India’s Kibithu military station located on the banks of Lohit Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the 22 km-long road stretch from Walong to Kibithu was re-named on Saturday after India’s first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat who died nine months ago on 8 December last year in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu along with his wife Madhulika and 12 armed forces personnel.
It is pertinent to mention that Kibithu’s territorial circle comes under the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The renaming ceremony was attended by Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brigadier (retd) B D Mishra, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, Gen Rawat’s daughters Kritika and Tarini and several other senior military officials.
During the event, the Army said Gen Rawat’s vision and foresight were instrumental in implementing the infrastructural development and ensuring societal progress in the area.
“Gen Bipin Rawat’s untimely demise in December 2021 left an irreplaceable void in the country.”