Rich floral tributes were paid to gallant martyrs by officers, their families, Gentlemen Cadets and their parents at War memorial of Indian Military Academy (IMA) on Friday. The Officiating Commandant of IMA, Major General YS Mahiwal led the ceremony to offer remembrance to the martyrs; the commandant laid a floral wreath at war memorial.
A release by IMA stated that the Academy fraternity saluted and stood together with the families of the five brave alumni of the Academy who attained martyrdom while undertaking Military operations in recent past. lt Colonel Sankalp Kumar, Saurya Chakra, laid his life fighting terrorists in Kashmir recently. Similarly four brave men of Army aviation wing made the supreme sacrifice in line of duty.
Major Abhijai Thapa, Saurya Chakra, Major Vikas Varyani, Sena Medal and Major Avinash Yeshwant Somvanshi, Sena Medal displayed a rare sense of responsibility and presence of mind during a reconnaissance mission to veer the helicopter they were flying in, away from human settlements when it developed mechanical snag without bothering for their own safety and security and laid down their lives in line of duty.
lt Colonel Rakesh Gulati, a qualified flying instructor, made the supreme sacrifice in an air crash while on a night tactical mission in Kashmir. As the fraternity of IMA stood sharing the grief of the families of the gallant martyrs, the 687 GCs passing out on 13 Jun 2015 took the resolve to keep the flag of mother India flying high.