NEW DELHI: The Army has appointed a new commanding officer for 21 Rashtriya Rifles, Colonel Gagandeep Singh, after he along with six other officers volunteered to succeed Col Ashutosh Sharma, who laid down his life in the fierce encounter at Handwara on Saturday.
“There is no dearth of `josh' (passion and commitment) in the Army. Col Singh, who himself had commanded 21 RR a few years ago, has given up a prestigious posting in the military operations directorate at the Army HQs in Delhi for the new responsibility in the Handwara-Kupwara region,” said a senior officer on Monday.
The 21 RR draws its officers and soldiers from the Brigade of the Guards. Col Singh, who is likely to take over the reins of the battalion on Tuesday, and the six other officers from the Guards Regiment showed no hesitation in promptly volunteering when the call was made by their senior-most regimental officer, Lt-General Iqroop Singh Ghuman, who currently heads the Central Army Command.
“Col Singh, who is from 11 Guards, will stabilize 21 RR and see it through the summer till a new CO can be properly selected,” he added. Col Sharma and his company commander Major Anuj Sood, who were among the five security personnel killed in action during the encounter, were both from 19 Guards.
