Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava takes command of army's Chinar Corps

Srinagar, Oct 5: The outgoing chief of Indian army's Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai on Saturday handed over the position to Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava. Ghai held the position for last 16-months.

In a statement, the army said that the period of Ghai saw the conduct of two incident free Amarnath Yatras, the Parliamentary Elections in May 2024 and the Assembly Elections which were held after 10 years in September to October 2024.

The statement said that the army has given a significant blow to the terror network in the region by conducting successful anti-infiltration operations along the LoC and in the gunfights in the valley.

Rajiv Ghai will move to army headquarters where he will assume the appointment at the Director General of Military Operations, the statement said.

Ghai, as per the statement, wished Kashmiris "a bright and promising future."

Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava, assumed command of the strategic Kashmir based Chinar Corps., said the statement.

The statement referred to the new chief of Chinar Corps as a battle hardened soldier.

Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava, during his 34 years of illustrious military career has held numerous prestigious command and staff appointments, it said.

The General Officer possesses extensive operational experience in Counter Insurgency and Counter terrorist Operations having served in both Jammu and Kashmir as well as the North East.  He has commanded the Counter Insurgency Force (Victor) in South Kashmir, said the statement.

On assuming the command, the Lieutenant General Srivastava said that he will work closely with the civil administration, and the community to "build a peaceful future."

The new chief has asked the people to "join hands with the security agencies to overcome the terrorism challenges," the statement read.