Lt-Gen AK Bhatt replaces Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh as new DGMO

New Delhi: Lt-General AK Bhatt has been elevated as the next Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO), informed the government on Monday.

The government, however, is yet to announce the names of next Army and IAF chiefs despite both General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha scheduled to retire from their respective posts on December 31.

Lt-Gen Bhatt would succeed Lt-General Ranbir Singh as the new DGMO. It is to tell you that Lt-General Ranbir Singh captured limelight after he, at a press conference called by External Affairs Ministry, said that Army Special Forces had conducted "surgical strikes" against terror groups based in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on September 29.

Lt-Gen Bhatt is currently serving as the additional director general of the complaints and advisory board at the Army headquarters here, after he commanded the 21 Division in Assam. He has also earlier served at the military operations directorate as a brigadier.

Lt-Gen Singh has now been appointed to head the 1 Corps (headquartered at Mathura). He will replace Lt-Gen Shokin Chauhan, who has now been promoted as the director-general of Assam Rifles.

The Army and IAF are also waiting for the names of their new chiefs, which should have been announced two months back according to the set tradition.