JAMMU: Indian Army officials on Sunday commemorated the valiant actions of the Assam Regiment in the Chhamb-Akhnoor theatre in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
“Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Colonel of the Assam Regiment and Arunachal Scouts, Lieutenant General Subarata Saha, and 1971 war veteran Major General P.K. Puri (retired) laid wreaths at the 5 Assam Regiment war memorial at Rakhmuthi,” Colonel S.D. Goswami of the army’s Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command said.
A motorcycle expedition was also flagged off from the general area of Mandiala in Akhnoor sector on the occasion.
The battalion was conferred the Battle Honour for Chhamb and Theatre Honour for Jammu and Kashmir for its heroic and valorous performance in the 1971 war.
The Pakistani troops supported by heavy armour had attacked 5 Assam positions in 1971.
“However, due to resolute leadership and dauntless courage of the officers and men of this unit, the attack was stemmed and as such the capture of Akhnoor Bridge, the final objective of this offensive and India’s jugular vein to J&K, was prevented.”
“This victory came at a price of five officers and 19 men, who laid down their lives to defend the motherland.”
It is the only infantry battalion to be awarded a Battle Honour in this sector during the 1971 war.
Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen P.K Puri (Retd), who fought this war with the battalion in the capacity of a company commander, extolled upon the country men to “Honour and salute the sacrifice of Indian Army”.
Commemorating its platinum jubilee celebrations and 75 years of dedicated service to the nation, the regiment is conducting two motorcycle expeditions on Sunday, one from the general area of the Mandiala (Akhnoor) and the other one from Fazilka (Punjab).
Both the expedition will terminate in Shimla where its First Battalion is presently stationed. Enroute, the expedition will meet the Ex-servicemen as also visit various schools and give motivating talk to the children to join the Army.