Defence photo division officers honoured

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 26

Col Basu Deb Maitra (hony-retd), former Director of the Photo Division, Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), Ministry of Defence, and Lt Dipak Das (hony-retd), former Deputy Director, were honoured at Kargil War Memorial during Kargil Vijay Diwas celebration-2016 at Drass today.

They were honoured by Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh yesterday and by Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, today.

Both the officers paid floral tributes to the martyrs and brave soldiers during the wreath-laying ceremony held at Kargil War Memorial at Drass today. Later they presented a few historic signature photographs of the Kargil war to Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC, Fire and Fury Corps, and GOC, Forever in Ops Division, at Drass.

Yesterday, both the retired officers from the Directorate of Public Relations were introduced to Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh by Lt Gen DS Hooda and was briefed about the contribution by them and other officers from the Photo Division of the DPR, MoD.

The Photo Division of DPR, MoD, was tasked for the visual coverage of Kargil operations in 1999 and Lt Col Das was first to reach Drass and Kargil before any other mediaperson or agency. He nearly escaped death while climbing Tololing. He was also with Capt Vikram Batra, PVC (posthumously) and with Capt Kenguruse MVC, (posthumously) during their last assault.