Army Unveils Community Radio Station In Jammu Kashmir’s Ladakh

Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar, Northern Army Commander, inaugurated a new community radio station established by the Indian Army in Hanle village, Ladakh, on Monday.

The Northern Command shared the update on X, stating, “Lt Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar, Army Commander, Northern Command, along with the GOC, Fire & Fury Corps, inaugurated the community radio station at Hanle, Ladakh.”

Hanle, a historic village located at an altitude of 4,300 meters, is comprised of six hamlets: Bhok, Dhado, Punguk, Khuldo, Naga, and a Tibetan refugee settlement. The village is also renowned for housing the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) observatory, the world’s highest-imaging Cherenkov telescope and the largest of its kind in Asia.

The newly established community radio station is part of the Indian Army’s broader initiative to connect with remote regions across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. These stations, managed by local radio jockeys, provide entertainment and content tailored to regional interests, fostering stronger community ties.

“In the remotest and coldest region, locals will now tune into the community radio station established by the Dhruva Command,” an Army officer said.

The Indian Army has already set up community radio stations in Drass, Karu, Leh, and Baramulla in Ladakh, as well as in the Pir Panjal region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hanle’s MACE observatory, developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with support from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited and other Indian partners, stands as a testament to India’s advancements in cosmic-ray and space research.

This initiative not only highlights the Army's efforts to strengthen connections with remote communities but also underscores Hanle’s importance as a hub for scientific and technological innovation.