CAB dedicates Eden Garden stands to slain Army heroes

While news of Indian soldiers losing their lives in the line of duty has occupied the attention recently, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has taken the noble initiative of honouring the men in uniform, as four stands of the Eden Gardens will be named after four Indian Army heroes, who gave their all for the security of the nation.

CAB dedicated the four stands in the names of Col. N.J. Nair, Lieutenant Col Dhan Singh Thapa, PVC Sub Joginder and Havaldar Hangpan Dada, in acknowledgement of their supreme sacrifice.

Hangpan Dada belonging to Arunachal Pradesh gave his life while combating suspected intruders in Naugram area of north Kashmir last year. He was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award Ashok Chakra posthumously.

Similarly, the other three also gave the supreme sacrifice while fighting against the enemy of the nation.

Lt. Colonel Thapa gave his life fighting the Chinese Army in 1962 war. Even after being outnumbered he commanded his men with such charisma that it led to heavy casualty on the Chinese Army.

The Chinese Army had to resort to using tanks supporting their infantry to finally overrun Thapa's post. This operation is famous as the Operation Leg Horn. Lt Col Dhan Singh Thapa was honoured with Param Vir Chakra, India's highest honour to a brave.

Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, Eastern Army Commander, unveiled the name plate of Colonel N J Nair, who was ambushed by 100 armed insurgents while negotiating a series of road bends on the Mokokchung-Mariani Road in Nagaland. He was awarded with the Ashok Chakra posthumously.

Unmindful of his personal security, Subedar Joginder Singh had refused to be evacuated despite being injured and held on a defensive position in NEFA inflicting heavy casualty on Chinese Army. He was also awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.

The stands were unveiled by Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC General Officer Commanding-in-chief Eastern Army Command, CAB president Sourav Ganguly among others.

The iconic stadium has already named stands after cricketers and cricket administrators. The stadium is on the land which belongs to the Ministry of Defence.

In a noble initiative, Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Gautam Gambhir has announced he will bear the educational expenses of the children of 25 CRPF personnel killed in an attack by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. It was reported first by the ANI.