Army erects a memorial to honour its martyrs

Sherathang (Sikkim), Apr 26 : Army has erected a memorial near the Chinese border in Sikkim, to honour those killed in the India-China war of 1962.

Situated at a height of 14, 000 feet, the memorial built at Sherathang near Nathula Pass on the India-China border, is an effort by the army to honour the memory of hundreds of soldiers who laid down their lives while protecting the country's borders from Chinese aggression.

The memorial christened 'Amar Jawan' is Sikkim's lone war memorial. It has been created by collecting and placing together the roadside tombs and memorials of killed soldiers built by the residents.

"Earlier, there were lots of tombs or stones which were displayed along the road side. We have placed a gun also which has now been dedicated to the state of Sikkim," said Anand Mehrotra, Colonel, Army Intelligence.

The memorial was undertaken by the army in 2007. The memorial also holds an inverted INSAS rifle and a helmet as mark of respect to fallen soldiers. A 10 mm Russian war tank has also been installed at the memorial.

India and China fought a border war in 1962 and have yet to agree to a final demarcation of their 4,500-km frontier through remote Himalayan mountain territory.

ANI