Srinagar: Indian Army's light and sound show commemorates Battle of Shalateng'

As part of celebration for 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' and to commemorate the historic victory of the Indian forces in its first war after independence, Chinar Corps conducted the light and sound show, said Defence spokesman, Colonel Emron Musavi.

The decisive battle took place during the first Indo-Pak war of 1947 in the wake of Pakistani raids in the Kashmir valley

'Battle of Shalateng' literally changed the face of the war and saved Srinagar from the onslaught of the Pakistan Army and the barbarian hordes supported by the army, he said.

The well-coordinated and executed operations by 1 SIKH, 1 KUMAON, 4 KUMAON and a squadron from 7 Light Cavalry supported by the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes changed the course of the war, wherein Kashmiri citizens and soldiers of the army fought together to evict the majority of Pakistani forces on January 5, 1949, the Defence spokesman said.

Colonel Musavi said the Pakistani Army had unleashed plunder, loot, rape and destruction of property and houses of Kashmiris; their most deplorable act was the mass rape of local women.

During the event, the next of kin of war veterans who travelled across the country to be a part of the event were felicitated along with the units which participated in the 'Battle of Shalateng', he said.

The colonel said those felicitated included Usha Parmar, daughter of Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Mahavir Chakra and Chief of Staff of the J&K State Forces, and Sher Mishra Rana, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Narain Singh Samyal, 4 JAK RIF.