General Purna Chandra Thapa has become the new Chief of Army Staff of Nepal. President Vidya Devi Bhandari conferred insignia and administered oath of office and secrecy to Gen. Thapa in Kathmandu.
Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwar Pokharel and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Gen Thapa succeeds Gen Rajendra Chhetri, who is retiring today. Gen Thapa joined Nepal Army in 1979 as an Officer Cadet and later commissioned as Second Lieutenant into Gorakh Bahadur Battalion in 1980. Gen Thapa held various Command and Staff positions at various levels.