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IAF transfers several top brass

The Indian Air Force today announced several changes among its top brass but denied that the ''request for premature release'' by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S S H Naqvi and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) Air Vice Marshal M M Sehgal had any linkage to the new postings.

Denying reports to the contrary in a section of the press, an IAF spokesman said the requests for premature retirement by Air Marshal Naqvi (from September 31) and AVM Sehgal (from December 31) were purely for other reasons and not because of any disgruntlement.

Their requests were being considered by the government: while Air Marshal Naqvi was seeking early release on personal grounds, AVM Sehgal was doing so because of poor health, the spokesman added.

Reports that Air Marshal Naqvi had been transferred as Senior Air Staff Officer, south western command, were not true, the spokesman said adding that Air Marshal P S Pingale had already been cleared for the post by the appointments committee of the Cabinet.

Among the others who will take up new positions from November 1 is Air Marshal Vinod Patney, who was in charge of the air operations in Kargil. Air Marshal Patney is moving from western air command to the central air command at Allahabad as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Air Marshal S Krishnaswamy presently AOC-in-C south western air command will be taking Air Marshal Patney's place. Air Marshal V K Bhatia, at present AOC-in-C at the central air command will replace Air Marshal Krishnaswamy.

Air Marshal M S Sekhon will take over as SASO at western air command from October 1 and he will be replaced by air marshal Michael McMahon as SASO eastern air command.

Air Marshal T J Master, who is being replaced by Air Marshal Pingale as SASO south west air command, will take over general flight safety at air headquarters.

UNI

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