BaatcheetAugust 2017 No. 08/2017 www.indianarmy.gov.in 71ST INDEPENDENCE DAY wAr mEmorIAlS (A series covering War Memorials across the country to remember our soldiers who sacrifi ced their lives in the line of duty) TAWANG WAR MEMORIAL The War Memorial is a 40-feet high memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the 1962 Sino-Indian confl ict. This memorial, locally referred as the ‘Namgyal Chortan’ has names of 2420 soldiers etched in gold on 32 black granite plaques. DARJEELING WAR MEMORIAL The War Memorial has been created to honour the Gorkha soldiers of Darjeeling area who sacrifi ced their lives in various operations and wars post India's Independence. The War Memorial was inaugurated on 18th April 1995. WALONG WAR MEMORIAL The War Memorial commemorates the fi erce Battle of Walong in 1962 where the outnumbered Indian Army’s 11 Infantry Brigade blocked the thrust of the invading Chinese. It is located at Walong in Arunachal Pradesh. 2 BaatcheetBaatcheet January August 2017 Baatcheet August 2017 From the Editor’s Desk In this Issue….. t was 15 August 1947 when India fi nally I won its freedom from the British rule. Since then India has transformed into a modern nation and leading its way to become a developed country in a short span of 70 years. The Indian Army stands well committed to the Nation in both peace and war. Our saga of courage, sacrifi ce and victory have done the Nation proud. On this occasion of 71st Independence Day we pay homage to all the soldiers who sacrifi ced their lives for the motherland and the people of India. The COAS visited Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan in Aug 2017 where he interacted with offi cials of WAR MEMORIAL 2 Ministry of Defence & Military Commanders and CHIEF’S PAGE 4 discussed the issues of strategic concern. IN FOCUS 5 The Indian Army continues to excel in the fi eld of adventure and has conducted many successful SNIPPETS 6-7 mountaineering expeditions and has achieved 71st INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS 8-9 applauds at the national & international level which has been covered on Sports and Adventure GALLANTRY AWARDS 10-11 page. INDEPENDENCE DAY 2017 We request our readers to send good quality NORTH EAST AND J&K DIARY 12 high resolution photographs along with a write SPORTS & ADVENTURE 13 up of 40 - 70 words before the 25th of every month. Inputs sent on email/AWAN will be preferred. RIFLEMAN SANJAY KUMAR, PVC 14-15 NEWS YOU CAN USE 16 CONTACT FOR QUERIES Publisher : Additional Directorate General, Public Information, IHQ of MOD (Army) Offi ce : B-30, South Block, New Delhi - 110011 Tele : Off - 23018867, 33332 Indian Army Website : www.//indianarmy.nic.in or www.indianarmy.gov.in Facebook : www.facebook.com/indianarmy.adgpi Twitter : www.twitter.com/adgpi GSO1 (Pub) Editor Baatcheet : [email protected] E-mail ADG PI : [email protected] ddgPI : [email protected] Dir (IO) : [email protected] Dir Media : [email protected] Social Media : [email protected] Webmaster IA : [email protected] Contact No : 011-23018867, 33332 (ASCON) Indian Army provided humanitarian assistance during fl oods to the people of Bihar & Uttar Pradesh. Indian Army An Instrument of National Power Baatcheet August 2017 3 CHIEF’S PAGE Gen Bipin Rawat ,COAS presenting a memento to the Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces, Kazakhstan during his visit to Kazakhstan from 01-03 Aug 2017. Gen Bipin Rawat, COAS visited Turkmenistan from 04-05 Aug 2017. During his visit, he interacted with military commanders of Turkmenistan and discussed the bilateral issues. Gen Bipin Rawat, COAS interacting with NDC delegation from Bangladesh Army on 14 August 2017 4 Baatcheet August 2017 In FoCuS PRESIDENT’S COLOURS PRESENTED TO LADAKH SCOUTS REGIMENT The Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented The President’s Colours to Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre and all fi ve battalions of the Regiment on 21 Aug 2017 at Leh. Ladakh Scouts was raised as Nubra Guards in 1948, amalgamated into the Indian Army as regular troops in 1963 and restructured as an Infantry Regiment in the year 2000 post Operation Vijay. The Ladakh Scouts have carved a niche for themselves in the annals of history of the Indian Army. LT GEN ABHAY KRISHNA TAKES OVER AS EASTERN ARMY COMMANDER Lt Gen Abhay Krishna took over as the GOC - in - C, Eastern Command on 01 Aug 17. The General Offi cer commanded Rashtriya Rifl es Battalion in the Kashmir valley. He has served two tenures as UN observer, in Mozambique & Rwanda and another in Burundi. He has served four tenures along the Line of Actual Control on the Northern Borders. He commanded an Infantry Battalion in Sikkim and was responsible for planning operations as BGS 3 Corps in the North East Sector and later commanded an Infantry Division and a Corps in the same area. After a stint in the South Western Command, he