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.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: Three AFCON labourers were injured when a rashly driven bus hit them in Panjgrian area on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this afternoon.
As per police sources, a bus bearing registration number JK02P-0355, which was on its way to Jammu from Katra hit three AFCON labourers at Panjgrian area, falling under the jurisdiction of Nagrota police station. The accident took place due to negligent driving by the driver.
On getting information, police team from Nagrota police station led by SHO Parvez Sajjad rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where they were undergoing treatment, when reports last came in.
The injured have been identified as Lakshmikant Marmo, son of Bawa Marmo, Anil Hamran, son of Harish Chand Hamram and Vasudev Pandey, son of Shriram Panday, all residents of West Bengal.
A case under FIR number 194/14 under Section 279 and 337 of RPC has been registered at Nagrota police station and manhunt has been launched to nab the driver, who managed to escape from the spot leaving behind the vehicle.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: MLA Devsar and Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Sartaj Madni today said that many developmental works were taken up in Kilm and Supat Tangpora areas of his constituency during his tenure.
In a statement issued here today, he said a Degree College was established at Kilm which was a dream of the people of the area. Besides, 10 bedded Primary Health Centre was also set up in the area having all facilities including services of a dentist, physician, lady doctor etc.
He said Kilm was given the status of a model village and all lanes and drains in the village were constructed by him. Besides it was upgraded to a Niabat by his hard efforts.
The MLA, while highlighting the other achievements during his tenure said five primary Schools were opened in Kilm and  out of them four were upgraded as Middle schools, new building was constructed for Higher Secondary school at Kilm, four new transformers, wires and poles were laid in the villages to better the power supply. The money for the same was provided from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF), he added.
He said all graveyards were fenced in Kilm and 2.75 km long  pacca road was constructed from Kilm to Devsar reducing the distance. Earlier the people had to cover a distance of 8 kms, he added.
Mr Madni said more area was added to Jama Masjid Kilm and over 30 bath rooms alone were constructed in the area. The money for the same was given from his CDF. A Receiving Station is also under construction in Kilm, he added.
He said in Sopat Tangpora area there were only 2 transformers in 2002 when he was elected as MLA and now there are eight transformers as six more transformers were installed by him to cater to the needs of the people.
He said in Sopat –Tangpora area the main occupation of the people is fruit business and they are dependent on orchards. They were facing problem of irrigation water to orchards and a cane of water was purchased by people for Rs 20. Likewise Rs 20 were being paid as carriage charges for transportation of one box of fruit from the orchard to roadside, he added.
He said to overcome this problem Sopat -Syed Salleh road was constructed under PMGSY by him at a cost of Rs one crore. Besides, new three primary schools were established in the area and out of them two were upgraded as middle schools.
In Sopat Tangpora all interior roads were constructed by him and graveyards fenced. Besides, Rs 20 lakh were sanctioned by him for providing a generator for water supply scheme to Supat. Moreover one water supply scheme from river Vishaw was constructed for the area and all interior roads in Tengpora were also constructed.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 20: Natrang today introduced 52 young actors on stage through a new Children’s play ‘Party to Banti Hai’ based on World classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, here at the Auditorium of Government College for Women, Parade.
The play was presented with the support of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and has been adapted and directed by Sumeet Sharma.
Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was the chief guest at the occasion who appreciated Natrang’s endeavor in making Children Theatre vibrant in Jammu.
Earlier, Natrang Director, Balwant Thakur while giving detailed introduction of Natrang’s initiative of holding children camps in Jammu, described theatre as one of the most effective medium of human development.
The performance of the play ‘Party to Banti Hai’ marked the conclusion of a 40-day Children Theatre Camp organized by Natrang to provide a wholesome learning and fun ambience to the children.
The cast of the play included Gopi Sharma, Chander Pratap Singh Bhau, Deepshikha Sharma, Sanchita Dubey, Laith August Sharma, Aanandita Sethi, Riya Jandial, Amranta Dhar, Anubhav Sharma, Sahil Singh Anand, Akshat Kohli, Agam Kaur, Divyan Sharma, Aarushi Gupta, Paarmita Sharma, Vedaant Sharma, Yajur Mahajan, Suditi Jamwal, Shambhavi Sharma, Sanket Bhagat, Hitin Jamwal, Eiten Jamwal, Dushyant Dhar, Sparshita Sharma, Kartikay Sharma, Mridul Sharma, Vandita Sharma, Anika Gupta, Haryansh Gupta, Medha Gupta, Anirudh Bhatia, Swaranjali Sambyal, Asma Gul, Baani Kaur, Utkarsh Mahajan, Anav Jain, Soumya Jain, Arshiya Jain, Shivangini Sharma, Gauri Sharma, Mihir Gujral, Mania Gujral, Chirag Anand, Satvika Gandotra, Sanyam Gupta, Shreya Gupta, Kriti Chauhan, Vidit Shirsh, Samyak Shirsh, Uddhav Pratap Vohra, Asmi Anand and Sanya Gupta.
The music was rendered by Kritika Singh Bhau and lights were operated by Neeraj Kant and Ankush Lakhnotra.
The workshop was conducted by Sumeet Sharma and Aarushi Thakur, who were assisted by Mohd Yaseen and Mahikshit Singh.
The stage management was looked after by Ashwani Bali, Rajan Thakyal, Susheel Raina, Pankaj Verma, Varun Sharma, Juhi Singh, Sakshi Prakash and Namrata Chib.