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Saturday, Sep 08, 2007
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‘Yatra’ to honour Rezangla heroes

Sandeep Dikshit

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

Remembering supreme sacrifice: Kin of Rezangla martyrs pay homage prior to the flagging off of the “Rezangla Shaurya Kalash Yatra” in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: A journey to honour 114 soldiers of a battalion, who laid down their lives in the 1962 war against China, was flagged off here on Friday.

The “Rezangla Shaurya Kalash Yatra,” which symbolises the martyrdom of the soldiers of ‘C’ Company of 13th Battalion of Kumaon Regiment in the icy heights of the Himalayas, started from Amar Jawan Jyoti Memorial at India Gate. It has an urn containing the soil of the Rezangla (Chushul) battlefield.

In the first leg, the “yatra” will pass through villages of Haryana where relatives of many of the martyrs reside.

Army Chief designate Lt. Gen Deepak Kapoor flagged off the “Yatra” and felicitated the wives of four Vir Chakra awardees and four survivors (all Sena Medal awardees).

He told them that the nation gratefully acknowledged the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs.

The ‘C’ Company fought bravely under the leadership of Maj. Shaitan Singh Bhatti, Param Vir Chakra (highest honour for bravery on the battlefield) at Rezangla Post on November 18, 1962.

One hundred and fourteen soldiers of a total of 124 sacrificed their lives in the operation.

Out of these, 60 were from Haryana, 25 each from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

The valiant act of the unit earned them one Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous), eight Vir Chakras (six posthumous) and four Sena Medals.

Company renamed

To honour to their valour, the ‘C’ Company was renamed the Rezangla company and the battalion was awarded the Rezangla battle honour.

The four survivors — Havildar (then Sepoy) Nihal Singh, Honorary Captain (then Havildar) Phool Singh, Honorary Captain (then Sepoy) Asa Ram and Honorary Captain Ram Chander (then sepoy and radio operator of the company) — recounted the bravery of the jawans during the battle.

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