Vijay Varsh: Tributes paid to martyrs on 50th anniversary

Chandigarh, December 16

To commemorate ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’, the 50th year of India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in 1971 that resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh, a solemn ceremony was held at the Veer Smriti War Memorial in Chandimandir today to pay homage to martyrs.

A wreath was laid at the memorial by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Nav K Khanduri, Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen VP Malik, former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, also paid floral tributes along with a large number of veterans from all three services.

The 13-day war concluded on December 16 upon signing of the instrument of surrender by Pakistan.

Soldiers from the Western Command were awarded two Param Vir Chakras and 46 Maha Vir Chakras, besides numerous other awards for gallantry, courage and self-sacrifice. Further, for their collective performance in war, units and formations were recognised with Battle Honours of Amritsar Airfield, Basantar, Burj, Chakri, Dera Baba Nanak, Fatehpur, Harar Kalan, Jarpal, Malakpur, Samba, Sehjra and the Theatre Honour – Punjab 1971.

C-DAC celebrates India’s victory over Pakistan

The Centre for Development and Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, today commemorated the 50th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war by holding sports and cultural events. Kishore, Director, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Honorary officers recall soldiers’ sacrifices

Members of the Defence Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Association (DHCOA) commemorated the 50th Vijay Diwas and paid tributes to martyrs, today. Homage was also paid to the late CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat, who was killed in a helicopter crash. Members, many of whom fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, recalled acts of gallantry of Indian soldiers and sacrifices made by them. — TNS