Army Chief suffers partial hearing loss

An Army spokesperson said the placement in ‘H2’ medical category could be revoked if his hearing improved. The spokesperson said officers in the category are entitled to a ‘disability pension’. The Army Chief is due to retire in March.

General Kapoor,who has a medical history and has undergone surgery on his left ear in 1972 and the right ear in 1982,suffered ‘acute deafness in the left ear’ after he attended an exercise in the US in July last year. His medical report at the Army’s Research and Referral hospital,which was conducted in November,says he was exposed to loud noise in the form of small weapons firing and gun firing during a counter terrorism demo by US soldiers.

Kapoor arrives in Nepal amidst Maoist protest

KATHMANDU: At a time when Nepal Maoists have mounted a nationwide protest against the Indian establishment in general and the Army Chief in particular,Gen Deepak Kapoor arrived on a four-day visit to the country on Tuesday.

As the General landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport here,Maoists activists shouted anti-India slogans,leading to the arrest of 14 of them.

They were protesting Kapoor’s recent remarks against the integration of rebel combatants in the Nepal Army. They also organised a protest march outside the Indian embassy.

On Monday,the Maoists had boycotted the House seeking a response from the government on Kapoor’s comments.