Baramulla: Scores of civilians and Army officials paid tributes to Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat at Sherwani hall Baramulla on Thursday. The condolence ceremony was attended by top Army officials including, Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC
Chinar Corps along with GOC dagger Division, Major Gen Ajay Chanpuria besides officials from civil and district administration.
After paying tributes to Gen Rawat, Lt Gen DP Pandey while speaking to reporters said that CDS Gen Rawat had a deep connect with Kashmir, especially with the people of Baramulla district, where he served as GOC Dagger division Baramulla.
“People friendly CDS Gen Rawat was deeply connected with the people of Baramulla and Uri. He used to receive phone calls from people of Baramulla and would respond to their calls despite his tight schedule,” said Lt Gen Pandey.
Describing the CSD Gen Rawat, a great well wisher of people of Kashmir, he said during his tenure in Baramulla as GOC dagger division, Gen Rawat would often meet people from different shades of life and would keenly listen to their problems if any.
“It was that connect, that on social media different people, especially the mediapersons, had today posted photographs clicked with Gen Rawat. The people of Baramulla will miss him a lot,” said Lt Gen Pandey.
Terming the loss of CDS and others in the helicopter crash a huge tragedy, the GOC said that the intensity of the grief is so huge that it will take a lot of time to come out of the grief.
“It was my desire to visit Baramulla where CDS has served as GOC. His two postings in Kashmir as commander 5 sector RR and GOC was close to his heart. Seeing his connect with the people of Baramulla and Uri, I am sure people here too will be missing him like whole country,” the officer said.