Newly launched Umroi’s training centre set to host its 1st joint exercise between India-Bangladesh

Shillong, November 5: Indian Army and Bangladesh Army will take part in joint exercise (Exercise Sampriti 2017) at newly launched ‘Joint Training Warfare Centre’ at Umroi in Meghalaya. This newly launched training site will be hosting its first joint exercise between India and Bangladesh next week. 

Defence spokesman Lt Col. Suneet Newton said the infrastructure at the centre is eco-friendly and conforms to the highest standards. “The project was envisaged in Umroi keeping its proximity to Guwahati city and Umroi Airport. It was built from the scratch and was completed in record time of one year,” he added. The centre will also host exercises with Myanmar and Chinese armies planned in the later part of next year.

The Indian Army has other joint training centres in Belgaum, Vairengte and Bakloh but Umroi is the Eastern Command’s first of its kind independent and fully integrated Joint Training Node for Foreign Armies.

He said the joint training node comprises best in class training facilities to include upcoming obstacle training course, jungle lane shooting range and world-class infrastructure comprising fully computerized and network-enabled computer warfare centre and top of line accommodation facilities for foreign armies.

Further, Newton said that the project was envisaged in Umroi keeping its proximity to Guwahati and Shillong airport and was completed in record time of one year from scratch. Kohima-based Defence Spokesperson Chiranjeet Konwer said the India-Bangladesh joint military exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the two nations and learn from each other’s experience while carrying out Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorist operations.

“The India-Bangladesh Joint Training Exercise will send a strong signal to the world that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder united in countering this menace,” Konwer said.

The joint training node is ready to host a 15-member team of the Bangladesh Army for the first-ever joint exercise and exercises with Myanmar and Chinese armies are planned in later part of next year, the spokesman said. The exercise with Bangladesh army will begin on November 6 and continue till November 11. A part of the exercise will also be held in Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram.