New Vice-Chief of Army Staff

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 1. Lt. Gen. N.C. Vij today took over as the Vice- Chief of Army Staff. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi who retired on Sunday, an official news release said.

Vice-Admiral O.P. Bansal took over as Director-General of Coast Guard from Mr. Rameshwar Singh who also retired on Sunday after 40 years of service.

Lt. Gen. Vij was commissioned in the Dogra regiment and was decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva medal for exceptional performance in counter-insurgency operations and Ati Vishisht Seva medal. He was also awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva medal for distinguished service as Director-General of Military Operations during Operation Vijay (Kargil War).

Lt. Gen. Vij has also commanded a brigade in the east in counter- insurgency and high-altitude area and a Rapid division in the desert. He has also commanded two corps for three years which included a strike corps and counter insurgency operations in the north-east. He is known to be a specialist in military operations and as DGMO, he was responsible for conceiving plans for rescuing army personnel stranded in Sierra Leone.

Vice-Admiral Bansal, who took over as DG Coast Guard, began his career as Flag Officer specialised in gunnery and took part in the 1971 war as gunnery officer on INS Talwar. His command appointments include command of Sultanate of Oman Navy ship Al- Mansoor. Among an important shore appointment was Fortress Commander Andaman and Nicobar islands.

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