Fazilka remembers its saviours of 1971

FAZILKA/FEROZEPUR: The residents of Fazilka on Tuesday recalled the supreme sacrifice of Maj Narain Singh, who led the Indian troops in 1971 war against Pakistan forces and was engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with Maj Shabbir Sharif, the elder brother of Pakistan's now Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, near Fazilka.
Maj Narain, who was commanding a company of 4 Jat Regiment and led his men to stop the Pakistan army from heading towards Fazilka, was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously.
"The valiant act of Maj Narain was well appreciated even by the Pakistan army. Maj Gen (retd) Fazal Muqeem Khan in his book 'Pakistan: Crisis in leadership' has mentioned Maj Narain's bravery. The author wrote '....had soldier like Maj Narain Singh been with the Pakistan army, the story would have been different'," Maj Narain's son Narinder Bhatial recounted on the occasion of Vijaw Diwas celebrations.
Maj Narain's wife Urmila Bhatial, who was only 22 when she lost her husband, added, "I am proud of the supreme sacrifices made by hundreds of martyrs, including my husband, while serving our motherland."
When the war ended on December 16, 1971, people in Fazilka found bodies of 82 soldiers and cremated them at Asafwala village, 7km from here. A war memorial 'Shaheedon ki Samadhi' was built in tribute to the soldiers and their ashes have been preserved at the site.
The Golden Arrow Division of the Army also organized a function on Tuesday to honour the war widows of Ferozepur and Moga districts.