Srinagar, Apr 27: Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Monday visited the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir under the White Knight Corps, and said that the Army’s vigilance and proactive stance had ensured incident free elections in the state.

During his visit, Antony addressed the troops at the Raina Auditorium in Rajouri, where he lauded the role of the Indian Army in curbing infiltration and reducing the levels of insurgency.

Antony paid rich tributes to the projects under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ by which the socio economic conditions of the local populace has been uplifted in the insurgency affected remote areas of the region.

The Defence Minister urged the troops to continue being vigilant by maintaining a high degree of operational preparedness to meet any eventuality in future.

He also expressed his full satisfaction with the Armed Forces in discharging their duties and appreciated the exceptional role played by them in restoring normalcy in the region.

Antony also attended a Sainik Bhoj with the troops, where he personally interacted with all ranks and once again lauded the yeoman services rendered by the Armed Forces in ensuring the integrity and sovereignty of our great nation.

The Defence Minister was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, the Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt. General P. C. Bhardwaj and the General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps. (ANI)