India remembers Kargil heroes on victory day

The sound of the last post in memory of Kargil heroes on Sunday reverberated from New Delhi to the erstwhile battlezones of Ladkah...

The sound of the last post in memory of Kargil heroes on Sunday reverberated from New Delhi to the erstwhile battlezones of Ladkah,where families of many of the slain soldiers gathered for the first time in 10 years,as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying victory day tributes,also a first for a UPA government.

After the demise of my son it is the only happy day of my life. I am thankful that my son is finally recognised and remembered, said S P Kalia,father of Lt Saurabh Kalia who was among the first casualties of the Kargil conflict.

Kalia is in Drass and so are other proud family members of hundreds of slain soldiers who had an emotional reunion of sorts as they gathered from all over the country at the invitation of the Armed Forces to attend the 10th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

While wreaths were laid at the War Memorial amid a majestic flypast by Mig 21 Bison aircraft and showering of petals by Chetak helicopters,the relatives got an account of the bravery of their loved ones from the personnel of the forces,colleagues and friends.

In New Delhi,a contingent of tri-services guards presented the salute and buglers sounded the last post as Singh laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. A two-minute silence was observed for those killed in the 60-day war.

I join the entire nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in defence of Indian unity and integrity, the PM wrote in the visitors book.

It is the first time that the Prime Minister of the UPA government attended a function commemorating victory in Kargil war fought under the then NDA government.

IAF chopper hit by bullet in Doda,security increased

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DRASS: An IAF helicopter flying over Doda in Jammu and Kashmir was hit by a bullet following which security arrangements have been tightened,a top Air Force official said on Sunday. High security and precautions are being taken while flying in JK, said Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-In-C) Air Marshal J Chouhan. Referring to the incident,Air Marshal Chouhan,however,said that it has not been established that the chopper was shot by militants. The hole which appeared on the tail was that of a bullet. It was flying over Doda, Air Marshal Chouhan said after laying wreaths on the Kargil war memorial here. In Doda sector,security personnel ensured that area is sanitised for safe flying and necessary precautions are taken,he said. PTI