Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 28: The Army Headquarters is set to order major reshuffle at the Commanders’ level in which new General Officer Commanding -in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command, Chief of Staff, Western Command among others would be appointed while a top officer of the Northern Command was likely to be posted as Inspector General (IG) of elite National Security Guards (NSG).
A General Officer Commanding (GOC) from Jammu and Kashmir could be posted to prestigious post of Major General Ordnance (MGO) in the Army Headquarters, New Delhi while the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh could be the new GOC.
Highly placed sources told the Excelsior that Lt Gen Surinder Singh, who heads 33 Corps, headquartered at Sukna, North Bengal near Siliguri in Eastern Command, was likely to be transferred and posted as new Western Army Commander in place of Lt Gen KJ Singh though delay in issuance of any order has created confusion.
The Western Command, controls three strategically significant districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
Sources said if Lt Gen Surinder Singh’s posting order is delayed beyond August 1, GOC 11 Corps, headquartered at Jallandhar, Lt Gen JS Cheema would officiate till Lt Gen KJ Singh’s successor takes over. Lt Gen KJ Singh will superannuate after rendering distinguished services to the Army on July 31.
The 33 Corps, which Lt Gen Surinder Singh heads presently, looks after the area of North Bengal, Sikkim and, if needed, Bhutan.
Sources said Major General Vipin Bakshi, a top officer of the Northern Command, is set to take over as Inspector General of elite National Security Guards (NSG) at New Delhi. The NSG had played major role in eliminating six ultras along with other security agencies at Pathankot airbase on January 2 this year.
Major General IS Dhuman, presently posted in Eastern Command, was likely to take over as Chief of Staff, Western Command in place of Major General Gurdeep Singh.
According to sources, a GOC posted in Jammu and Kashmir could take over as Major General Ordnance (MGO) in the Army Headquarters at New Delhi. If the proposal matured, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, presently the DGMO, could replace the GOC, they said.
The post of Vice Chief of Army is also falling vacant next month in view of superannuation of Lt Gen MMS Rai.
According to sources, a new Brigadier is also likely to be posted in Eastern Ladakh under 14 Corps shortly.
Sources said the Defence Ministry aimed to give major fillip to Army’s operational capability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh along China border
The Defence Ministry has cleared the plan to raise six new armoured regiments that will be equipped with roughly 350 tanks. In addition, three mechanized infantry battalions will be raised with 180 BMP-II infantry combat vehicles.
Army’s Ladakh-based 14 Corps is to be allocated an armoured brigade to safeguard the region nearing Tibet at Chushul in Ladakh. The second armoured brigade will be located in the Siliguri corridor in Bengal which can safeguard the region in Sikkim. The IAF has also beefed up its operational capability in the north-east with Sukhoi-30MKI fighters flying from new IAF air bases in Tezpur and Chhabua.
India is also raising a Mountain Strike Corps in the North East which will consist of two Mountain Divisions with about 40,000 soldiers. With the armoured brigade coming up, the Strike Corps will also get a major boost in their capability to monitor the security in that region and be equipped to counter attack.
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