Srinagar, May 1, KNT: Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava on Friday relinquished command of the Chinar Corps after a tenure of about 19 months, handing over charge to Lieutenant General Balbir Singh in Srinagar.
The change of command marks a routine leadership transition in the Army’s Srinagar-based Corps, which oversees operations in Kashmir.
Lt Gen Srivastava, who led the Corps during a period marked by counter-infiltration and counter-terrorism operations, is set to assume the appointment of Quarter Master General at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) in New Delhi.
Lt Gen Balbir Singh, who has taken over as the new Corps Commander, has over three decades of service in the Army and has previously commanded the Counter Insurgency Force Victor in south Kashmir.
Soon after assuming charge, Lt Gen Balbir Singh visited the Chinar War Memorial in Srinagar, where he paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Officials said the incoming Corps Commander brings operational experience from Jammu and Kashmir as well as the North East, and will oversee ongoing security and counter-terrorism operations in the region.
In his initial remarks, Lt Gen Balbir Singh emphasized coordination with civil administration and local residents, and called for collective efforts to maintain stability in the region.
The Chinar Corps, also known as XV Corps, plays a key role in managing security operations in the Kashmir Valley, including counter-infiltration along the Line of Control and counter-terrorism activities in the hinterland. [KNT]
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