THE SALUTE: Victor Force GOC Major General BS Raju pays homage to Major Somnath Sharma at the Budgam War Memorial on Friday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 3

The Army on Friday paid tributes to Major Somnath Sharma, the recipient of the first and the highest war gallantry honour in India, Param Vir Chakra.Maj Gen BS Raju, Victor Force Commander, laid a wreath at the Budgam War Memorial and Brigadier Suresh Chavan, Commandant, JAK LI Regimental Centre, laid a wreath on behalf of the Chinar Corps at Major Somnath Sharma Memorial as a mark of respect for the martyr.Maj Gen Raju said the supreme sacrifice of Major Somnath had set an example of courage and leadership that would seldom be equalled in the history of the Indian Army.On October 22, 1947, when Pakistan launched the tribal invasion of Jammu & Kashmir with an intention to grab the Kashmir valley by force, the D Company of 4 Kumaon, led by Major Somnath Sharma, was airlifted to Srinagar on October 31 as part of the Army’s response after the Instrument of Accession was signed.“Major Somnath Sharma, with his arm in plaster, on November 3, 1947, established a base at Bugdam against raiders approaching Srinagar from the northern direction. In the contact that followed, despite facing a numerically superior enemy force of about 700 raiders supported with small arms, mortars and heavy automatics, Major Sharma and his troops held on to their positions and did not let the enemy succeed in their designs. This gallant effort stemmed the tide of the enemy advance on Srinagar and the airfield for some very crucial hours. In this battle, Major Somnath Sharma along with one JCO and 20 other personnel lost their lives.