Major Saravanan's Vir Chakra War Memorial unveiled

Tiruchirapalli, May 29 (UNI) A tearful homage was paid to the ''Hero of Batalik'', Major M Saravanan, a Vir Chakra recepient, on his eighth death anniversary here today.

Maj Saravanan had sacrificed his life during the ''Operation Vijay'', 1999 to retrieve Indian territories occupied by the Pakistan forces.

Eight years post Kargil war, the memories of the gory battle fought on the inhospitable terrain of Dras and Batalik sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, seem to be fading. Through the fading images of our heroes, one figure which looms larger than life is of Major Saravanan, the brave son of Tiruchirapalli city. He was the first to fall in a bid to evict the Pakistanese, but not before giving them a bloody nose.

At a colourful function, here this morning Major General B Sivasankar, General Officer Commanding, Head Quarters, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, unveiled the War Memorial on the Collector Office road. Major General M S Balhara, Colonel of the Bihar Regiment and a large number of officials and armymen were present on the occasion. District Collector Ashish Vachchani, Senior police officials and a large number of common people were also there.

The front side of the memorial has the portrait of Major Saravanan while the other two sides bear the citation of the brave martyr engraved in marbles, both in Tamil and English. A replica of his assault gun and cap is also mounted atop the memorial.

Ms Amirthavalli Mariyappan, mother of the war hero and his family placed a first wreath on the memorial, followed by the army officials.

In his address, Major General Sivashankar praised the war hero for his bravery and his mother for giving a son, who made army and the country proud.

He said Saravanan would continue to inspire the future generations to serve the army and will be remembered fondly by one and all in the Indian army.

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