India News | Top Eastern Command Officer to Retire on Monday

Kolkata, May 30 (PTI) Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, will retire on Monday after 40 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army, which includes planning 'Operation Sunrise' against insurgent groups in the northeast, a defence official said on Sunday.

During his tenure as the GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command, the insurgency situation in the northeastern region witnessed a major decline, "resulting in reduced footprint of Indian Army from a number of northeast states", the official said.

As DGMO, he was the main architect of 'Op Sunrise', under which coordinated operations were conducted by Indian and Myanmar Armies against insurgent groups operating near the border between the two countries, he said.

Chauhan was also involved in planning surgical strikes at Balakot, including post-strike management of the escalation along the Indo-Pakistan border, the official said.

The Eastern Army demonstrated its prowess and will to safeguard national interests along the Indo-China Border under his stewardship, he said.

"This period also saw significant stepping up of infrastructure development in the border areas," the official said.

Lt Gen Chauhan is recipient of several awards in recognition of his service to the nation, including Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Post retirement, Chauhan intends to settle down in Dehradun and dedicate time to writing on security-related matters, the official added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)