Maj. Gen. D.S. Siddhu, GOC of 5 Mountain Division, inaugurates a paramedic training centre for girls and boys in villages of Assam at the Military Hospital at Dahung on Tuesday

The Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC), one of the oldest Corps of the army, has a glorious history, a rich tradition and a saga of sacrifices and enviable achievements spanning more than two centuries.

The corps has been performing creditably in the field of equine breeding and training, canine breeding and training and various collaborative research projects.

RVC riders have consistently excelled in equestrian sports, not only within the nation, but have won laurels at the international level as well. The contribution of RVC Detachments to UN missions has also been praiseworthy and widely appreciated.

The 19 Army Dog Unit is one of the RVC units located in the eastern part of the country under the Gajraj Corps. It is being commanded by Lt Col Bhupender Bhasin since August 3, 2005.

The unit was raised as a composite army dog unit at RVC Centre and College, Meerut Cantonment, on July 25, 1997, and subsequently inducted into its present location at Solmara, Tezpur.

The unit has been decorated with 24 valiant trained army canines with various kinds of specialisation such as tracker, infantry patrol, mine detector, explosive detector and guard dogs. The unit is extensively deployed in counter insurgency operations (such as Operation Rhino) under the 4 Corps zone. The Silent Warrior and Saviour army canines have been doing commendable work in the counter-insurgency operational area of the Northeast. The units have won several commendation cards.

Owing to the unit’s outstanding achievements in counter-insurgency operations, it has been awarded the prestigious best RVC unit trophy of the year 2006. This was presented to the officer commanding the 19 Army Dog Unit, Lt Col Bhasin, at Kothawala Polo Ground of RVC Centre and College, Meerut Cantonment by Lt Gen. Sudhir Sharma, and Colonel Commandant, RVC, on December 14.

Medical camp

The 4004 Field Ambulance organised a free medical camp for the residents of Thelamara recently under the aegis of the army’s Operation Sadbhavana. Located on National Highway 52 in Sonitpur district between Tezpur and Mangaldoi, this town is a collection of scattered villages. Most of the 12,000-odd inhabitants are impoverished people. The road from Thelamara to Misamari was built just two years ago.

The medical team was given a hearty welcome by the village administration. They were accompanied by the principal and staff of higher secondary and ME schools of the town. The camp was open to one and all. Over 2,000 people benefited from the camp.

Victory Day

Troops of the 4 Corps celebrated Vijay Divas at Tezpur on December 16, paying homage to their comrades-in-arms who sacrificed their lives to bring glory to the nation and liberate another. Lt Gen. R.K. Chhabra, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 4 Corps, paid homage and laid wreaths at the Headquarters 4 Corps War Memorial in the presence of senior officers, JCOs and jawans.

Exactly 35 years ago, on December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army surrendered to the Indian forces at Dhaka (then called Dacca) when Gen. Niazi signed the instrument of surrender. The world witnessed the birth of a new nation.

The 4 Corps played a major role in this significant victory. Its sector provided the shortest approach to Dhaka, which was only 80 km from Agartala. Under the astute leadership of corps commander Lt Gen. Sagat Singh, formations and units of Gajraj Corps advanced some 100 km, achieving their objective in less than two weeks of a swift campaign.

With little or no assault equipment, it crossed four rivers, including the Meghna, and overcame stiff opposition. In the process, its units and formations won 11 battle honours and 21 theatre honours. Lance Naik Albert Ekka of the Guards Regiment was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the only one in the whole of Eastern Command.

Living up to its mascot of a charging black elephant, the 4 Corps made its contribution towards creating a new nation — Bangladesh.

New school

Lt Gen. Arvind Sharma, GOC-in-C Eastern Command, laid the foundation stone of the new Army School at Tezpur on December 20. He was on a two-day visit to Gajraj Corps.

The chairman of the school highlighted the achievements of the school over the past year and noted that the school bagged the first position in the small school category in the Eastern Command. With a view to providing quality education to the wards of defence personnel, a new army school was planned.

Efforts have been made to provide the best of facilities. The new building will have an auditorium for accommodating 600 children, a gymnasium, a computer centre and sprawling lawns and playgrounds. The army commander also reviewed the current security scenario in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Integration tour

Anju Gyan Bhushan, wife of Maj. Gen. Gyan Bhushan, greets the tour members at a felicitation ceremony held on their return. Picture by Eastern ProjectionsTo bridge the gap between Assam and the rest of the country, the Red Horns Division took a team of 21 girls from Dhubri district on a national integration tour to Calcutta and Delhi from December 17 to 26.

An army officer, a junior commissioned officer and three non-commissioned officers accompanied the girls. It was a dream come true for the young people.

This step by the army, through its Red Horns Division, was a major initiative aimed at providing an opportunity to the students of Assam to visit metros.

In Calcutta, the team visited Birla Planetarium, Science City, Alipore Zoo, Fort William and Howrah Bridge. Thereafter, they went to Delhi and visited Red Fort, India Gate, Aksharadham Temple, Qutub Minar and shopping malls.

During their visit to New Delhi, these students met vice-president B.S. Shekhawat. He lauded the army’s efforts in conducting such tours, which give students on opportunity to visit other parts of the country.