The Army proposes to construct a pillar in the memory of Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers, who died fighting the enemy in Khem Karan sector on September 9, 1965, during the Indo-Pak war and was awarded the Paramvir Chakra posthumously. The pillar will come up at his memorial in Assal Uttar, near Khem Karan in Tarn Taran.

The Golden Arrow Division organised a two-day event on the occasion of 43rd Assal Uttar Day, which included setting up food stalls, medical camp, sports events, a musical evening and canteen services for ex-servicemen in the memory of Hamid.

The celebrations concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony, a guard of honour, sounding the last post and two minutes’ silence at Hamid’s resting place.

Brigadier Vinod Kumar of the Golden Arrow Division said Hamid’s bravado was unparalleled in history, for which he was awarded the highest gallantry award. “Not many people are aware of the glorious history associated with the place, while only a few people know who Abdul Hamid was,” he said.

He added that with this aim in mind, the Army proposes to construct a pillar bearing scenes from the 1965 war and the story of Abdul Hamid. “The scenes would be engraved on metal and the pillar would be placed where it can attract the public,” he said.

On September 8 and 9, 1965, Pakistani forces launched a major offensive led by a regiment of Patton tanks on the location held by 4 Grenadiers. Though under intense artillery shelling and tank fire, Abdul Hamid moved from one firing position to another and pulverised three Patton tanks of the

enemy. He was fatally wounded by an enemy shell while aggressively engaging the fourth tank.

Ironically, the place has failed to interest successive governments and all maintenance of the memorial

has been solely the Army’s

efforts so far.