said that over six crore was spent under ‘Operation Sadhvavana’ to rebuild the lives of people devastated by terrorism and for various development activities in the state.
“Due to the army’s efforts 2000 militants from different insurgent outfits have surrendered before the security forces so far,” said the General. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who graced the occasion said better coordination between the army and the public would help maintain peace in the state. “Such ‘Melas’ must me held more often not just to better army-civilian relations but also to encourage more youth to join the army,” he said. (PTI)
