Fazilka remembers martyrs, takes out victory procession

r Correspondent

Fazilka, December 14

Hundreds of residents of the district and officials of the Army and civil administration participated in a unique victory procession taken out in the town to remember 209 martyrs of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, who attained martyrdom while saving the town in the Fazilka sector.

The procession was organised under the aegis of the Shaheedon ki Samadhi Committee, Asafwala, Fazilka, which has been maintaining the Asafwala War Memorial since 1972, in association with the Indian Army and civil administration.

The procession was led by Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Manpreet Singh and Col Vikas Sharma.

Family members of martyrs and war veterans, including retired Colonels UB Singh of 15 Rajput Regiment and Debnath of 3 Assam Regiment reached the town to take part in Vijay Diwas celebrations.

The kin of the martyrs sat in decorated jeeps and some accompanied the participants on foot.

The Indian Army brass band, which came from the Madras Engineering Group, Bengaluru, enthralled the audience with its performance at clock tower, where the procession concluded.

The traders came out of their shops and showered flowers on the family members of martyrs and participants.

The Indian Army paragliders from Agra also showered flowers on the participants from the air.

Activists of the Beopar Mandal, Social Welfare Society, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Gau Rakshani Sabha, Cloth Merchant Association and the Swarankar Association honoured the kin and distributed sweets among all.

“Everybody wanted to be a part of the victory parade to express their gratitude towards martyrs,” said Beopar Mandal President Ashok Gulbadhar.