Nation salutes its fallen heroes on Infantry Day

The Indian Army on Monday celebrated the Infantry Day, marking the landing of first batch of troops in Kashmir 67 years back to push back Pakistani troops, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tributes to the martyrs who dedicated their lives to protect unity of the country.

“On Infantry Day we salute the indomitable courage and bravery of our infantry, who have left no stone unturned in serving our nation,” Modi tweeted.

“We pay rich tributes to our infantry martyrs who dedicated their lives to protect the unity and integrity of our nation,” he said in another tweet.

It was for the first time in recent times that a PM has paid tributes on Infantry Day, according to army sources.

On this day in 1947, the first batallion of Indian soldiers landed in Srinagar after the then Maharaja requested New Delhi for help in the wake of invasion by Pakistani troops.

In the bloody conflict, the Indian troops pushed back the Pakistani aggressors and saved Kashmir from falling into the hands of Pakistan.

“October 27 is an apt reminder of the infantry’s grit and determination to rise to the occasion to defend the country’s honour and sovereignty, no matter how grave or serious the threat may be,” the army said.

As part of the Infantry Day celebrations, ‘Wreath Laying’ ceremony was held at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’, at India Gate to honour the martyrs of the Infantry.

The Chief of Army Staff, Gen Dalbir Singh, laid the wreath as the senior most serving infantryman. Lt Gen Chandra Shekhar (Retd) laid a wreath on behalf of all the veterans of infantry.

The ceremony was attended by the colonels of the regiment of infantry and soldiers from all the infantry regiments.

In his message to all infantrymen on this momentous day, Singh exhorted all infantrymen to rededicate themselves to uphold the values of courage, honesty, integrity and devotion to duty which is the unique ethos of the infantryman and to remain indomitable in their resolve to defend the integrity and sovereignty of India in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.