Shimla, Oct 25 Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday urged the Centre to raise a dedicated Himachal Scouts battalion on the lines of the Ladakh Scouts, Sikkim Scouts and Arunachal Pradesh Scouts, saying it would strengthen India’s defence preparedness along the Sino-Indian border.
He said a dedicated scouts battalion would also provide recruitment opportunities for local youth, particularly those from border areas.
Sukhu said such a specialised force would strengthen India’s defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and enhance operational capabilities in the region’s difficult mountainous terrain.
The proposed battalion would focus special recruitment on youth from Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts, who are familiar with the challenging terrain and harsh climatic conditions of high-altitude regions, he said in a statement issued here.
Highlighting Himachal Pradesh’s military tradition, Sukhu said the state was known not only as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ but also as ‘Veer Bhoomi’, with more than one lakh youth serving in the Armed Forces and a similar number of ex-servicemen having contributed to the nation’s defence and security.
He said Major Som Nath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, hailed from Himachal Pradesh.
“Our soldiers have never hesitated to make the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Himachal Pradesh has produced four Param Vir Chakra awardees, which stands as a testament to the state’s rich legacy of courage, patriotism and sacrifice,” Sukhu added.
(PTI News)
