Rich tributes paid to Ashoka awardee

Chandigarh, Aug 8 (UNI) Rich tributes were paid today to Major Sandeep Shankla who laid down his life while leading a daring operation against militants in Jammu and Kashmir in 1991.

Commemorating the 17th martyrdom day of the Ashoka Chakra awardee, Lt Gen A N Aul, Chief of Staff, HQ Western Command along with other senior serving and veteran army officers and civil dignitaries, paid tributes at a homage ceremony held at Sandeep Shankla War Memorial, Panchkula, Haryana.

Major Shankla, an officer with 18th battalion of Dogra regiment, on this day in 1991, sacrificed his life while fighting a fierce battle with terrorists in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Aul, Brig N K Mishra, Station Commander, Chandimandir, Commanding Officer Col Jai Singh Yadav, Commanding Officer, 2 Sikh, K Mahajan and Sandeep Khirwar, SP, Panchkula laid wreath at the memorial along with Lt Col (Retd) J S Kanwar, father of the martyr.

A ceremonial guard of honour was also presented and two-minute silence was observed as mark of respect to the martyr.

UNI