Soldiers' sacrifice remembered

Vijay Diwas, observed on December 16 every year, to remember soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who laid down their lives fighting for the nation during Bangladesh liberation, saw the Flags of Honour Foundation honouring the families of martyrs from Karnataka.

The Foundation, which observed the day at the National War Memorial here, honoured rifleman K S Ravindra who was killed fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and BSF Constable Bheema Shankar Hadapad, who lost his life fighting the naxals in Chattisgarh and handed over a cheque of Rs one lakh each to their kin.

The Foundation also offered financial assistance in kind to a 65-year-old Bakya Mary, widow of late Sapper Philomina Raj. Mary, who was deserted by her children and wanted to live a life with dignity by earning a living and had requested for a commercial idly maker and accessories. These were handed over to her at the function. Ministers Suresh Kumar and V S Acharya attended the function. Lokayukta Justice Santosh  Hegde was also present.

Floral tributes were paid at the War Memorial of Headquarters Training Command, IAF, here.

Air Marshal Rajinder Singh, Senior Air Staff Officer, Headquarters Training Command led the wreath laying ceremony. As the bugles sounded the last post, a two-minute silence was observed.

It was on this day that the largest military surrender after World War-II took place, when the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command, Lt General Jagjeet Singh Arora accepted the instrument of surrender from Lt General AAK Niazi of Pakistan Army at Dhaka.