now assumes the responsibility of the Eastern Theatre. LT GEN CHERISH MATHSON TAKES OVER AS SOUTH WESTERN ARMY COMMANDER Lt Gen Cherish Mathson took over as the GOC-in-C, South Western Command in Aug 2017. He was commissioned into The Garhwal Rifl es in June 1980. He is a graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has attended prestigious National Defence College Course at New Delhi and in the Republic of South Africa. He has commanded his Battalion on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, during Operation Parakram, commanded an Infantry Division in Southern Theatre and Strike Corps as part of the Southern Command. The General Offi cer has staff experience at all levels including National Security Council Secretariat and in the Defence Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence. Baatcheet August 2017 5 SnIPPEtS Indian Army rescued more than 2000 people and distributed more than 44000 packets of food during rescue and relief operation in the fl ood affected areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. A runway at airport located in Malakal, South Sudan which remained non functional due to ongoing civil war in Sudan has been restored by Indian Military Engineers under UNMISS on 05 August 2017. On the occasion of International Organ Donation Day, Command Hospital Chandimandir organised Organ Donation Awareness Program on 24 Aug 2017 which was attended by 350 troops and families. Two weeks long military attachment training of 20 Senior Wing girl cadets of various Colleges in Jammu was organised under the aegis of Tiger Division in Jul 2017. 6 Baatcheet August 2017 SnIPPEtS Attestation parade of The Jammu and Kashmir Rifl es Regimental Centre was carried out in Aug 2017. 331 recruits passed out to become soldiers. The parade was reviewed by Lt Gen Y K Joshi, Director General of Infantry. To commemorate 70 years of Independence a 75 feet tall fl ag mast with the Tricolour was installed in courtyard of the war memorial in Gopalpur Mililtary Station on 15 Aug A Capacity Building Tour to DAV Agricultural 2017. Science University, Jalandhar was organised for the 25 farmers of District Kupwara under the aegis of Hajipir Brigade from 01-08 Aug 2017. Ex Servicemen Rally was conducted in North Lakhimpur on 20 Aug 2017 by the Spearhead Division. During the rally, a Medical Camp, Documentation Cell & PCDA Cell was established to rectify any documentation & pension claims/ grievances pertaining to Ex Servicemen, Veer Naris, War Widows and their families. Baatcheet August 2017 7 71st INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS On 15 August 2017 the Indian Army celebrated 71st Independence Day. To commemorate the occasion a guard of honour was presented to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India by the Tri Services at the Red Fort. The Indian Army every year on the Guard of Honour being presented by Tri Services to occasion of Independence Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 71st Independence Day Day conducts display of it’s weapon systems across all major cantonments. This year Indian Army showcased it’s transformation into SHIMLA the modern Army after 70 years of Independence. The weapons’ display inspired children for joining the profession of arms. JAIPUR MIZORAM 8 Baatcheet August 2017 71st INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS ZIRAKPUR HAYULIANG DELHI KUPWARA Guard of Honour being presented by Tri Services to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 71st Independence Day BHATINDA JALANDHAR GUREZ JAMMU Baatcheet August 2017 9 GAllAntry AwArdS IndEPEndEnCE dAy 2017 KIRTI CHAKRA 1. IC-73531A MAJ PREETAM SINGH KUNWAR, 4 GARH RIF 2. SS-43887Y MAJ DAVID MANLUN, NAGA, 164 INF BN (TA) H&H NAGA (POSTHUMOUS) 3. 5047602N HAV GIRIS GURUNG, 4/1 GR (POSTHUMOUS) SHAURYA CHAKRA 1. IC-71967M MAJ SATISH DAHIYA, ASC, 30 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 2. SS-42717H MAJ GOSAVI KUNAL MUNNAGIR, ARTY, 166 MED REGT (POSTHUMOUS) 3. JC-580725N SUB SHABIR AHMED, 17 JAK RIF 4. JC-414170P NB SUB SURENDRA SINGH, 4 PARA (SF) 5. 4188533W NK CHANDRA SINGH, KUMAON SCOUTS, 13 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 6. 4578033Y L/NK RAGHUBEER SINGH, MAHAR, 1 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 7. 5250886X L/NK DEEPAK ALE, 1/3 GR 8. 13767992A L/NK KASHMIR SINGH, 17 JAK RIF 9. 15687392W L/NK BHANDORIYA GOPALSINH MUNIMSINH, SIGS, 1 RR (POSTHUMOUS) 10. 2616368W SEP VENKATARAO ABOTULA, 8 MADRAS 11. 2708834A SEP ARIF KHAN, GRENADIERS, 55 RR 12. 15225911X GNR RISHI KUMAR RAY, ARTY, 155 FD REGT 13. PID-036364 CONST MANZOOR AHMAD NAIK, J&K POLICE, 42 RR (POSTHUMOUS) SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) 1. IC-61402N COL SAMARJIT RAY, 4 GARH RIF 2. IC-65751P LT COL ARUNKUMAR M, 21 SIKH REGT 3. IC-64544W MAJ AMIT CHAMOLI, KUMAON, 50 RR 4. IC-66326W MAJ BHRAGU RAJ JANI, GARH RIF, 14 RR 5.