63rd Kargil Youm-e-Fateh celebrated

•  Zojjila Tunnel has a Strategical Importance : GOC 14 Crops Lt Gen Ravi Dastane 
  

  Anayat Ali

KARGIL: The Kargil Victory Day (Kargil Yom-e-Fateh) was celebrated by the 8 Mountain Division of the Indian Army, on the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of Kargil by Indian Army from Pakistani raiders. On this occasion the GOC 14 Crops Lt General Ravi Dastane and Executive Councilor LAHDC Kargil Haji Amir was the Chief Guest who along with other officers and Civil Dignitaries started the Ceremony by lying wreath at the Kargil War Memorial. 

An Army mela was also organized by the 121 Infantry Brigade Kargil at Khree Sultan Choo Stadium Biamathang Kargil in which weapons exhibition, cultural programmes by school children and folk artists of Kargil, Multi specialty medical Camp, and various games and eatable stalls were the main exhibition.

While interacting with our correspondent , the GOC said that Indian Army is vigilant at every post along Ladakh and rejected the propaganda of Chinese incursion at various places along ALC in Ladakh. He further added that Chinese Army is present in Skardu and Adjoining area and the Indian army are closely monitoring their activities.

Answering A question regarding Importance of Zojjila Tunnel from Army Point of View, Lt Gen Dastane said that Zojjila tunnel and many other routes connecting Kargil from rest of the Country have a great importance strategically. The Srinagar Kargil Leh road is a great success and a result of the brilliance of Local Engineers and Labours as the Mountains and rocks in Ladakh are very difficult. The GOC said that the success all these wars won by the Indian Army is the result of coordination and contribution of the civil society of Kargil which the Indian Army didn’t forgets.

Later the GOC interacted with the people of Kargil at Khree Sultan Choo Stadium Biamathang Kargil, where he said that the main importance of celebrating this day is to make aware the young generation whether army or civil about the history and the struggle made by our War Heroes and Martyrs for wining all these important wars. He appealed the young boys and girls of Kargil to join Indian Army   and to serve the nation. Lt General Dastane said that he has talked with the Chief Minister for opening a Sainik School in Kargil so that children also excel in life.

Talking on this occasion the Acting CEC and Executive Councilor LAHDC Kargil Haji Amir said that the people of Kargil are always there at the service of Nation standing shoulder to shoulder with the our Jawans. He congratulated and thanked the Indian army for remembering our Martayes and War heroes.

On the 10th of May 1948, the Pakistani raiders had captured Kargil town, by using the River side of Shingo River and occupied the heights surrounding Kargil town. Keeping in view the strategic importance of Kargil, the gallant troops of 1/5 Royal Gorkha Rifles, part of 77 Para Bde, reached within 6 km of Kargil, at Kharul, the Company Led by Capt AK Kochar and Subedar Harka Bhadur, swam across the Icy Cold water of Shingo River and forced the Enemy to withdraw towards Moral in the north across present LOC and captured the Kharul Bridge, which was renamed as Harkha Bhadur Bridge. Later the Gorkhas Linked up with the Leh Brigade on 24th of November 1948 and Kargil was secured.