Commander of Panchashul Brigadier Rakesh Manocha going to lay a wreath at the Kumaon war memorial in Pithoragarh to mark Infantry Day on Friday. Tribune photo

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 28

A wreath was laid at the Kumaon war memorial at Panchashul Brigade here today to celebrate the 70th Infantry Day and paying respect to the brave soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country on this day in 1947 while fighting Pakistani Razakars in Srinagar.The celebration took place at the Kumaon war memorial here. Panchashul Commander Brig Rakesh Manocha laid the wreath on the memorial and remembered the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Infantry in various wars.“Infantry Day is celebrated on October 27 in remembrance of the 1st Sikh Regiment that landed at the Srinagar airport to expel Pakistani Razakars from Kashmir. The brave Sikhs expelled the Razakars and saved the country from their attack,” said Navin Rajan, Commander of 28th Punjab Regiment. Infantry officers, veteran Army officers and personnel were present.India, Nepal police to jointly check human traffickingIndia and Nepal will chalk out a special strategy to stop human trafficking, besides taking measures to jointly check smuggling of narcotics and counterfeit currency notes across the border. This was agreed upon at a meeting of police officers from both countries at the Banbasa border in Champawat district on Friday.Kumaon DIG Ajay Rautela and his counterpart from Nepal DIG Vijay Raj Bhatt attended the meeting.Rautela said the police officers from both countries agreed to cooperate in checking smuggling across the border by exchanging intelligence and information. “The police officers from both countries have agreed that they will help each other in nabbing absconding criminals in the other country and stopping humiliation of Nepalese at the hands of the Indian authorities on the pretext of security and customs checking at border posts,” he added.The Nepalese police officers sought help from their Indian counterparts in checking frequent incidents of looting of Nepalese in the Tanakpur and Banbasa region of India. “We have also sought India’s help in opening canal gates at the Banbasa border at the time of any medical emergency with Nepalese when they want to go to India for immediate treatment and their security while they are working in interior villages in Kumaon,” said Bhatt.

Martyred jawan given tearful adieu

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 28

Rifleman Sandeep Singh Rawat, who attained martyrdom in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military honour at Kotdwar here today. District administration officials, Army personnel, neighbours, friends and relatives attended the last rites of the martyr.A pall of gloom descended on the entire colony when the news of his martyrdom reached here. Almost the entire locality swarmed the martyr’s house to console the bereaved family members.Residents waited for hours to pay tributes to the martyr. Rawat was posted with 7th Garhwal Rifles and attained martyrdom in Gulmarg (J&K). Public representatives and relatives attended his last rites. The body was consigned to flames on the banks of the Khoah river.MLAs Teerath Singh Rawat, former MLA Shailendra Rawat, Zila Panchyat vice-president Suman Kotnala and SDM Rakesh Tiwari attended the cremation.