Vijay Diwas celebrated in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 16 (IANS) The Army on Monday celebrated Vijay Diwas in Kashmir by felicitating the widows and families of martyrs of the 1971 war.

The ceremony was held at Army 15 Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.

The celebration began with a wreath laying at the war memorial in the cantonment by Lt. General K.J.S. Dhillon.

Senior officers and jawans also paid homage to the fallen soldiers of the war that saw the birth of Bangladesh.

The corps commander then felicitated the families of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country.

"2019 is a year dedicated to the families of the next of kin of the fallen soldiers," Dhillon said. "I want to pay my homage to the families of the soldiers who died in the 1971 war."

Among those felicitated was Khatija, widow of fallen soldier Ghulam Mohammad Dar.

She said the Army has been supporting her all along.

"My son is jobless, I am hopeful that the army will help him find a job," she said.

Bashir Ahmad Khan from Kupwara, whose father, Mohamamd Sultan Khan Naib Subedar died in the Kargil sector during the war, said it is a moment of great pride.

"Our father served the country, I am feeling very proud of my father’s sacrifice today," Ahmad said.