Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat to visit J-K to review security, operational preparedness

Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, in his first official trip aftertaking over as India's 27th Chief Of Army Staff.According to top army sources, he will be visiting army formation in Jammu.

This will be his maiden tour to J&K after taking over as new army chief. Army Chief to visit Northern Command to review security and operational preparedness and interact with troops in forward areas.

Gen Rawat last week 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.

Gen Rawat superseded two senior most Lt Generals, Praveen Bakshi and P M Hariz. Rawat 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.

Gen Rawat has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations.He 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.

Gen Rawat has held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary's Branch at Army HQ.