Tech is must to beat Pak-backed ultras' disinfo plots: Rawat

The youth in Jammu and Kashmir are being misinformed and misguided by forces inimical to peace, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday. Addressing gentlemen cadets at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) parade here, he observed that our security forces have to devise ways to counter this.

"A disinformation campaign is being run in Kashmir where the youth is being brainwashed. They then resort to stone-pelting," General Rawat pointed out.

"We need to think ahead of the insurgents…. Technology is important to fight terrorism. If we have modern technology and it is used properly, citizens will not be inconvenienced and we will also be successful," the Army chief told reporters.

Two days earlier, he had told ANI, "Pakistan is spreading disinformation among the youth of Kashmir with doctored videos and messages. This is further supported by some of the people in the Valley who spread it and glamorise the young boys who have joined terrorist organisations." Rawat also said terrorism was the biggest challenge in front of the country as he urged the cadets to gear up to grapple with the scourge. The Army chief presided over a colourful passing out parade by 490 gentlemen cadets on the completion of their course.

He said it was time they put the lessons of valour and military skills learnt at the academy to the service of the nation. The Army chief, himself an alumnus of the IMA, said the academy imparts the best training to its cadets which matches up to international standards.

Earlier, the immaculately turned-out cadets put up a well synchronised parade before Rawat at the academy's famous tarmac drill square with the historic Chetwode Building in the background. As the passing-out parade started two army choppers flew over the drill square to shower rose petals on the tarmac, carpeting it with flowers.

The 490 cadets who passed out on Saturday include 67 cadets from friendly countries. Uttar Pradesh accounts for the highest number of cadets with a figure of 74, followed by Haryana with 49, Uttarakhand (40), Rajasthan (30), Bihar (28) and Delhi with 23.