Indian Army organises fair in Leh

Leh (Ladakh), July 17 (ANI): Indian Army personnel organised a fair on Saturday in Leh. Ladakh, with an objective to showcase weapons and security equipment to the locals.

Locals in Leh and Ladakh got a good opportunity to acquaint themselves with the functioning of the army and the kind of life led by them.

At the 'Know Your Army' exhibition, which was inaugurated in Leh by the Chief Executive Councillor of Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, visitors got an opportunity to see weapons, which the army had got into its custody after conducting raids in the valley with an aim to capture illegal arms and ammunitions with the militant.

"The Army mela that has been organised is basically to reach out to the people. You know it is their army, the people of Ladakh particularly. We want to reach out to the people and tell them that we love the people of Ladakh and we really want to salute them. It is for them that this army has been raised and it is a people's army in that sense. I would like to convey my message to the people of Ladakh that they must come forward and join it," said Lieutenant General Ravi Dastana, General Officer Commanding-in-chief, and 14 Corps, Ladakh.

The main purpose of the exhibition was to create awareness about the working of defence forces among the general population and the various career opportunities provided by the armed forces (army).

The visitors got an opportunity to see tanks and infantry combat vehicles and they were also allowed to take a ride on few of these vehicles.

"Whatever we have seen today, we really feel proud that the soldiers of the Indian Army work so hard to ensure the security of the people. Women and children of all age groups have come here to visit this fair and learn about the Indian army. There is so much enthusiasm among the people," said Rigzin Spalbar, Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development, Leh.

The highlight of the exhibition was the equipment used in extreme cold climates, like in the Siachen glacier and during mountaineering and rescue operations.

The Indian Army is the world's second largest standing army with about 1.1 million soldiers in active service and thousands in reserve troops. (ANI)