GUWAHATI: Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita took charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the prestigious Eastern Command of the Indian Army on Tuesday, February 1, as per news reports.
Lt Gen Kalita succeeded Lt Gen Manoj Pande, who has now been appointed as the vice chief of Army staff. The Eastern Command is headquartered at Fort William in Kolkata.
Rana Pratap Kalita is the first from Assam and the whole Northeast to be appointed to such a senior position in the Indian Army. He hails from Rangia, Assam.
Rana Pratap Kalita assumed office after reportedly paying homage to the martyrs at Vijay Smarak, followed by a guard of honour at Garrison Battalion Parade Ground. He was the Director-General Manpower Planning and Personal Services in IHQ of the Ministry of Defence (Army) prior to this.
Lt Gen Kalita was commissioned into 9 KUMAON in 1984 and has extensive operational experience in Sri Lanka, Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast. He was conferred with the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal last year.
