Army Chief salutes Kargil bravehearts

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh today paid homage to the soldiers, who laid down their lives during the Kargil war in 1999, at the war memorial in the Drass sector.

“Gen Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, paid homage to the martyrs of Operation Vijay at the historic Kargil War Memorial at Drass,” a Defence spokesman said.

Gen Dalbir Singh was accompanied by Lt Gen DS Hooda, Northern Command chief and GOC, Fire and Fury Corps. “The Army Chief also interacted with Veer Naris, awardees and relatives of martyrs during the event,” the spokesman said.

The 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations started with great fervour and enthusiasm under the aegis of Fire and Fury Corps from July 21, 2016. The week-long celebrations included many events involving the local citizens, especially the youth and children of Drass and Kargil regions. The solemn memorial service is scheduled at the war memorial in the evening today and the celebrations will come to close with formal wreath-laying ceremony by the Northern Command chief tomorrow.

In 1999, Pakistani soldiers and militants from many groups had occupied many peaks from the Drass to Batalik sector along the Line of Control (LoC) overlooking the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway during the winter retreat of the Indian Army. The Indian Army along with the Indian Air Force later launched a massive operation to reclaim the peaks that were occupied by Pakistani soldiers. In the ensuing battles that were fought in rugged mountain terrains and hostile climatic conditions the Indian Army managed to win back its territory after a 74-day war. And since then the Army has been observing July 26 as Vijay Diwas and the main function is held at Drass.