Assam Regimental Centre names office after braveheart

The Assam Regiment, one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian army, on Thursday named its main office block at its regimental centre here after Havildar (Hav) Hangpan Dada, who was posthumously conferred a gallantry medal for fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The plaque was inaugurated by his widow Chasen Lowang Dada in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Subrata Saha, who is also the Colonel of the Assam Regiment and Arunachal Scouts besides other senior officers of the regiment.

President Pranab Mukherjee had conferred Ashok Chakra (posthumously) on Havildar Dada of the 35th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (Assam Regiment) for his exemplary courage and gallantry during a gunfight with a group of terrorists in the Naugam Sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district where he killed three of them before being killed himself.

Born in Borduria village of Arunanchal Pradesh's Tirap district on October 2, 1979, Dada was recruited in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in 1997. Later he was transferred to Assam Regimental Centre, and in 2008 to the 4th Battalion of the Assam Regiment.

Rijiju, who visited the Assam Regimental Centre where Platinum Jubilee celebrations are on, also addressed the soldiers and veterans of the regiment at the Parson Parade ground and lauded the regiment's contributions and achievements.

He also paid homage to the fallen heroes of the Regiment by laying wreath at the magnificent War Memorial, and thereafter inaugurated the refurbished state of the art 'Bishnu' Museum.

Rijiju also flagged in the Motorcycle Rally, which returned back to Shillong after paying homage at the Regiment's war memorials at Kohima, Jessami, Aradura and Imphal. He also felicitated the Veer Naris (war widows) and cut the 75th anniversary cake.

--IANS

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