25th anniversary of Kargil war commemorated

Chandigarh, July 26

Expressing the importance of remembering the bravery and dedication of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya today urged the citizens to draw inspiration from their heroic deeds and strive for the honour and security of the country.

Paying homage to fallen soldiers on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the victory in Kargil, he laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti War Memorial at Chandimandir Military Station. The ceremony was attended by Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, Chief of Staff, Western Command, along with senior Army officers and other ranks. Kargil War veterans and their family members were also present on the occasion.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to mark the historic victory of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan in the 1999 war, also known as Operation Vijay, and to pay homage to soldiers.

In Chandigarh, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Sector 3 to pay homage to the Kargil martyrs.

The minister also interacted with veterans, NCC cadets and students of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute.

Various functions were organised by the Chandigarh NCC Group Headquarters in a tribute to the valour and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought during the Kargil War. Brigadier Harpreet Singh, Group Commander, laid a wreath on the bust of Capt Vikram Batra, who was a cadet of this group and was decorated posthumously with the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award, in the war.

Wreath-laying ceremonies were also held by different units of the Group at the NCC Complex, Sector 31, Terraced Garden, Sector 33, and DAV College.