Army dedicates landmarks in city to war heroes

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 6

In a special function held at Jalandhar Cantonment today, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, Lt-Gen JS Cheema, dedicated various landmarks to war heroes and sportspersons. The function was attended by veterans of Jalandhar city, as well as from the nearby places.

The prominent gate of Jalandhar Cantt, near Rama Mandi Chowk, has been named as ‘Harbaksh Dwar’. It was inaugurated by Lt- Gen MS Bhullar (retd), former Colonel of the Sikh Regiment. It was Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh, who led the Western Command to victory in the 1965 Indo-Pak war thereby thwarting Pakistan’s designs to annex Kashmir.

The road leading from ‘Harbaksh Dwar’ has been named as ‘Rajindar Singh Sparrow Road’, to honour the legendary Maj-Gen RS Sparrow, MVC and Bar. The road was inaugurated by his sons Lt-Gen MS Shergill and TS Shergill.

Lt-Col RS Sparrow, then Commanding 7 CAV, was awarded MVC in 1947-48 for taking tanks upto Zojilla Pass and pushing back Pak infiltrators. In the 1965 war Maj Gen RS Sparrow, then GOC 1 Armed Division, took the battle into the Pak territory in the Shakargarh Bulge and was awarded MVC and Bar. His sons then young Captain and Lieutenant also fought the war in Khemkaran sector.

Other roads, which were named after veterans include, Lt-Gen JS Dhillon and Vikram Batra roads. Lt-Gen Dhillon was the Corps Commander of Vajra Corps in 1965 and Capt Vikram Batra, PVC, evicted Pakistani soldiers from Kargil heights in the 1999 conflict.

The road leading to Hari Pal Kaushik Sports Complex has been named as ‘Dhyan Chand road’ after the legendary hockey wizard Maj Dhyan Chand. It was inaugurated by Col Balbir Singh Kular (retd), renowned hockey player and a native of Jalandhar.

One of the living accommodations of JCOs/ORs has been named as ‘Sanjay Vihar’ after Rfn Sanjay Kumar, who was awarded the PVC in Kargil operations.

The sports complex of Vajra Officers Institute has been christened as ‘Hari Pal Kaushik Sports Complex’. The complex was dedicated by none other than the legendary 82-year-old Lt-Col Hari Pal Kaushik (retd), a Veer Chakra recipient.

Hockey players, mainly from the Sikh Regiment, who were present on the occasion, include Lt-Gen MS Bhullar (retd), Major Gen Trilochan Singh (retd), Brig HJS Chimni (retd), Brig IS Gakhal (retd), Col RS Cheema (retd) and Col Balbir Singh Kular (retd).

Salinder Kaur wife of Sub Maj Makhan Singh, who won a gold and silver in athletics at Jakarta Asian Games in 1962 and had beaten legendary Milkha Singh in 1962 National Games in Kolkata, was presented a cheque of Rs 1,00,000 by the Vajra AWWA zonal president Anupvir Kaur.

Hav Virender Singh of 5011 ASC Bn and Sep Ramudri Someswara Rao of 11 Madras Regiment were awarded cash prize of Rs 50,000 each by GOC, Vajra Corps. Hav Virendra Singh has qualified for Rio Paralympics Games to be held in Brazil. He will participate in javelin and short put events. Sep Ramudri Someswara Rao is a blade runner and has represented Services at the national level para-athletic championship and won gold in 100 mtr.