Retd Major General on cycling mission reaches INA

A retired major general who is on a 12,000 km cycling mission across the length and breadth of the country as a tribute to all martyred heroes of the nation, arrived at the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in Kannur district today.
Somnath Jha (Retd.), VSM, was received at the academy by Rear Admiral MD Suresh, Deputy Commandant, INA and Commodore Kamlesh Kumar, Station Commander, where he placed a wreath at "Prerna Sthal" War Memorial and observed two minutes silence, an INA release said here.
During his interaction with the cadets, serving naval personnel and defence civilian of the station, 61-year-old Jha reiterated that the decision to cycle 12,000 km was a personal homage to over 20,600 fallen heroes who made selfless sacrifice defending the honour of the motherland.

His decision to cycle two minutes for each fallen hero would take him to a distance of 12,000 km covering all states of the country over a period of seven months, the release said.
The Major General was formally briefed on the training process,training facilities at INA and was also taken around the academy.
Jha departs INA tomorrow on his onward journey to Kanhangad in Kasargod district of Kerala, and would be escorted and accompanied till Payyanur in Kannur district, by enthusiastic cadets and naval personnel of the station, the release added.