Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Nov 22: Rich tributes were paid to the senior Army and Indian Air Force officers at a wreath laying ceremony held at General’s Memorial by Krishna Ghati Brigade today.
Army paid homage to the Generals and others who were killed in a helicopter crash on November 22, 1963. General Officer Commanding (GOC) Ace of Spades Division, Maj Gen V P Singh was the chief guest. Besides him, Brig S Thakran of 10 Brigade Col Vikram Singh CO of 3 Grenadiers, DC Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan and SP Shamsheer Hussain laid the wreath at the memorial.
It may be recalled that late Lt Gen Daulat Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh GOC 15 Corps, Maj Gen KND Nanavatti GOC 25th Infantry Division, Air Vice Marshal E M Pinto, Air Officer Commanding of Western Air Command, Brig S R Oberoi, Commander of 93 Infantary Brigade and Flight Lieutenant S S Sodi were killed in a helicopter crash on Nov 22, 1963.
This memorial was constructed by Krishna Ghati brigade to pay homage to the departed senior commanders. After the construction, the first commemoration ceremony was held on Nov 28, 1980. Since then this ceremony is held every year to coincide with the celebrations of the Poonch link up day.
The GOC after wreath laying ceremony also planted a sapling of silver Oak tree at the site. The ex-servicemen of Poonch and Jhallas area also paid homage to the departed officers. DC, SP and other civil dignitaries also paid their homage at the memorial.
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