Top-level changes in Army soon

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 22

Several top level changes in the Army are in the offing with the impending retirement of the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) and the commanders of some key operational formations getting new postings.

Incumbent VCOAS Lt General Philip Campose, a Mechanised Infantry officer who had earlier served as GOC-in-C, Western Command, will be superannuating on July 31. Army sources said the GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt General MMN Rai, a Sapper officer who had assumed his present charge in January 2014, is expected to move to Army Headquarters as VCOAS.

Lt General Parveen Bakshi, an Armoured Corps officer currently serving as Chief of Staff, Northern Command, is expected to be elevated as Army commander and moved to Eastern Command in place of Lt General Rai. Another Lt General who had commanded a corps in the western sector is expected to be elevated as Army Commander and take over the South Western Command in the near future when the incumbent officer retires.

All three Corps in Jammu and Kashmir would have new commanders. Lt General SK Patyal, an infantry officer who had earlier commanded the 11 Infantry Division, would be taking over as GOC of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while Lt Gen SK Dua of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar of the Punjab Regiment would be taking over command of 15 Corps at Srinagar and 16 Corps at Nagrota, respectively.

Lt General Shokin Chauhan, currently serving as Additional Director General Public information at Army Headquarters, is tipped to take over as GCO of 1 Corps, a strike formation based at Mathura. Lt General JS Cheema and Lt General Surinder Singh are tipped to take over 11 Corps at Jalandhar and 33 Corps at Silligiri, respectively.