Ex-servicemen observe Vijay Diwas in Gurgaon, protest war memorial desecration

A number of retired officers of armed forces on Wednesday celebrated Vijay Diwas at Rezang LA war memorial here and protested against the desecration of memorial by unknown people.

Members of the Martyrs' Family Welfare Foundation, ex-servicemen and civilians gathered at the war memorial in Palam Vihar and paid tributes to the brave martyrs.

Ex-servicemen were in for a rude shock on Tuesday when they reached the Rezang LA war memorial for the preparation to observe the Kargil War anniversary.

Foundation members found bulbs, floodlights, stone benches and electrical wires and other things damaged by miscreants at the war memorial.

"The incident has hurt the sentiments of the family of the martyrs who gave away their lives, as well as supporters of the armed forces," said Major S.N. Yadav (retired), General Secretary of the Foundation.

Police have registered an FIR against unknown people at Palam Vihar Police Station under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act and Section 427 (mischief causing damage to property) of the Indian Penal Code.

"Police are investigating the crime from every angle," police officer Ravinder Kumar said.

An eight-member committee of the Rezangla Shahidi Samaroh Samiti on Wednesday met Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh over the issue.

"The district administration will get the damaged portions repaired at the war memorial. Police have already registered criminal case against unknown. We are taking it seriously," Deputy Commissioner Singh told IANS.

"As per the wish of the committee, a liquor shop near the war memorial will be shifted if it comes under less than 150 meter from a nearby primary school," Singh said.

Veterans said that the memorial turned into a picnic spot for drunken men and miscreants every night.

They alleged that several men, who bought alcohol from the nearby wine shop, drank at the memorial.

T.C. Rao, Convener of the Rezangla Shahidi Samaroh Samiti, said that it was "an insult to the war veterans".

He informed the 7,000-sq.ft memorial was inaugurated on December 29, 2012, to honour 114 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the historic battle of Rezang La pass in 1962 with China.

--IANS

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