Pune Beat

Kochar is NDA commandantLT Gen S B S Kochar, an alumni of 20th NDA course has taken over as commandant, National Defence Academy from Vic...

Kochar is NDA commandant
LT Gen S B S Kochar, an alumni of 20th NDA course has taken over as commandant, National Defence Academy from Vice Admiral Arun Prakash.Commissioned into Gorkha Rifles in June 1962, Gen S B S Kochar has held various staff, instructional and command appointments in India and abroad.

A graduate of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, he was among the the few young Majors to be posted as instructor to Nigerian Defence Academy during 1976-79. Holding a series of key appointments, later as Major General, he headed the Indian Military training team at Bhutan and was also advisor to the King of Bhutan on military matters.

Gen Kochar commanded a division in Southern Command from 1992 to 1994. For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal. His last posting was at Lucknow where he served as Chief of Staff Central Command. A scholar of high repute, he has also authored books, 8220;Geopolitical study of North Eastern region with particular reference to Bhutan8221; and 8220;Wisdom Sparks.8221;

Major fire at Kalyani Sharp
A major fire at Kalyani Sharp company at Bhima Koregaon, around 25 km from here, gutted the godown and the administrative building on Wedneday night. Property worth crores of rupees was destroyed. There were no casualties.

The fire began at around 11.30 p.m at the production workshop where some employees were completing welding work. A short circuit was said to be the cause. The fire spread to the godown and later engulfed the entire administrative building. Six fire tenders including two from Pune and one from Pimpri-Chinchwad were rushed to the site. The fire however continued to rage alarmingly and was brought under control only by 6 a.m.

Murder solved
Wanowrie police claim to have cracked the case in which an autorickshaw driver was mysteriously murdered and the body thrown in a plot near Mohammedwadi last Friday.

The driver identified as Datta alias Ashok Baban Darekar 24, a resident of Morevasti, Bibewadi, was allegedly murdered by two autorickshaw drivers as Darekar harassed other autorickshaw drivers in Swargate area. His face was mutilated. There were no clothes on the body.