National
Thapa sworn in as new Army chief
Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Purna Chandra Thapa took the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony organised at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas on Sunday.Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Purna Chandra Thapa took the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony organised at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas on Sunday.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari, also the commander in chief of the Nepal Army, administered the oath and conferred the insignia on Thapa.
Thapa had taken charge as the acting chief of the army, following the recommendation of the government on July 27 to succeed the incumbent CoAS General Rajendra Chhetri who went on leave on August 10 before retirement.
On August 19, the government had decided to recommend Thapa for the Army’s top post. After taking the oath of office, Gen Thapa assumed office as the 43rd CoAS of Nepal Army. Born in 1960 in Lamjung, he joined the Nepal Army in 1979. (PR)