Though headquartered in Mathura, 1 Corps, also known as ‘Strike One’ was raised in April 1965 and became part of the Northern Command in 2021

Though headquartered in Mathura, 1 Corps, also known as ‘Strike One’ was raised in April 1965 and became part of the Northern Command in 2021 and is tasked for operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western theatre. Its earlier mandate was operations along the western borders.

Lt Gen Hariharan has been appointed as the Director-General, Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence).

Lt Gen Kumar, who had earlier commanded the 54 Division, takes over from Lt Gen V Hariharan. On assuming command, he paid solemn tributes to martyrs and exhorted all ranks to remain focused on operational preparedness and continue working with utmost zeal and enthusiasm in service of the nation, according to a statement issued by the Northern Command.

Lt Gen Seth takes over 16 Corps, also known as the White Knight Corps from Lt Gen PK Mishra, who moves to a staff appointment. Prior to assuming the present appointment, Lt Gen Seth, an Infantry officer, was serving as the Commandant of the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Bhutan.

On assuming command, the new Corps Commander exhorted all ranks to uphold the highest standards of operational readiness, professional excellence and team spirit while continuing to foster peace, security and stability in the region, according to a statement issued by the Army.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla and the National Defence College, New Delhi, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Third Battalion of the Madras Regiment in 1991. Earlier, he commanded Counter-Insurgency Force Kilo, the Rashtriya Rifles’ (RR) formation responsible for anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir.

The White Knight Corps, is responsible for the area south of the Pir Panjal covering Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch sectors as well as overseeing counter-terrorist operations by RR’s Delta Force and Romeo Force in these areas.

The Corps was raised on June 1, 1972, and its first General Officer Commanding was Lieutenant General JFR Jacob, who was Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation Campaign and then the GOC-in-C Eastern Command from August 1974 to July 1978. Later, he served as the Governor of Punjab from November 1999 to May 2003.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Shamsher Singh Virk assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance) at Army Headquarters today. On August 31, he had handed over the reins of the Chetak Corps in Bathinda to Vikrant Suresh Deshpande. Both are Infantry officers.