STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: The 69th Infantry Day was observed at War Memorial Leh on Thursday with a solemn wreath laying ceremony by Lt Gen P.J.S Pannu GOC, 14 Corps (Fire & Fury Corps) to the martyrs in presence of several veer Naris, decorated war veterans and serving soldiers of the Fire & Fury Corps.
Lt Gen Pannu, who is the senior most infantry officer in Ladakh, complimented all Infantry men with special reference to Ladakh Scouts, which he called the ‘Sons of the Soil’, for their devotion to duty and indomitable spirit while serving under highly difficult conditions. He paid glorious tributes to Col Chewang Rinchen, MVC and Bar for his brave services to the country. To honour and commemorate his sacrifice, the GOC felicitated Dr Phunchok Angmo, daughter of late Col Chewang Rinchen along with other gallantry award winners and veer Naris. GOC said that Col Chewang Rinchen was the youngest to receive MVC.
A martial band display added on to the fervour of the moment, filling the air with an awe inspiring sense of nationalism on this special occasion of Infantry Day. The event ended with a warm farewell to the war veterans and Veer Naris who expressed their gratitude towards the Fire and Fury Corps.
Meanwhile, Infantry Day was celebrated in a most traditional and solemn manner at Nagrota Garrison.
The day was marked by laying of wreath by Lieutenant General A.K Sharma, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps at the Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal and remembering the martyrs. This was followed by special Sainik Sammelan where GOC interacted with troops.
Indian Army also celebrated its 69th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs on this occasion by Chinar Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar and in other parts of Kashmir. Paying homage to the sacrifice of valiant soldiers, Lt Gen Satish Dua, Chinar Corps Commander said that real tribute to these martyrs would be to remain committed to the cause for which they had laid down their lives.
GOC of Baramulla Division, Maj Gen J.S Nain joined the people in offering floral tributes at the statue of ‘Son of the Soil’, late Mohammad Maqbool Sherwani whose sacrifice is a source of inspiration for all. Wreaths were also laid at the Sikh War Memorial in Baramulla.
To honour the supreme sacrifice of the infantry in fighting the Pakistani raiders in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, the Indian Army celebrated its 69th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity and gaiety all across the Northern Command.
The Army Commander Northern Command, Lieute-nant General D S Hooda, laid wreath on the Dhruva Shahid Smarak in Udhampur, in remembrance and honour of all those members of the Infantry fraternity.
