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Kargil martyrs remembered

He is my hero as well as that of the nation, says brother of soldier

— Photo: PTI

Mohini Pandey, mother of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey who sacrificed his life in the Kargil war, inaugurates the Manoj Pandey Gallery at the Drass Sector on Saturday. Gen V.P. Malik (retired) is at right.

Drass/Kargil (Jammu and Kashmir): Family members of the soldiers who died defending the nation during the Kargil war cried at the sight of memorials unveiled on Saturday for their loved ones. The occasion was the 10th anniversary of the war. Colleagues and superiors paid emotional tributes to the martyrs who helped trounce the Pakistan Army in 1999.

“Looking at the faces of the brave soldiers, kin of martyrs and awardees, I wonder what these heroes are made of? ... They are examples of patriotism,” said the former Army Chief, V.P. Malik, who commanded the force during the Kargil conflict.

He dedicated a war memorial gallery in Drass, named after Paramvir Chakra (PVC) awardee Capt. Manoj Pandey.

Captain Pandey was involved in recapturing the Khalobar ridgeline, one of the most dominant positions captured by the Pakistani troops in the Kargil sector. He died on July 3, 1999.

“He is my hero as well as the nation’s hero. I had come here to pray at the place where my brother sacrificed his life. This place is a temple for me,” the Captain’s brother Manmohan Pandey, who was accompanied by his mother, said.

Kargil, a ghost town during the war, was on the day abuzz with stories of the valour and courage of the Indian soldiers who took part in ‘Operation Vijay’ as their families congregated here to take part in the two-day celebrations to mark the victory. “It was a dream for us to visit the holy place and pray for our son,” said Neiselie Kenguriise, father of Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguriise who sacrificed his life when he led a platoon to recapture Tololing. As they looked at the Tololing ridgeline, tears welled in the eyes of Neiselie, his wife Dinuo and their daughter. — PTI

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