No need to take action on troop movement episode: Govt

"The movement were routine training exercise. Hence there was no need to take action to fix responsibility," Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He was asked whether government has inquired into the matter to fix responsibility on those who created "unwanted scare" over routine troop movement in January.

The Defence Minister had given a detailed reply on the same issue last week and had furnished information on the Army units and formations which had participated in the winter exercise by troops to practise mounting during heavy fog.

Terming the Indian Army as a professional organisation which maintains a high degree of preparedness against internal and external threats, Antony said "training is the bedrock of maintaining this operational preparedness."

He added an exercise of such nature does no require formal notifications.

"Mobilisation forms an important facet of training and is considered a critical performance parameter. These are carried out in a routine manner by various formations/units and do not require any formal notification," he said, adding exercises of large formations are notified to the Army Headquarters by concerned formations.

Exercises close to the borders are notified to concerned agencies and neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, as per existing agreement, he said.

According to a recent newspaper report, the central intelligence agencies had reported that on the night of January 16, there was an unexpected and non-notified movement by key military units around Delhi in the direction of the national capital. Government had immediately dismissed any such report. PTI AD

RT