On Kargil anniv, Army holds treks to Tiger Hill, Batra Top

Amit Khajuria

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 7

To mark the 20th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil war, the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and 18 Grenadiers organised commemorative treks to Batra Top and Tiger Hill on Sunday.

The objective of the treks was to celebrate the triumph of the battalions over the enemy and also to pay homage to the brave soldiers who had laid down their lives in the service of the motherland.

The 13 J&K Rifles was awarded the battle honour ‘Mushkoh & Drass’ and theatre honour ‘Kargil’ and there were gallantry awards, including two Param Vir Chakras and three Vir Chakras.

The trekking team of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Battalion was flagged off by the Commander, Drass Brigade, on Saturday. The team which included one Junior Commissioned Officer and 10 other ranks moved from Drass and set forth on their trek across the treacherous, harsh mountainous terrain of the Drass sector and summited Batra Top on Sunday.

At the summit, the team was received by Lt Gen YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Fire and Fury Corps. The General Officer Commanding was the Commanding Officer of the battalion at the time of the Kargil war. He shared his reminiscences of the war in a candid manner and acknowledged the sacrifices of all soldiers.

The team of 18 Grenadiers moved from Drass on Saturday and summited Tiger Hill on Sunday. The objective of the trek was to evoke the spirit of patriotism and pay homage to the gallant soldiers of the Kargil war. The trekking team consisted of one officer, 15 other ranks and a veteran Junior Commissioned Officer. During the expedition, the team spread the message of “Remember the Fallen”.

The Kargil war is known for determination, bravery, courage and daring mettle of Army troops who took to task the intruders occupying strategic heights in the Indian territory.

Tiger Hill is symbolic to Operation Vijay and stands tall in the Drass sector as an epitome of sacrifice, bravery and heroism of many unsung heroes who laid down their lives in its capture.

During the Kargil war, the harsh terrain and weather conditions did not dampen the spirit of the soldiers nor were they deterred by the enemy.

Troops pay homage to fallen heroes

• The 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and 18 Grenadiers held commemorative treks to Batra Top and Tiger Hill on Sunday
• The objective of the treks was to celebrate the triumph of the battalions over the enemy and also to pay homage to the brave soldiers who had laid down their lives in the service of the motherland