Assam Rifles builds war memorial in Nagaland for 357 martyrs

Mumbai, Jan 29 (PTI) Assam Rifles has constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland for 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed while fighting insurgency in rastern state, a senior Assam Rifles officer said on Wednesday. memorial has been built at Mokokchung, which is also cultural and intellectual centre of Nagaland.

"This memorial is first of its kind in Nagaland, which also has famous Second World War Cemetery at Kohima. Christened "Veer Samriti", memorial is spre over 13,500 sq ft and was built by 44 Assam Rifles," officer told PTI.

Nagaland has seen deces of insurgency, leing to loss of lives for security forces and Naga insurgents. "Since 1955 when insurgency first cast its ugly show in Nagaland, lives of 357 personnel from Army and Assam Rifles have been lost. ir sacrifice has t been in vain for Nagaland today is limping back to rmalcy and is an important cog in Indias Act East Policy," he said.

" Assam Rifles authorities in Nagaland felt it was necessary to have a memorial that was befitting supreme sacrifice me by our men in uniform and one which also acts as a beacon of motivation for future generations in state and country," he said.

In last six deces, many battalions from Army and almost all battalions of Assam Rifles participated in counter-insurgency operations, officer said. war memorial has been designed in a concentric circular form, with outer rectangular flower beds as a boundary wall. central arena, heart of memorial, comprises two circular podiums with a 19-feet high main memorial mast having three converging posts signifying Army, Air Force and Assam Rifles.

names of 357 martyrs have been carved, each on a single granite stone. Mokokchung was chosen as site for war memorial due to its centrality, richness in culture and because a large number of soldiers were martyred in district in line of ir duty, he said.

" sacrifice of se brave men has been reason why peace and near rmalcy has been restored in Nagaland. One of most decorated officers of Army, Colonel N J Nair, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra of 16 Maratha Light Infantry, was also martyred in Mokokchung in 1993," officer said.

From Nagaland, martyrs include Naik Nikhuni Mao, Riflemen Lukhubi Sema, Alalmba Ao, Y kte, Dule Luwang, Kumar Rangmai, H Konyak and AS Ringphami, all from Assam Rifles and Rifleman H Konyak from 164 Territorial Army Battalion.

war memorial is located in Assam Rifles Battalion location and is expected to become an important place of visit for locals, ex-servicemen and or visitors to Mokokchung, he said.

memorial, which was conceptualised, planned and executed by Inspector General Assam Rifles (rth), will be inaugurated soon, he ded. nearly 55,000-strong Assam Rifles has been guarding India's 1,640-km long border with Myanmar and also parts of Arunachal Presh border opposite China during war under operational control of Indian Army, he said.

Assam Rifles, which was raised in 1835, has also been carrying out counter-insurgency operations in militancy- infested states in rastern region. PTI VT

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