D K District Ex-Servicemen’s Association to Commemorate ‘Vijay Diwas’ on 16 Dec
‘VIJAY DIWAS’ will be held on Monday, 16 Dec 2019, where Wreaths / Flowers, will be offered at the War Memorial, Kadri Hills, (opposite Kadri Police Station), Mangaluru commencing at 09.00 AM, to pay our respects to intrepid soldiers who fought for the country and laid down their lives in the line of duty. Various dignitaries from the District Administration and others will take part
Mangaluru : Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club, Col N Sharath Bhandary-former president of DKESA and Chairman of the Organizing Committee said, ” To commemorate India’s victory in the Indo-Pak War 1971, “VIJAY DIWAS”, will be celebrated, on Monday 16 December, 2019 at War Memorial, Kadri Hills, Mangaluru, under the joint aegis of DK District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Lions Clubs International District 317D, Nitte Education Trust and Shri Shasthavu Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust”
Narrating further on Vijay Diwas, Col Bhandary said, “East Pakistan was a province of Pakistan since independence. In response to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman’s call for independent Bangladesh, after electoral victory by Awami League, Pakistan, launched ‘Operation Search Light’, on 26th March, 1971 with a view to crush the freedom movement. This led to influx of Bangladeshi refugees to India and border tensions. Pakistan, in effort to release the Indian pressure on the East Pakistan, opened a new front as a diversionary tactic on the Indian Western borders, by a preemptive attack on India on 3rd December 1971 under the code name “Operation Chenghiz Khan”. In these operations, India had made substantial gains on Pakistan by capturing nearly 15,000 Sq Km of their territory, in the western theatre, in addition to liberating East Pakistan”.
“Pakistan Armed Forces, Police and Civilians, numbering about 93,000, under the Command of Pakistani Lt Gen AAK Niazi, surrendered to Lt Gen J S Arora of Indian Army at Ramna Race Course, Dhaka, Capital of erstwhile East Pakistan, on 16 Dec 1971, after a short war of 13 days ( 03 Dec to 16 Dec 1971 ). This historic event paved the way for the formation of the Independent country of Bangladesh. Sri Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, became the founder Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In July 1972, after talks between our, then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Sri Z A Bhutto, the Shimla Pact was formalized as an agreement under which the captured territory of 14,000 Sq Km and Prisoners Of War were returned to Pakistan” added Col Bhandary.
Concluding he said, “Some territories notably Kargil, were retained by India, for strategic purposes. Force Level : India – 3 X Corps, Mukti Bahini – 3 X Brigades, Pakistan – 3 X Divisions; Casualties : India – 1,426 killed and 3,611 wounded; Pakistan – 4,000 killed and 6,000 wounded ( Estimated ); Surrender : 56,694 Armed Forces, 12,192 Police, 24,114 Civilians ( Total – 93,000 ); Gallantry Awards : Param Vir Chakra – 4 ( Mahavir Chakra – 54 ); L/Nk Albert Ekka, 14 Guards –Posthumous; 2/Lt Arun Khetrapal, 14 Poona Horse– Posthumous; Flg Offr Nirmal Sekhon, 18 Squadron, IAF– Posthumous, and Maj Hoshiar Singh, 3 Grenadiers
Other persons present at the Press Briefing were S M Airan, Capt Deepak Adyanthaya, and Bhagwandas- the President, Secretary and Executive Committee Member of the Association respectively.
