Assam: Rich tributes paid to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Divas

Guwahati: Rich floral tributes were paid to martyrs on the occasion of 22nd Kargil Vijay Divas at the war memorial on the northern bank of Dighalipukhuri in the city, remembering their supreme sacrifices to protect and recapture the Indian territories from the Pakistan backed intruders.

On 26 July 1999, the Indian forces announced that all intruders were driven out from the Kargil and other sectors of Jammu & Kashmir. However the challenging mission snatched away the precious lives of 674 soldiers including three brave hearts from Assam namely captain Jintu Gogoi with Uddhav Das and Nanda Chand Sinha.

Speaking on the occasion, State chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated the government commitments for jowans and also the ex-servicemen. Sarma informed that four more sainik schools are coming up in the State very soon. He also inaugurated a museum built within the premises of war memorial.

In presence of veteran lieutenant general PK Bharali (retired), GoC 51 sub-area major general Vikas Saini, deputy GoC 21 mountain division TPS Consel, air officer commanding 19 wing Atul Saggar, State sainik welfare director ND Joshi with other dignitaries, Sarma also interacted with the parents of martyr captain Jintu (TR Gogoi and Dulu Gogoi).

Later Sarma left for Dima Hasao (formerly NC hills) district to lay the foundation stone of a bamboo industrial park at Manderdisa locality. With an aim to create vast employment opportunities for local youths, the government decided to start the project to be implemented with rupees 50 crore from the DoNER ministry.

Speaking in a low-key program held to mark the beginning, Sarma commented that once completed the project would usher in a new era in the economy of northeast India. The bamboo produced in the district were earlier mostly exported to paper mills, but now those would be used for production of tiles, incense sticks etc to bring economic benefits to locals, he added.

In presence of State minister Pijush Hazarika, NC hills autonomous council chief Debolal Gorlosa, Karbi Anglong autonomous council chief Tuliram Ronghang, legislator Nandita Gorlosa with many other dignitaries, Sarma on his way to Haflong also paid tributes at the statue of great Dimasa hero Dimalik Kemprai. He also paid floral tribute at the statue of freedom fighter Padma Bhushan RaniGaidinliu.