NEW DELHI, Jan 29 (APP): India has deployed a quarter of 1.1 million army men for counter insurgency operations in Kashmir and North Eastern states and as many as 209 men, including 15 officers were killed in 2007 in counter-insurgency operations in both the regions.
The army has been engaged in such operations in J & Kashmir since 1990 and for a few decades in North East.
The latest officer who lost his life in Assam fighting with ULFA militants on Sunday was Capt. S.K. Chaudhary who was awarded Sena Award for gallantry on Republic Day on Saturday, “The Asian Age” reported.
The loss of young officers in counter-insurgency operations, is no doubt a setback to the Army and the country, the daily quoting sources said and added Indian army is facing a shortfall of more than 11,000 officers and “it is Army officers up to the rank of colonel who have to deal with the greatest work stress on account of the shortfall.”
The youth of India are attracted to the lucrative jobs in the private sector now, an official said.
The daily quoting sources further said the number of cadets in the Indian Military Academy also fell to a new low of just 86 in 2008 amid a total of 250 vacancies.