Army observes Infantry Day, Modi greets infantrymen

The Indian Army observed the 71st Infantry Day on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Army chief General Bipin Rawat and others extending greetings to infantrymen and paying tributes to troops who made the ultimate sacrifice.

General Rawat, Director General Infantry Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi, and Colonels of the Infantry Regiments laid wreaths and paid homage to the brave men in a solemn ceremony at the Amar Jawan Jyoti here.

Vir Chakra awardee Subedar (Honorary Captain) Khajur Singh (retd) represented the veterans at the wreath-laying ceremony.

Modi said in a tweet: "Greetings to all infantrymen on the Infantry Day. We are proud of our infantry's exceptional courage and dedicated service to our nation."

"I bow to all infantry martyrs, who devoted their lives to the nation. Their heroic sacrifices will be remembered for generations to come," the Prime Minister said.

The infantry is an Army branch engaging in combat on foot.

The Infantry Day commemorates the first infantry action by the Indian Army after independence when on October 27, 1947, leading elements of the Army from the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment air-landed in Srinagar.

This action and the resolve displayed by the infantrymen reversed the tide of events and thwarted the nefarious designs of the Pakistani raiders who were aided by the Pakistan Army.

On Saturday, as part of the Infantry Day celebrations, a mega event showcasing the martial traditions and extraordinary marching skills with arms by the infantry soldiers will be organised on the lawns of India Gate.

--IANS

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