Nation remembers Kargil heroes on Vijay Diwas

New Delhi, Jul 26: Nation today remembered its brave soldiers, who made the supreme sacrifice for their country on the cold and inhospitable heights of the Himalaya, on the seventh anniversary of the Kargil conflict.

Functions were held across the country to pay tributes to the officers who laid down their lives in the line of duty during Operation Vijay launched to evict Pakistani intrusion in Drass and Batalik Sectors in May 1999.

Vijay Diwas was observed with usual military fervour at Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.

Lieutenant General Deepak Kapoor, General Officer in command northern Command, while addressing the special Sainik Sammelan at Dras War memorial, recounted the contribution made by our brave Officers and soldiers.

''It was on this day that the Indian army added a new chapter to the annals of its long and cherished tradition of dauntless courage and bravery by evicting the enemy from the icy peaks along the Line of Control,'' Lt Gen Kapoor said.

The function commenced in the morning with wreath laying ceremony at the magnificent Drass War Memorial, at the base of the famous Tololing feature.

The memorial has been constructed by army in memory of the brave sons of the soil.

Indian Armed Forces veterans gathered at a 'Vijay Diwas Samaroh' in Bhopal to pay their tributes to those young officers and men who ascended the cold heights as gallant warriors and became immortal heroes.

Among the approximately 60 people present at the District Sainik Board (DSB) premises were the city-resident parents of Major Ajay Prasad and Lance Naik Dilip Singh Lingwal's father Raghuveer Singh Lingwal.

On May 19, 1999, Mechanised Infantry officer Maj Prasad fell fighting Pakistani regulars in Avantipur area of Kargil sector. L/Nk Lingwal made the supreme sacrifice at Akhnoor.

''Besides paying homage to the more than 500 departed souls, we gathered to express our heartfelt gratitude to the nation for remembering our valiant personnel in the form of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Today is nothing short of a festival for the armed forces,'' Lieutenant-Colonel (retd) Suresh Chandra Dixit, who is District Sainik Welfare Officer and Secretary, DSB, Bhopal, told sources.

In Imphal a Kargil Vijay Diwas function was organised by Rajya Sainik Board.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh led the state in honouring the supreme sacrifices made by the valiant soldiers during the Kargil battles.

Floral tributes were offered at the Martyrs memorial at Imphal followed by guard of honour, general salute with bugle, sounding of last post, sounding of Reveille.

After Pakistani intruders were sighted in Battalic sector in May 1999 and enemy force started patrolling at Mushkoh, Drass, Kaksar, Kargil and Battalic areas.

On July two, Toloring was captured by 2 Rajput Rifle and 13 Jammu&Kashmir Rifle, 18 Garhwal Rifle and 1 Naga Regiment captured point 5140 complex.

On July 3rd Tiger Hill, at the height of 16,500 ft, was captured by 18 Grenadiers and 8 Sikh combined force under the command of Gdr Yogender Singh Yadav. Gdr Yogender Singh Yadav was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest bravery award.

The intruders were finally evicted on July 26, 1999, and the day has since been observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

UNI