Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 26: Various Army and Air Force units besides other organizations celebrated Kargil Vijay Divas and paid floral tributes to the martyrs of Kargil war in various functions held across the region today.
A solemn ceremony was held at Nagrota Garrison to commemorate the 16th anniversary of “Kargil Vijay Diwas”. General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps Lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar paid floral tributes to the martyrs and brave soldiers in a wreath laying ceremony held at “Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal” at Nagrota Garrison. The notes of the bugle playing the Last Post were testimony to the valour and the supreme sacrifice of martyrs and brought back somber memories of those days.
Each year since 1999, the Army observes Kargil Vijay Diwas to remember its soldiers who laid down their lives in Kargil district in the cold desert region of Ladakh during the conflict between India and Pakistan. The Kargil conflict was the most serious military engagement between the two neighbours since the war of 1971. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days and ended on July 26. A total of 527 brave soldiers sacrificed their life and 1363 soldiers were seriously wounded in achieving this victory.
To honour and recall the sacrifices of brave soldiers, the 16th Anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated today at Udhampur. As part of the celebrations, the Kargil War Memorial at the Sharadhanjali Park was illuminated in the evening and all ranks and families of the Garrison paid their homage and expressed eternal gratitude towards the ‘Saviours of the Nation’, by lighting candles.
Kargil Vijay Diwas was also commemorated at Western Command, headquarters near Chandigarh today. It was on this day that the last of the Pakistani infiltrators were thrown out from Indian soil.
A “Wreath Laying Ceremony” was held at the ‘Veer Smriti’ at Chandimandir on the occasion to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.
Lt Gen KJ Singh, Army Commander and General VP Malik, (Retired) laid wreaths along with other serving officers, senior veterans, Commanding Officers and Subedar Majors of units which had actively participated in the operations. Next of kin of martyrs of Operation VIJAY and award winners took part in the ceremony and were felicitated on the occasion.
A light and sound show was held in the evening on the occasion showcasing the history of Western Command.
‘Light and Sound Show’ has been produced with in-house talent from the Army. The show commenced with a message being read out by Amitabh Bacchan, honouring the martyrs through an apt recitation of a famous poem, ‘Pushp Ki Abhilasha’, by Maakhan Lal Chaturvedi, dedicating the show to the brave soldiers.
To commemorate the anniversary of `Operation Vijay’ at the Kargil heights, a solemn wreath laying ceremony was held at the Warriors’ Grove of the Crossed Swords Division where Major General Kulpreet Singh alongwith officers and men of the Crossed Swords Division paid homage and rich tribute to the gallant martyrs who made supreme sacrifice in the defence of the nation at the icy heights in the Kargil sector. The poignant ceremony was marked by the buglers playing the “Last Post” as the guards stood solemnly at reverse arms.
168 Infantry Brigade Samba, on the occasion of “Kargil Vijay Diwas” remembered its brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice and brought glory to the nation. Commander Military Station Samba, officers and all ranks paid their homage to Kargil martyrs at the Samba War Memorial.
The Veer Naris of Kargil martyrs were presented souvenirs by Mrs. Manju Rana in a separate ceremony held in their honour.
India Air Force men also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Kargil war at Udhampur air base by lighting candles. Air Force warriors contributed a lot in the success of the Kargil operation.
Indian Government took this decision to press IAF men on May 25, 1999. Air strikes began on May 26, 1999 over the icy heights of Kargil sector. The decision yielded unprecedented rewards by paving way for the ultimate victory in operation ‘Safed Sagar’ which continued for 60 days.
IAF gave the close battlefield and logistic support in addition to evacuations playing a crucial role in ‘Operation Vijay’ to clear the otherwise desolate and deserted Kargil sector of the Pakistani infiltrators. Nation rose to the supreme sacrifice and gallantry of Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja of the No. 17 Squadron of Mig-21s, the Golden Arrows based at Bathinda. Sqn Ldr Ahuja was awarded a Vir Chakra posthumously. The squadron was under the command of then Wg Cdr B.S.Dhanoa who happens to be the current Vice-Chief of Air Staff. IAF offered the sacrifice of three of its officers and two airmen and were awarded with two Vir Chakras and 23 Vayusena Medals. Unprecedented wave of public anger for Sqrn Ldr Ahuja’s cold blooded murder and capturing of Flt Lt K Nachiketa of 9 Sqn following a flame out triggered angry response from International community against Pakistan.
The IAF followed all instructions to the core pressing its fleets of MiG 21, MiG 23, MiG 25, MiG 27, MiG-29 Fulcrum armed with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, Jaguars and Mirage 2000 Hs armed with day and night laser-guided bombs and MI-17 helicopters. It was just the 25 per cent of the total strike force of the Western Air Command that gave serious blows to the morale of both Pak Army and Pakistani Air Force. Unnerved with about 6,500 IAF sorties including strike, reconnaissance, evacuations, transportation and logistic support. IAF mission strikes also disrupted and cut off the supply lines of enemy to an extent that even the wounded could not be evacuated.
Rashtriya Rifles Force Headquarters based at Reasi paid homage to soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nations border during the Kargil war.
On the occasion of the of Kargil Vijay Diwas anniversary, in a solemn ceremony, the General Officer Commanding paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath on behalf of all officers, JCOs and other ranks at the war memorial.
J&K Ex-services Welfare Association under the leadership of Col PL Choudhary celebrated Kargil Vijay Diwas today by taking out a march from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park to Shaheed Capt Sunil Choudhary, KC, SM memorial. Col PL Choudhary and his team first laid wreaths to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and to Kargil martyrs at Shaheedi Chowk and then at Shaheed Capt Sunil Choudhary, KC, SM Memorial. A large number of ESMs and Veer Naries participated in the march and raised slogans in honour of Kargil Martyrs.
BJYM paid tributes to Martyrs to Celebrate 16th anniversary of Kargil War
To commemorate the 16th anniversary of the Kargil war, BJYM Jammu District today paid tributes to martyr Maj. IS Babbar, a brave soldier. The Program Organized by Ishant Gupta District President BJYM under the leadership of State General Secretary BJYM Ajay Pargal & State Vice President BJYM Bharat Sharma.
BJYM Unit Jammu West led by Ajay Vaid also paid tributes to Kargil martyrs in a function held at Brig Rajinder Singh Chowk. State president Dr Suresh Magotra was also present on the occasion. All the activists paid floral tributes to the martyrs of this war.
Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha Udhampur District Unit has celebrated Vijay Diwas of Kargil war 26th July 1999. BJYM activists under the leadership of its District President Ramnik Sharma have paid their rich tributes to the martyrs of Kargil war at Shaheedi Sathal near Town Hall Udhampur .
To comment the supreme sacrifice of our brave Jawans in Kargil war of 1999, Operation Vijay Diwas was celebrated today at war memorial near town Hall Udhampur. The celebration started with lying of wreath by various dignitaries and paying of floral tributes by large number of Ex-Serviceman Veer Naaris, Civil and Police officer and general public. President Poorva Sainik Sewa Parishad, Udhampur briefed about the supreme sacrifice of our 527 Brave Jawans who laid down their lives for the country in the said war, the ever highest in any war after independence.
Tanda Tigers Force led by K P Singh also celebrated Kargil Vijay Divas at Tanda in Akhnoor and paid their rich triobutes to the martyrs of Kargil war.
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