DK Dist Ex-Servicemen Association pays Tribute to Intrepid Soldiers on ‘Vijay Diwas’ Day
Dakshina Kannada District Ex-Servicemen Association (DKDESA) and Dist Administration, along with Lions District 317 D, Nitte Education Trust, and Shri Shasthavu Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust on Monday, 16 December at the War Memorial, Kadri Hills, (opposite Kadri Police Station), Mangaluru at 9.00AM, pay Rich Tribute to Intrepid Soldiers on ‘Vijay Diwas’ to Mark India’s Victory in Indo-Pak War ’71
Mangaluru: To commemorate India’s victory in the Indo-Pak War 1971, “Vijay Diwas” was celebrated, under the joint aegis of DK District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Lions District 317 D, Rotary District 3181, Nitte Education Trust, and Shri Shasthavu Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust on Monday, 16 December 2019 at the War Memorial, Kadri Hills, (opposite Kadri Police Station), Mangaluru at 9 am , to pay respects to those intrepid soldiers who fought for the country and laid down their lives in the line of duty. Flowers and wreaths will be laid as respect to these soldiers by various dignitaries.
Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion and paid floral/wreath tributes to the fallen soldiers were-J Arun Chakravarthy-IGP, Western Range; Surendar Singh Dasila- Commander, Indian Coast Guard-Panambur; Ms Sindhu B Rupesh-Deputy Commissioner; Dr Selvamani- CEO-Zilla Panchayat; Sanadi Ajith Kumar Hegde- MCC Commissioner; Prof P Subramanya Yadapadithaya- Vice Chancellor of Mangaluru University; Col A KM Sharma- Group Commander-NCC; Arjun Rai-a Trustee of Shasthavu Shri Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust, Ln Vijay Vishnu Mayya of representing Lions Club International 317 D among others. Ln S M Airan, Raghavendra Bhat, Capt Deepak Adyanthaya and Col N Sharath Bhandary, laid the Floral and wreath tributes. There was also a Bugle call for “Last Post’ and “Rouse”, during the occasion. Ln S M Airan-President of the Association welcomed the gathering.
Narrating on Vijay Diwas, Col Sharath Bhandary-the Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Former President of the Association 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.
He further said, “East Pakistan was a province of Pakistan since independence. In response to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman’s call for independent Bangladesh, after electoral victory, Pakistan, launched ‘Operation Search Light’, on 26th March 1971 with a view to crush the freedom movement. This led to an influx of refugees and border tensions. Pakistan, in an effort to release the Indian pressure on 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 14,000 Sq Km of their territory, in the western territory” .
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”.
Deputy Commissioner Ms Sindhu B Rupesh and Prof P S Yadapadithaya speaking on the occasion paid tribute to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives for our county. They urged the people to respect ex-servicemen when they see them because they too have fought in the war for our freedom. Ln Vijay Vishnu Mayya said that we should remember the sacrifice of the soldiers, who laid down their lives for us, and at present, our country needs protection not only from outside but also needs protection from within our borders.
DIG SS Dasila, TM, the Commander of No 3 Headquarters, Coast Guard District for the state of Karnataka paying the rich floral tribute in gratitude to heroes of 1971 war echoed the role of Indian Armed Forces in writing new history for the great nation of ours with valour and triumph on 16 Dec 1971 by giving birth to new nation. He called upon the people of India wherever they be to feel proud to be part of our freedom, our brave soldiers of this very country of ours. Remembering the indomitable courage and valour of India’s armed forces he called upon every on present at the Vijay Divas celebrations to strive to maintain the honour and dignity of the nation by undertaking our day to day tasking sincerely with our best ability and capacity.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Capt Deepak Adyanthaya-the Secretary of the association, and Vikramdutta of the Association compered the programme.
