Days after attack, Uri commander shifted

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 1

The Army has shifted the commander of the Uri Brigade which was attacked by four Jaish-e-Mohammad fidayeen on September 18, leaving 19 soldiers dead and 24 injured. 

Brig K Somashanker will be replaced by Colonel GS (General Staff) of the Kilo Force, SP Ahlawat, who was recently promoted as Brigadier, even as an Army inquiry is “underway” to look into possible lapses that could have led to the attack.

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The decision came on a day when Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag was in the state to review the security situation in the wake of heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) following the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Sources said more heads may roll once the inquiry by the Northern Command is complete. The Uri Brigade is very close to the LoC and acts as the  first line of defence.

Sources said the commander had  been shifted to “facilitate” an impartial probe, but “will assist the probe.” Brig Somashanker is camping in Uri and is busy handing over the charge to his successor. 

The Uri attack came as 10 Dogra Regiment was in the process of moving out with the 6th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment replacing it. It is being ascertained if the attackers knew about the replacement, which is always a closely guarded secret.

There were indications that “security lapses” may have led to the heaviest blow to the Army in a single militant attack since the eruption of insurgency in the Valley.  The attack is being investigated by the NIA.