Itanagar, April 25: Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command, reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India, despite differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control between India and Tibet.
He stated that the Indian government has made it clear in various articulations that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India and that there are five existing agreements between India and China to resolve any problems within the existing protocols and provisions.
Lt. Gen. Kalita noted that there has been a noticeable improvement in the security situation in India’s northeastern states, allowing for faster development.
The Eastern Command Chief highlighted that the northeast has witnessed a drop in violence, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been removed from certain districts and police stations in Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland.
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Although insurgency has affected three districts in Arunachal Pradesh, there is a change in these areas, with people demonstrating against the extortion carried out by the insurgents.
Lt. Gen. Kalita emphasized that all instruments of power, whether armed forces or diplomacy, will come into play whenever there is a threat to the sovereignty of the country.
During the diamond jubilee of the Headquarters 101 Area in Meghalaya, Lt. Gen. Kalita addressed all soldiers and paid tribute to the Brave Hearts at the Shillong War Memorial, Rhino Prerna Sthal. The celebrations included the release of a special cover and stamp to commemorate the formation’s 60 years of service to the nation.
The unveiling of busts of Major General Gurbaksh Singh Gill and Major General Gandharv Nagra, who were GOCs of 101 Area during the 1971 war and contributed to the Indian Army’s victory, was another highlight of the festivities.
The Rhino Riders Motorcycle Rally organized by Headquarters 101 Area was flagged off by Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan on April 9 from the Rhino Training Complex in Shillong. The rally traveled through Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, celebrating the spirit of patriotism in the year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The team also interacted with the youth, veterans, and Veer Naris.
101 Communication Zone was raised in the wake of the Chinese aggression on April 22, 1963, to provide logistic support to all formations and units in the Northeast Region. Although it is a logistic formation, HQ 101 Area has a historically unique distinction of having taken part in active combat operations.
It undertook Counter-Insurgency operations in Mizoram from 1966-69 and participated in operations in Sylhet and Mymensingh districts of erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1971 war. HQ 101 Area was the first formation to reach Dacca on the morning of December 16, 1971, leading to Pakistan’s surrender that afternoon, earning it the name First in Dacca.
Over time, 101 Area has evolved to provide logistic support in remote and challenging terrain in border areas across the entire Northeast region, contributing immensely to nation-building by aiding infrastructure development, providing humanitarian aid, and ensuring outreach to remote villages.
