Lt Gen Kapoor to be new VCOAS; Panag, Jamwal to head N, E Cmds

New Delhi, Dec 24 (UNI) Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor will take over as the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff on January 1, succeeding Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, who demits office on December 31, while Lt Gens H S Panag and K S Jamwal will be the new heads of the Northern and Eastern Commands, it was officially announced today.

Currently the GOC-in-C of the frontline Northern Command, Lt Gen Kapoor was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in June 1967. During his career, he has held important command and staff posts -- both in Jammu and Kashmir and well as the North-East -- including commanding the Siliguri-based XXXIII ('Trishakti') Corps, and serving as the Chief of Staff of the Tezpur-based IV ('Gajraj') Corps.

He has the unique distinction of representing the country as Chief Operation Officer for all United Nations Forces deployed in Somalia from 1994 to 1995. On his return, he commanded a brigade deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, during which he was awarded Sena Medal for devotion to duty. He also served as Deputy Director General (Strategic Planning) at the Army HQs here, and later commanded a division, forming part of a Strike Corps.

He is also an alumnus of the Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, Higher Command Course, Mhow and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

Lt Gen Kapoor, who had taken over as the Northern Command chief in September last year, has a strong chance of succeeding Gen JJ Singh as the next Army Chief, when the latter retires in January 2008.

Lt Gen Kapoor will hand over charge at Udhmapur to Lt Gen Harcharanjit Singh Panag, currently GOC of the Bhopal-based XXIst ('Sudarshan Chakra') Corps, which is tasked with a strike role.

Lt Gen Panag, the only three-star General from the Mechanised Infantry, has also held various significant posts, including Addl Director General (Perspective Planning) at the Army HQs here.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Kuldip Singh Jamwal will succeed Lt Gen Arvind Sharma as the GOC-in-C of the key Eastern Command, which oversees anti-insurgency operations in the restive North-East region.

Lt Gen Jamwal, currently GOC-in-C of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), has also a enviable service record, having held key posts, including Addl Director General, Staff Duties at the Army HQs -- which oversees, among other things, the selection and training of Army troops for UN peacekeeping missions -- and GOC of the XII Corps. He also served as ARTRAC's Chief of Staff, prior to taking over as the GOC-in-C.

Commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in December 1967, Gen Jamwal is the younger brother of intrepid soldier Gen Anup Singh Jamawal, who recently retired as Adjutant-General of the Indian Army, after a long and distinguished career.

Lt Gen Milan L Naidu will be the new GOC-in-C of ARTRAC.

Currently, Commandant of the Army War College at Mhow, Lt Gen Naidu, commissioned into the Rajput Regiment, has earlier commanded the Leh-based XIV Corps and the prestigious 4th ('Red Eagle') Infantry Division.

UNI VD RP HT1644