The forgotten martyrs of the 1965 and 1971 wars

Fazilka, Sep 17 (UNI) Rarely does anyone enter a graveyard on Sainia road in this sub-divisional town to lay a bunch of flowers or light a candle on the dilapidated graves.

The only human figure found among the graves was of a man in his seventies, the caretaker of the cemetery.

On a closer scrutiny, the dilapidated graves reminds us of our indifferent attitude towards things of national importance, as herein lies 17 martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. According to the caretaker, Bashir Ahmad, ''Some of them attained martyrdom during the 1965 war with Pakistan while others laid down their lives in the 1971 war in the Fazilka sector.'' Numerous war memorials have been erected for the martyrs of the 1975 and 1971 wars along the border in Punjab, but unfortunately the 17 martyrs who rest in this graveyard, owned by the Methodist Church have been forgotten, laments Bashir.

A couple of Indian soldiers, most of them from South India and belonging to an Engineering Regiment died while clearing land mines, during the 1975 war were laid to rest here, Bashir said. The graveyard was used by local Christians and Muslims, he added. Then again in the 1971 war, the Christian and Muslim soldiers who died during war were buried in this graveyard, he said. ''As far as I remember a total of 17 soliers lie buried here, all of them from the South or North East,'' he added.

Referring to the numerous functions that are held in September every year in memory of those who laid down their lives in the 1965 war, Bashir said, ''No one remembers these martyrs.'' He has often asked the locals to take up the matter with the army authorities, but no one has bothered.

No one comes forward to lay wreaths on the graves of these brave 17 soldiers, he regretted but himself nevers forgets to light a candle on each grave every year on Christmas and Easter.

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