Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 20: The 15th ‘Operation Vijay Divas’, victory over Pakistani intruders in Kargil, would be celebrated by organising a two-day function at Drass on July 25-26.
A Defence spokesperson said that the Army is preparing extensively to honour the martyrs of the Kargil War of 1999 in a series of solemn ceremonies this year. The primary event, which will mark the 15th anniversary of the victory, is scheduled to be held at War Memorial, Drass on July 25 and 26. It will be attended by a large number of dignitaries of the Army and civil administration as well as gallantry award winners of the conflict and families of many martyrs.
The conflict was fought in the summer of 1999 to evict Pakistani regular forces who had intruded and occupied winter vacated posts on the Indian side of the Line of Control, violating an unwritten agreement. The operation cost the Indian Army hundreds of young lives, in whose memory the commemorative function is held every year.
He said this year on July 25, the Army bands will present a breathtaking band display, followed by a solemn memorial service. On July 26, top officers of the Army, martyrs’ families, war heroes, political representatives and the officers from civil administration will participate in the commemorative wreath laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial located at the base of the Tololing feature, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the operation.
The event is a purposeful attempt by the Army every year to remember its martyrs and solemnly honour their memories and to remind the Nation of the constant sacrifices the men and women in uniform make for the citizens of the country.
Giving brief account the spokesman said the Khalubar Ridge which lies in the forbidding Yaldor sub-sector North of the Indus River, its location dominates all approaches towards the LoC. In 1999, the enemy occupied this feature, with their administrative base at Muntho Dhalo towards the North West of the ridge. Khalubar was the hub of enemy defences and its capture by us would cut off its supply lines. Accordingly, plans were made to launch attacks from the East of the feature on to it at several points.
In the North, the Ladakh Scouts were tasked to capture Point 5000, Stangba and Padma Go. In the Centre, 22 GRENADIERS was given the task of establishing lodgements astride Point 5287, to be enlarged later by 1/11 Gorkha Rifles (GR). In the South, 12 JAK LI was tasked to capture Point 4812. The attacks were to commence on June 29-30, 1999. On the night of June 30, 22 GRENADIERS launched their attack and managed to secure lodgements on Point 5287; however, they were dislodged after a fierce enemy counterattack with heavy casualties. At this time, 1/11 GR inducted to reinforce the attacking troops. The inducting troops faced heavy firing from area bunkers. Lieutenant, Manoj Kumar Pandey gallantly charged at the enemy, destroying bunkers till he was felled with a MMG bullet, making the supreme sacrifice. The Commanding Officer, Colonel Lalit Rai found himself in the open in the morning of July 4. Realising that the enemy was building up for a counterattack, he called for artillery fire on his own position, which killed many enemy soldiers and broke the back of the counter attack.
After a series of artillery fire assaults and attacks by the Gorkhas flashing their Khukris, Pakistani soldiers of the 8 Northern Light Infantry (NLI) thought it better to withdraw than die. By July 6, Khalubar had been cleared of all enemy. A large number of Pakistani bodies were found among the boulders and bunkers. Other battles soon cleared the remaining features on the ridgeline of all enemies in a few days’ time. Victory had been gained, but the cost had been high.
Lt Manoj Pandey from 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, for his most conspicuous courage and devotion to achieving his task well beyond his call of duty, his tenacious fighting spirit and leadership qualities of an exceptionally high order, was posthumously awarded the Param Veer Chakra, the Nation’s highest gallantry award.
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