Tribune ReportersShimla, July 26
Glowing tributes were paid here today to the martyrs of Kargil’s “Operation Vijay”. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal was among those who garlanded the portraits of five martyrs of Shimla district who laid down their lives while defending the frontiers of the nation during the Kargil aggression, at the historic Ridge Maidan” here.
Earlier, “prabhat pheris” were also organised by school children in the town. An exhibition on Kargil by the Army had also been organised at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, here.
Mr Dhumal said Operation Vijay was one of the major achievements of the Indian forces and the nation was proud of it.
He said the people of Himachal Pradesh were proud that out of four Param Vir Chakras given for bravery shown by the soldiers during Operation Vijay, two have been conferred on the brave soldiers of this state out of which one was given posthumously. He said a number of other gallantry awards were also conferred on these brave sons of the state.
He said 52 soldiers from the state lost their lives during Operation Vijay and 73 during Operation Rakshak.
HAMIRPUR:
The Education Minister, Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, while addressing a function at the Bachat Bhavan, said the contributions made by the Kargil martyrs and their families could never be forgotten.
A “prabhat pheri” was also taken out in the morning in which about 150 persons, including district officers and school children, were present.
KULU: “Prabhat pheris”, cleaning of the 13,000-feet Rohtang Pass on the Manali-Kargil road, and painting competitions marked the celebrations of the “Kargil Day” here today.
Hundreds of people, including school and college students, government officials, NCC cadets and general public, marched from Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra to the Ram Bagh, Akhara Bazar, in the memory of the martyrs.
A painting competition of the school children was organised at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the District Ex-servicemen League, also paid tributes to the martyr. Major R.C. Sharma, President of the league, thanked the state government for rendering special consideration to the next of kin of the Kargil martyrs.
UDHAMPUR: The second anniversary of Operation Vijay was observed here today by the Headquarters, Northern Command.
At a solemn and modest ceremony, Lieut-Gen R.K. Nanavatty, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, paid homage to the soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, at Dharuva, the monument dedicated to the brave soldiers of Northern Command.
Ms Gurpreet, vice-president, Army Wives’ Welfare Association, Northern Command, lit the lamp.
KANGRA: Vijay Divas was celebrated at the Polytechnic College auditorium. A function was jointly organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and the district administration.
The Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidaya Sagar said the state government was trying to help the families of the martyrs.
He honoured family members of the 14 martyrs on the occasion.
NAHAN:
The Vice-Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh State Planning Board, Ms Shyam Sharma, honoured family members of martyrs Kulvinder Singh and Kalyan Singh who hailed from this district, at a function held here today to celebrate Vijay Divas.
In a drawing and painting competition organised at District Institute of Educational Technology, the Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, distributed prizes to the winners’ of the competition.
ROPAR: The district administration organised a rally today in which ex-servicemen and school children from the district participated.
The District Sainik Welfare Officer, Major Peshora Singh (retd), said from January 1, 1999, 70 officers and soldiers from the district had laid down their lives for the country.
JALANDHAR:
Lieut-Gen Shantanu Choudhary, GOC 11, Vajra Corps, while presiding over a function to pay homage to the Kargil martyrs at the Cantonment today.
Paying homage of the Kargil martyrs, and said the nation should not only remember those warriors of Kargil, but also learn from them. They had laid down their lives for the sovereignty and integrity of the country while fighting Pakistan.
Later, he distributed awards to 32 war widows and kin of martyrs.
