Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 16

The Army’s Chinar Corps celebrated the 48th anniversary of the Indian victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that culminated in the creation of Bangladesh in true military tradition by remembering the nation’s heroes and martyrs.

Rich tributes were paid to the gallant martyrs at a solemn ceremony at the War Memorial in Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, where Lt-Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, paid homage to the heroes by laying a wreath on behalf of the entire soldiers’ fraternity.

The Army held a felicitation function to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices of the veterans and martyrs of the 1971 war.

Addressing the function, Lt-Gen Dhillon said the Army was grateful to the veterans for their services to the nation in their younger years and expressed the Army resolve to look after their welfare.

“In 1971, at least 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered and this was the biggest-ever surrender of any army after World War II,” the corps commander said. “The Army immensely values the sacrifices of the Veer Naaris and their family members. The victory of such a magnitude would not have been possible without the tremendous sacrifice by the soldiers.”

December 16 is celebrated every year as “Vijay Diwas” to commemorate the Indian Army’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War that led to the birth of Bangladesh.