Iyer to be new CoS, Aujla MGGS
Counter-Insurgency Delta Force to get new GOC
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 30: A major reshuffle at the level of General Officer Commanding (GOCs) is on the cards in Jammu and Kashmir with several new postings in the ranks of Lieutenant Generals and Major Generals in Infantry and Mountain Divisions, Sub Area and Counter Insurgency Force (CIF).
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Lieutenant General Hari Mohan Iyer is likely to be confirmed as Chief of Staff (CoS) Northern Command, headquartered at Udhampur, a post which had fallen vacant on the transfer of Lieutenant General C Bansi Ponnappa as GOC of Jallandhar (Punjab) based 11 Corps. Iyer is currently officiating as the Chief of Staff Northern Command.
Lieutenant General Sanjeev Sharma, who was replaced by Lieutenant General Ponnappa as the GOC 11 Corps, is being considered for posting as the Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI), sources said.
The Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) which is also known as Delta Force and looks after Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts, where militants are trying to revive themselves, could get new GOC. Major General GS Jamwal is being considered for the posting as GOC Delta Force.
Major General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding 28 Infantry Division, which looks after several militancy-infested areas and is based in Kupwara, could take over as Major General General Staff (MGGS) Operations of Northern Command. Posting of incumbent MGGS Major General AK Samanta is awaited.
Sources said Major General VMB Krishnan is likely to replace Major General ADS Aujla as new GOC of 28 Infantry Division.
Major General RA Moghe could take over the charge of 29 Infantry Division as new General Officer Commanding while Major General Sanjay Mitra is expected to take Command of 39 Mountain Division.
According to sources, Major General Rajiv Godihoke is likely to take over as General Officer Commanding of 10 Infantry Divisions and Major General SPS Vishwasrao could be the new GOC of 31 Sub Area Srinagar.
Most of the Divisions which may get new GOCs are engaged in anti-militancy and anti-infiltration operations in Jammu and Kashmir including hinterland and Line of Control (LoC).
Few days back, Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa, Chief of Staff, Northern Command headquartered at Udhampur was transferred and posted as GOC of Jallandhar (Punjab) based 11 Corps, which is part of the Western Command and looks after several areas along the International Border with Pakistan.
He had replaced Lieutenant General Sanjeev Sharma, who was heading the Corps since November 6, 2019.
Lt Gen Ponnappa was Chief of Staff of the prestigious Northern Command since February 2020.
Only last month, Lieutenant General PGK Menon was posted as new General Officer Commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps in place of Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, who was transferred and posted as 50th Commandant of Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun.
Leh Corps, which is also known as Fire and Fury Corps, has been dealing with standoff in Eastern Ladakh with China for last several months. However, there have been reports that the standoff could be resolved soon following talks between India and China at diplomatic as well as military levels.
Along with Lieutenant General PGK Menon, Lieutenant General Suchindra Kumar had taken over as General Officer Commanding of Nagrota-based 16 Corps.
Sources said some more Generals are likely to be transferred in Jammu and Kashmir early next year.
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