Army chief Gen Rawat to visit J&K today

Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat will today visit Jammu and Kashmir in his first official trip after taking over as India’s 27th Chief Of Army Staff.

According to top army sources, he will be visiting the army formation in Jammu.

This will be his maiden tour to J&K after taking over as new army chief.

Last week Gen Rawat took over as the chief of the 1.3 million strong Indian Army succeeding Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who retired after 42 years of service. He superseded two senior most Lt Generals, Praveen Bakshi and P M Hariz.

He was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978 from IMA, Dehradun. He was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’ at the academy, he has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter—insurgency operations.

Rawat has commanded an infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, a Corps in the Eastern theatre and the Southern Command.

Has held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary’s Branch at Army HQ.