Kargil Vijay Diwas in Maghalaya

Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed at Shillong and Umroi Cantonments. The celebrations began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorials. Wreaths at Shillong were placed by Air Marshal K N Nair, AOC-in-C, HQrs Eastern Air Command, Maj Gen VK Dua, GOC HQ 101 Area, Petty Officer Madan Singh, Lt Col (Retd) F W Mylliemngap and by Lt Col (Retd) V Bajpai. As the wreaths were being placed, an IAF Chetak helicopter showered flower petals from the air as a mark of respect. The officers and jawans of the Armed Forces presented arms salute at the memorial to the accompanying sound of the Last Post and Rouse. The parents and other family members of late Capt K Clifford Nongrum, Capt Jintu Gogoi and Gunner Udhab Das were also present at the ceremony.

A wreath was also placed at the 24 Mountain Brigade War Memorial at Umroi Cantonment by Col N C Bhatt, the officiating Commander in a solemn  ceremony which was attended by soldiers and ex-servicemen from villages around Umroi. Later in the evening, people of Meghalaya and the Armed Forces personnel gathered at the Garrison Ground, Shillong to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, where rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of the Kargil operations. The parents and next of kin of the martyrs were honoured, by the chief guest,
Mr EK Mawlong, Chief Minister, Meghalaya and Air Marshal KN Nair, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command. The highlight of the evening besides other ceremonies, was a special light-and-sound show.

-Sqn Ldr Tarun K Singha

Army Battles fire at Kalimpong

A major fire broke out at Kalimpong Bazar, as one petrol tanker was preparing to unload petrol at a petrol pump. Twelve well stocked shops were gutted. Mr Surendra Gupta, SDO, requested officiating Station Commander, Kalimpong, Col VG Deshmukh for Army’s help. One column comprising one officer, 10 JCOs and 70 ORs from 21 Rajput located at Kalimpong under Maj Anil Bakshi, officiating Commanding Officer reached the site where they were joined by three fire tenders. Besides using Army fire fighting methods, Maj Anil Bakshi, officiating Commanding Officer, Column Commander Maj Sanjeev Tandon and Station Staff Officer Lt Col R Allay organised the civilian volunteers, Home Guards and civil defence personnel to control the fire from spreading further. One medical team from Military Hospital was also ready to render help.

- Lt Col BBG Baruah

A Trip to Kargil

A team of seven girl cadets of National Cadet Corps from the seven sister states of the North-East went for a 12 days’ trip to Kargil on the first anniversary of the conflict. The team comprised Cadets Meely Chetri from Mizoram, Nokhono Sangatam from Nagaland, Kingam Jini from Arunachal Pradesh, Wandalin Diamai from Meghalaya, K Neelam Devi from Manipur, M Mahanta from Assam and Runa Deb Burman from Tripura.

The team had gone by rail to Chandigarh. From there they had been flown by an IAF aircraft to Leh and from there they drove to Kargil. They visited the important posts where conflict took place. They also visited Drass and Srinagar. They also met the Chief of Army Staff, Gen VP Malik.

In Kargil, the cadets interacted with soldiers. They were received by the soldiers inspite of the freezing condition there.

Lt Gen TS Shergill, General Officer Commanding, 3 Corps visited Manipur after taking over command of 3 Corps.

Lt Gen TS Shergill was briefed on operational and administrative matters by officers of the Army and Assam Rifles.

Earlier, GOC 3 Corps was received at Ukhrul by Maj Gen Arvind Sharma, General Officer Commanding 57 Mountain Division.

The Corps Commander was briefed by Brig JS Sandhu, Commander 10 Sector, Assam Rifles at Ukhrul, Brig Mukesh Sabharwal, Commander 9 Sector, Assam Rifles, at Kangla Fort, Imphal and Brig ID Singh, Commander 59 Mountain Brigade at Leimakhong.

The GOC also paid a courtesy call on Governor of Manipur, Mr. Ved Marwah at Raj Bhawan. He also met Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of Manipur.

Ten girls and 33 boys completed the millennium trekking expedition in West Kamang District and returned to Guwahati. They trekked over 80 km of mountainous terrain.

At Narangi, Brig KP Nanjappa welcomed them and congratulated them on their successful completion of the difficult trek.

To inculcate the spirit of adventure, mental robustness and friendship among the students of various schools of Guwahati, HQ 4 Corps had organised trekking expedition in West Kamang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Besides trekking, the team also visited various tourist spots, places of interest, war memorial at Ny Kmaidong and Gompas. They studied the flora and fauna of the area. They had an opportunity to witness and experience the daily life in Army units.