National War Memorial Will Be Inscribed With The Names Of Galwan Martyrs
Last month, Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane awarded Commendation Cards to five soldiers for their bravery displayed in dealing with Chinese troops during the Galwan Valley clash as well as dealing with the Chinese intruders in Pangong Tso in May.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, during a visit to Lukung forward post in eastern Ladakh on July 17, personally conveyed his appreciation and compliments to the troops from the Bihar regiment for displaying exemplary grit and courage in fighting the Chinese troops.
In his address to the soldiers, the defence minister said the Indian soldiers killed in the Galwan Valley clash not only showed exemplary courage in safeguarding the border but also protected the pride of 130 crore Indians.
The names of 20 Indian Army personnel, who were killed after valiantly fighting Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on June 15, will be inscribed on the National War Memorial here, officials said on Thursday.
They said the process for inscribing the names of the Army personnel on the memorial may take a few months.
Chinese and Indian troops clashed in Galwan Valley for several hours on the night of June 15 in their deadliest incident in the last five decades.
Colonel B. Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was among the Indian Army personnel killed in the clash
The incident significantly escalated the border tension in eastern Ladakh with India calling it “a premeditated and planned action by China”
The Chinese soldiers used stones, nail-studded sticks, iron rods and clubs in carrying out brutal attacks on Indian soldiers after they protested the erection of a surveillance post by China around patrolling point 14 in Galwan Valley.
China has not disclosed the number of casualties its troops suffered. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was over 40 with another 60 wounded.