M A I N   N E W S

Gen Khanna is Dy Chief of Army Staff
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 31
Lt-Gen Arjun Singh Khanna, an artillery officer who won a Vir Chakra in the 1965 war, will assume charge of the critical post of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and System) from Lt-Gen S.S. Mehta tomorrow.

The post of Deputy Chief in-charge of Planning and Systems involves army procurements, an issue which has come under some controversy after the Tehelka expose.

Gen Khanna, who was GOC of 16 Corps popularly known as Nagrota Corps in Jammu and Kashmir, has had a chequered career spanning over 37 years. He was awarded a Param Vishisht Seva Medal this year for his role in counter insurgency operations in the valley.

Commissioned into the artillery regiment in 1963, Khanna has held various command, staff and instructional posts. He commanded an artillery brigade in an armoured division and a mountain brigade in active counter insurgency environment in the Srinagar valley where he got the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

On promotion to the rank of Major-General, he was appointed GOC of an infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir and was later Major General Staff at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir. Gen Khanna was also Chief of Staff, Southern Command.