Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: General Officer Commanding (GOC)-in-C, Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra said today that militants have made some attempts to infiltrate inside the Indian territory from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch but added that the troops have foiled all their intrusion attempts.
In a brief chat with media on the sidelines on Nowshera Day commemoration in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district, Lt Gen Chachra said the Army was fully alert on the Line of Control (LoC) and had taken various measures to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to sneak in.
“It is with the help of people.. the people living on the borders..it was with their cooperation that Army has succeeded in thwarting all infiltration attempts by the militants on the LoC in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch,” the Northern Army Command chief said while strongly lauding the people of the border belt for their cooperation to the troops in foiling intrusion bids.
It may be mentioned here that during past few days, the militants had made infiltration attempts on the LoC in Poonch district. However, alert troops have not allowed the attempts by the militants to infiltrate into this side to succeed.
There had been reports that a large number of militants were camping across the LoC with a view to infiltrate.
Addressing a function in connection with Nowshera Day commemoration, Lt Gen Chachra recalled saga of the soldiers and said that their heroic deeds have been the guiding beacon for the Indian Army for generations and continued to inspire us even today.
He assured that the soldiers would continue to live up to the same saga of valour and sacrifice to guard the honour of beloved motherland.
Nowshera Day is celebrated on February 7 to remember the gallant heroes of Indian Army, who made the supreme sacrifices to save Nowshera (Naoshera) during the Indo-Pak war of 1947-48.
The Day is commemorated every year to celebrate the success of the `Operation Kipper’ conceived by the then Army Commander, Lt Gen (Later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa and executed by Brigadier Mohammad Usman, then Commanding the 50 Parachute Brigade.
The operation involved forcing the intruders out from the hills surrounding and dominating Nowshera town.
It was during this historical operation that the tribal intruders, under their Pakistan leadership, launched the attack on Nowshera on February 6, 1948 at 0640 hours. The attackers in large numbers, including 3,000 Sudhan tribals, surrounded the Tain Dhar picquet that bore the brunt of the attack.
At first light, the men in the picquet saw thousands of raiders moving up towards them. Inspite of heavy casualties, wave after wave of raiders hurled themselves at the picquet. In the resultant assault, 24 of the 27 men of Jadunath Singh’s picquet died or incurred severe injuries. Naik Jadunath Singh, displaying great valour and superb qualities of leadership, used the small force at his disposal so effectively that the enemy retreated in confusion.
The enemy attacked a second time. Jadunath Singh, though hopelessly outnumbered, re-organised his small group and once again withstood the attack. By now, all his men had been killed.
A third fierce attack soon followed, in a bid to capture the post. Naik Jadunath Singh, now utterly alone, came out of the bunker he was firing from and made the most magnificent single-handed charge on the advancing enemy. The enemy fled in disorder. Naik Jadunath Singh, however, met his death in this third and last charge when two bullets hit him in head and chest. For his incredible courage, Naik Jadunath Singh was awarded the Param Veer Chakra (posthumously) and is still fondly remembered as the ‘Savior of Naoshera’.
A wreath laying ceremony was organised by the ‘Ace of Spades Division’ at Jadunath War Memorial, where wreaths were laid by the GOC-in-C Northern Command, GOC 16 Corps, GOC 25 Infantry Division, Commander 80 Infantry Brigade and relatives of Naik Jadunath Singh. A felicitation ceremony for Veer Naris, Veterans and disabled soldiers was also conducted on the occasion.
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