Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth visited the headquarters of the XXXIII Corps, also known as the Trishakti Corps, in Sukna, West Bengal, on July 15. The Corps, under the Eastern Command, is responsible for security along the China border in Sikkim. General Seth met with senior commanders to review the security situation and operational preparedness of the formations within the Corps.
The Army chief was briefed on operational deployments, evolving security dynamics, and technological advancement initiatives aimed at sharpening operational effectiveness and strengthening logistic capabilities. He also interacted with personnel of the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), lauding their steadfast commitment, professionalism, and exemplary standards of operational readiness in some of the harshest terrain in the country.
General Seth commended the seamless synergy amongst the forces and emphasized that jointness and military-civil fusion remain critical to effectively addressing the complexities of the evolving security environment. The Trishakti Corps comprises three Divisions based at different locations, including the 17th Mountain Division in Gangtok, Sikkim, the 20th Mountain Division in Binnaguri, North Bengal, and the 27th Mountain Division in Kalimpong, north Bengal.
The Corps also has its artillery brigade, a Medium Range – Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM) regiment, and an Army Aviation helicopter squadron based at Sevoke. Given the strategic areas it is responsible for, the Trishakti Corps must remain on operational alert at all times. This includes the trijunction between India, Bhutan, and Tibet at Doklam, where a 73-day military stand-off between Indian and People’s Liberation Army troops took place in 2017.
In addition to its security responsibilities, the Trishakti Corps is also responsible for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations in the ecologically fragile state of Sikkim, which sees a steady flow of tourists year-round.
