Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today assumed the charge of Northern Army Commander at Udhampur. He succeeds Lt Gen KT Parnaik, who retired yesterday after a distinguished career.
Lt Gen Chachra, who would be new GOC-in-C Northern Command, is a second generation Rajput Officer, commissioned in 17 Rajput in June 1974. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy Khadakvasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, the General had varied combat, staff and instructional experience.
A Graduate of the Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, where he later served in the teaching faculty, Lt Gen Chachra is also qualified on the Higher Command Course, Mhow and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
In his formative years, he groomed young cadets at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla.
The General Officer has seen active combat service on the Siachen Glacier, High
Altitude border areas of the North & North East, and commanded 16 Rajput in a counter insurgency environment. For exceptional service during command of his unit in counter insurgency operations, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
He later commanded a brigade on the Western Sector and a frontline Mountain Division deployed along the Northern Borders, wherein, for exceptional service and outstanding leadership shown for maintaining peace and tranquility along the troubled border, he was awarded the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).
The General commanded a pivot corps in the Western’ Sector and he was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command prior to assuming command of Northern Army.