THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/DRASS - In a solemn ceremony today at the Pangode Military station, homage was paid to martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War.
A large number of soldiers from various units of the station gathered in colourful military ceremonial uniforms to salute the fallen martyrs.
Station Commander Brigadier Cherish Mathson and Lt Gen (Retired) S K Pillai were amongst those who placed wreathes at the Pangode War Memorial.
The ceremony was also attended by retired armed forces personnel. The function began with ‘Salami Shastra’ saluting the martyrs followed by ‘Shoka Shastra’ (salute with reverse arms). A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect.
July 26, 1999 will go down in the annals of Indian history as a day when the determined Indian forces achieved a glorious victory over the Pakistani Army.
A few days back, the martyrdom of Captain Jerry Prem Raj, Vir Chakra (Posthumous), a brave officer from Thiruvananthapuram, was also recalled and celebrated. Raj died on the icy peaks in the Drass sector in the Kargil Operations.
eanwhile, in a separate though related development, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force will celebrate the tenth anniversary of their joint victory at Drass on Sunday and Monday.
The event will see a flypast by MiG-21s and Mi-17s as well as slithering operations by Mi-17 and para drop of nine Para Jump Instructors, three each from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, as the nation salutes the spirit, courage of those brave men who participated in ‘Operation Vijay’.
Ten years ago, the Indian Air Force was pressed into service in mid-May 1999 to facilitate the recapture of Indian territory on the Indian side of Line of Control in Mushko Valley, Drass, Kaksar Batalik, and Turtok areas.
It was for the first time that the Indian Air Force was called upon to undertake live missions at such high altitudes.
A bigger challenge was non violation of Line of Control. Mirage-2000 aircraft flew precision strike missions and dropped Lager Guided Bombs (LGBs) utilizing the Laser Designated Pods (LDPs).
These missions turned the balance of power in favour of India.
Offensive posturing by the Indian Air Force deterred the Pakistani Air Force from intervening in this area.
The Indian Air force displayed professionalism of a very high order and by July 12, almost all posts were recaptured. Air power played a pivotal role in the overall victory and eviction of Pakistani intruders. (ANI)
Related News
Indian Army's Artillery regiment celebrates 182nd Gunners Day on MondaySeptember 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Army's Artillery regiment will be celebrating its 182nd foundation day on Monday. The raising day, which is known as Gunners day, is observed every year on September 28 to mark the raising of first Indian Artillery Unit 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery on this momentous day in 1827.
George Fernandes demands apology from Congress partyAugust 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former Defence Minister George Fernandes demanded an apology from the Congress Party, as his name was not figuring in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charge sheet in the coffin scam. Congress, which was an opposition party in 2002, severely criticised Fernandes as having role in the Coffin Scam, and even boycotted him in the Parliament.
PM, Antony pay homage to Kargil martyrsJuly 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A.K. Antony visited the Amar Jawan Jyoti here Sunday morning and paid homage to the Kargil war martyrs on the 10th anniversary of the armed conflict with Pakistan.
Kargil: Whose war was that? (Comment)July 26th, 2009 July 26 marks 10 years after India won the limited but high-stakes Kargil War initiated by Pakistan. On this day in 1999, the Indian soldiers gave the country a significant victory - albeit at a heavy cost in life, limb and blood.
Vikram Batra's family demands mention of war history in textbooksJuly 26th, 2009 PALAMPUR - Parents of Tiger Hills Hero Captain Vikram Batra, who laid down his life fighting on the snow-capped peaks of Kargil, have demanded the inclusion of war history in school texts for posterity. On Sunday as the country celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Kargil victory, Captain Batra's father G.L.
Kargil hilltops lit up as India salutes war heroes (Night Lead)July 26th, 2009 DRASS - The hills of Kargil came alive Sunday night in a glow of yellow lights as India marked the 10th anniversary of its military victory against Pakistan by paying homage to the over 500 soldiers killed while recapturing the treacherous peaks. In an unprecedented military ceremony of its kind, army officers and soldiers, family members of those killed in the May-July 1999 fighting as well as people of this Shia-dominated region along the border of Jammu and Kashmir paid moving tributes to the martyrs of Kargil.
Families of Kargil martyrs prevented from paying homage in HyderabadJuly 26th, 2009 HYDERABAD - While the country paid homage to the martyrs of the Kargil War on Sunday, their family members of the war heroes, who laid down their lives fighting the Pakistani Army, were prevented from paying their tributes at the war memorial here. The disheartened family members protested and staged a sit-on outside the war memorial premise and demanded a separate piece of land to build war memorial.
PM Manmohan Singh pays tribute to Kargil martyrsJuly 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war on its 10th anniversary. "I join the entire nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war.
India pays homage to Kargil martyrs at Drass (Lead, Changing dateline)July 26th, 2009 DRASS - Soldiers and family members Sunday came together in this border town of Jammu and Kashmir to pay homage to army men killed in the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. It was an emotive gathering as parents and siblings of soldiers visited the peaks of Drass where their loved ones perished while fighting to eject Pakistani raiders and camouflaged regular troops.
Homage paid to Kargil martyrs at DrassJuly 26th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Homage was paid to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil conflict at the Drass war memorial in Ladakh Sunday. Officers and jawans, as well as families of many of the martyrs, laid wreaths at the war memorial in the morning.
Homage paid to the Kargil martyrs in DrassJuly 26th, 2009 DRASS - The Kargil martyrs were paid homage at the Drass War Memorial on Sunday on the occasion of 10th anniversary of Kargil War. Officers and jawans, as well as families of many of the martyrs, laid wreaths at the war memorial in the morning.
Families of Kargil martyrs complain of government apathyJuly 24th, 2009 KALOA - Families of the 13 youngsters from Kaloa village in Jammu and Kashmir, who laid down their lives in the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan while recalling the sacrifice of their village youths, lament at the government apathy towards them
There are no commemoration ceremonies or memorial days observed in their honour. It is only their families who miss their presence and revere their sacrifice.
Dance festival promotes national integration in KargilJuly 23rd, 2009 KARGIL - A colourful dance festival, featuring artists from all parts of the country, was recently organised here by the Indian Army to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kargil war and to acknowledge the help and cooperation of the people of Kargil. Artists from all over the country came together to perform and spread the message of unity and integration.
Kargil war victim awaits compensationJune 6th, 2009 SRINAGAR - A sixty-two-year old victim of the Kargil war still awaits compensation from the government. Mohammad Ali's leg got completely destroyed when a Pakistani shell hit him in August 2008.
Homage paid to martyrs at Chandigarh war memorialJanuary 29th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Civilians joined senior defence officials at the war memorial here Friday to offer homage to martyrs who laid down their lives for the country. Punjab Governor and Union Territory Administrator S.F.
Loading ...