Uri Brigade Commander 'shifted out' after terror attack

The brigade commander of the Uri Army base in Jammu and Kashmir  has been 'shifted out' after the attack on the base that left 19 soldiers dead and a colonel of Kupwara based Kilo Force, who has been elevated as Brigadier, has taken over Uri Brigade, say reports.

The erstwhile commander will stay "shifted out" until an investigation - currently underway - on the attack is concluded, reports quoting sources said.

The Kilo Force colonel, who is reportedly taking over as the Uri Brigade commander, is an officer from the 28 Mountain Division of the Army.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh is in the Valley to review the security situation on the border in the wake of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

The Army chief today visited the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur and took stock of the operational preparedness along the border in the wake of heightened tension with Pakistan following India's surgical strikes against terror camps across the Line of Control.

''Gen. Singh arrived at the Northern Command headquarters this morning and chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation and operational preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir, including along the Line of Control,'' a defence official said.

The surgical strikes, seen as a reprisal for the Uri terror attack, were planned and executed by the Northern Command.

Gen Singh also personally complimented officers and men who ''successfully'' targeted seven terror launch pads located in Leepa, Tattapani, Kel and Bhimbar, the official said.

The Army chief is also scheduled to visit the Western Command.