Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava was appointed as the new commander of the Kashmir Valley-based Chinar Corps, effective October 15.
Lt Gen Srivastava, a veteran of counter-terrorist operations, will succeed Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, who will move to the Army Headquarters as the next Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
The change in command will take place two weeks after Assembly elections wrap up in Jammu and Kashmir.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Srivastava has extensive experience in combat operations, particularly in regions with high levels of insurgency, such as Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast.
The senior Army officer has extensive experience in the Kashmir Valley, having served multiple tenures there. Prior to moving to the Army Headquarters, he was commanding a Rashtriya Rifles Force in the Valley. During this time, he oversaw the planning and execution of numerous operations aimed at combating militant activity.
Lt Gen Ghai will continue to be in charge of the Corps’ security operations in the Kashmir valley and the Line of Control until the handover.
Lt Gen Ghai has been cleared to take over as the new DGMO, succeeding Lt Gen Pratik Sharma. Several officers have already been posted to new positions, including the 3 Corps in Dimapur and the new Army War College Commandant, as part of the recent postings announced on July 22.
Jammu and Kashmir is going to the polls after a 10-year gap. The three-phase Assembly election will begin on September 18 and conclude on October 1, with results to be announced on October 4.
