Change of guard in Eastern Command; AR DG Sukhdeep retires
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 31 2021: Lt Gen Manoj Pande will take over the reins of Eastern Command as its general officer commanding-in-chief on Tuesday.

Prior to this he was commander-in-chief Andaman & Nicobar Command, the only Tri-services Operational Command in India from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021 .

According to PIB (Defence) Imphal, the general officer was commissioned in the Bombay Sappers in December 1982 .

In his distinguished service career, he has held several prestigious command and staff assignments in Conventional as well as Counter Insurgency Operations in all types of terrain.

He commanded an Engineer Regiment along Line of Control during Operation PARAKRAM in J&K, an Engineer Brigade in Western Sector, Infantry Brigade along Line of Control in J&K, Mountain Division in High Altitude Area of Western Ladakh & a Corps in North East.

On the other hand, service of Eastern Command general officer commanding-in-chief Lt Gen Anil Chauhan superannuated on Monday after 40 years in the Indian Army.

Prior to taking over the Eastern Army, the general officer was director general of Military Operations at New Delhi.

As director general of Military Operations, the general officer was the main architect of 'Op Sunrise' under which coordinated operations were conducted by Indian and Myanmar armies against insurgent groups operating near the border between the two countries.

He was also involved in planning of the Balakot Surgical Strikes including post-strike management of the escalation along Indo-Pakistan Border.

Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, Eastern Command general officer commanding-in-chief took over the reins of Eastern Army on September 1, 2019 from Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Nara- vane who moved to Delhi as the chief of Army Staff.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan, who took over command of the Assam Rifles on May 14, 2018 retired on Monday.

According to PRO IGAR (South), Gen Sangwan, a highly decorated officer who had also held numerous other important appointments across the Armed Forces during a career spanning over 40 years provided the Force with determined, astute and visionary leadership for the past three years and always strived to push Assam Rifles to excellence while providing secure environment to the North Eastern states thereby contributing in the peace and development of the region and also for nation building.

On the eve of relinquishing the command, the director general during his final address to all ranks of the Force complimented them for their outstanding efforts in various fields and wished them good luck in all their future endeavours, added the PRO.

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