Katuwal to become acting CoAS

Lieutenant General Rukmangat Katuwal is to become acting Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) from Friday with the current chief Pyar Jung Thapa going on leave for one month before he retires.

Thapa retires on September 9.

The cabinet meeting today is likely to designate Katuwal to the post. Katuwal will also retire on September 10 if he is not appointed to the position of CoAS by that time. Katuwal is the most likely successor to Thapa.

The other person vying for the post is Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma, who is currently serving with UN peacekeeping operations in Golan Heights, Syria. Katuwal is senior to Sharma. Traditionally, the senior officer is appointed as CoAS.

Katuwal is one of the generals interrogated by the High Level Probe Commission for his alleged role in atrocities during the People’s movement.

Responsibilities would be handed over the Katuwal amidst an informal ceremony in the army headquarters on Friday. nepaplnews.com ia Aug 11 06