New Delhi, July 22 (PTI): In major rejig in the Army, Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane has been appointed the next vice chief of the force, official sources said on Monday.
Lt. Gen. Naravane succeeds Lt. Gen. D Anbu who retires on August 31.
Lt. Gen. Naravane will be in contention for the Army chief's post as he will be the senior-most commander when incumbent Gen. Bipin Rawat retires on December 31, sources said.
In his 37 years of service, Lt. Gen. Naravane has served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter insurgency environments. He has also commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir and an Infantry Brigade on the eastern front.
In another key appointment, Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan will be new General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command.
Sources said Lt. Gen. AS Kler has been appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South-Western Command, succeeding Lt. Gen. Cherish Matheson. Lt. Gen. Matheson retires on August 31.
Lt. Gen. IS Ghuman has been appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command. He will succeed Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna.
Lt. Gen. RP Singh has been appointed head of the Western Command. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Surinder Singh who retires from service on July 31.
Lt. Gen. Singh is currently serving as commander of the 21 Strike Corps.
