Emotional tributes to heroes of Kargil conflict

Anil Bhatt
Drass/ Kargil (J&K), July 25 (PTI) Tears rolled down
the faces of family members of the fallen soldiers of Kargil
war at the sight of memorials unveiled on Saturday for their
loved ones who helped trounce the Pakistani army 10 years ago
while colleagues and superiors paid emotional tributes to the
heroes.

"Looking at the faces of the brave soldiers, kins of
martyrs and awardees, I wonder what these heroes are made
of?... They are examples of patriotism," former Indian Army
Chief V P Malik, who commanded the force during the Kargil
conflict, said while dedicating a war memorial gallery in
Drass named after Paramvir Chakra awardee Capt Manoj Panday.

Captain Manoj Pandey was involved in recapturing
Khalobar ridgeline, one of the most dominant positions
captured by the Pakistani troops in Kargil sector. He died on
July 3, 1999 in this sector.

"He is my hero as well as the nation's hero. I had
come here to pray at the place where my brother sacrificed his
life. This place is a temple for me," the captain's brother
Manmohan Pandey, who was accompanied by his mother, said.

Kargil, a ghost town during the war, was Saturday
abuzz with stories of valour and courage of Indian soldiers
who took part in 'Operation Vijay' as their famillies
descended here to take part in two-day celebrations to mark
the victory.

"It was a dream for us to visit the holy place and pray
for our son," Neiselie Kenguriise, father of Captain
Neikezhakuo Kenguriise who sacrificed his life when he led a
platoon to re-capture Tololing, said.

As they took a glimpse of Tololing ridgeline, tears
welled in the eyes of Neiselie, his wife Dinuo and daughter.

Praising his junior Captain Vikram Batra for his
bravery in the battle front in Drass sector where he laid down
his life, Colonel Gurpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 13
Jammu and Kashmir (JAK) rifles, said his unit won many awards.

"Our unit 13 JAK rifles achieved the title of brave
among the bravest as it won two PVCs in Kargil battle", Col
Singh, who was then a Major, said.

Captain Batra and Lance Naik Sanjay Kumar had won PVCs
for their gallantry and both belonged to 13 JAK rifles.

As many as 533 jawans and army officers laid down
their lives while re-capturing 13 hill points from Pakistani
troops and 86 of them got PVCs, MVCs and VCs for the
Kargil war.

During the two-day "Operation Vijay" celebrations, all
re-captured heights would be lit up. Photo exhibition, beating
retreat and felicitation of war awardees will be the other
highlights of the programme to be held in Drass and Kargil
areas of the Ladakh region.

"It is memorable event. I would say it is an honour for
me to be part of this event here," Malik said as he
inaugurated the Vijay Dashmi memorial in Drass, which has been
thronged by 200 families of martyrs and 86 chakra awardee.

"During the celebrations, 16 events will take place in
Drass and Kargil areas," a senior army officer told PTI.

Though India's Defence Minister A K Antony is not
scheduled to take part in the events, Army Chief Deepak Kapoor
will be in Kargil on Sunday. PTI AB
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