JESSORE DAY CELEBRATION AT PINE DIVISION

Jalandhar: Pine Division on Wednesday celebrated the historic ‘JESSORE DAY’ to commemorate its victory over the Jessore garrison (now in Bangladesh) in the Indo - Pak War, 1971. Floral tributes were paid to all the martyrs of the Division by Maj Gen Rajesh Chaba, General Officer Commanding, Pine Division together with large number of other serving and veterans of the Division in a solemn ceremony held at PINE WAR MEMORIAL.

In his special message to mark this occasion Maj Gen Rajesh Chaba, GOC, Pine Division exhorted all ranks of the Formation to emulate legendary soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the honour of their motherland. He said that in any future operation, the Formation will live upto its motto ‘Fight to Win’ and will always exhibit indomitable courage, tenacity and invincible spirit to triumph with glory and honour.

History of 1971 Indo-Pak War bears testimony to numerous fierce battles won with great tenacity and unsurpassed heroism by our war heroes, which besides provided a decisive edge to the Indian Army in the 1971 campaign, and also contributed phenomenally towards enhancement of National pride and Honour.

The gallant and victorious troops of the Pine Division entered Jessore Cantonment (erstwhile East Pakistan) and unfurled the tricolour, which signaled the end of an era of oppression and exploitation by the erstwhile Pakistani military rulers in East Pakistan. The Commander of Pakistan’s 107 Infantry Brigade, Brig Hayat Khan signed the ‘Instrument of Surrender of Jessore’ on the lawns of Khulna Rest House before Maj Gen Dalbir Singh, the then GOC of the Pine Division. 81 Pakistani Officers, 130 JCOs and more than 3476 men surrendered along with large numbers of weapons and ammunition.