Better To Eliminate Than Discourage Infiltrators, Says Deputy Chief Of Army

Mumbai: Weeks after the Pathankot attack created a debate on security, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Subrata Saha today said he is not in favour of floodlighting the borders and would prefer neutralising the infiltrators in the dark using latest technology.

"The constant debate is -- should we light up the fence or keep it dark. If you light it up, you discourage the fellow who is infiltrating but if you keep it dark and exploit technology, you are able to eliminate that fellow," Lieutenant General Saha told an industry gathering at the Make in India week in Mumbai.

"And if you ask me, it is better to eliminate than discourage," he added.

Lieutenant General Saha said he was posted as the corps commander in Kashmir before the current assignment and clarified that he is only presenting the army's need so that the industry can develop capabilities.

The comments come over a month after the Pathankot attack in which six terrorists attacked the air force station resulting in deaths of seven security personnel.

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Lieutenant General Saha said the Army is looking at capability development and modernisation and broadly divides its requirements into two categories -- hi-tech, involving bigger expenditure, and smaller requirements.

In hi-tech, it has requirements for items like infantry combat vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and latest helicopters, he said.

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Highlighting a potential opportunity for smaller businesses, Lieutenant General Saha said 42 per cent of the contracts on equipment are under Rs 150 crore.

He said issues like Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in some northeastern states and sporadic attacks like the one at Pathankot require it to be prepared for all eventualities.

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Lieutenant General Saha said the Army would be holding roadshows across the industrial hubs in the country to impress its requirements, so that the entrepreneurs can take advantage of the opportunities.