Marking six decades of establishment of the Panther Division of Indian Army, a motorcycle expedition from Amritsar to Rohtang Pass and back was flagged off by Major General Mukesh Sharma, General Officer Commanding Panther Division, to commemorate the occasion.
Maj Gen Sharma, along with serving officers and veterans, also laid a wreath at the ‘War Memorial’ in Amritsar Cantonment to pay tributes to the slain soldiers before flagging off the motorcycle expedition.
The Panther Division was established by Maj Gen Niranjan Prasad on October 1 1964 in Clement Town (Dehradun). Later on, it became fully operational on March 31, 1965, and was mobilised to Amritsar on April 1, 1965, to participate in Operation Riddle.
Various activities were carried out for the 60th anniversary of the Panther Division, including a blood donation drive, in Jalandhar and Amritsar last week.
A traditional ‘Bara Khana’ and a musical evening was also organised for the troops on September 30.
The Panther Division has been at the forefront of many operations and has brought laurels to the nation in the famous “Battle of Dograi” in 1965 India Pakistan War and “Battle of Dera Baba Nanak” and “Burj Fatehpur” in the 1971 War.
The Panther Division has the distinction and proud privilege of hoisting the first Indian flag in Western Pakistan in the 1971 war. The Division had been awarded numerous gallantry awards, including four Maha Vir Chakras, nine Veer Chakras, 12 Sena Medals and 37 Mention in Despatches.
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Over the years, Panther Division has withstood the test of times in exemplary manner and had a pivotal role in nation building. In addition to its primary responsibility of defending the country’s borders, the Panther Division has contributed in humanitarian aid and disaster relief, education, health care, environmental conservation and national integration. Overall, the Division has reinforced the faith of the nation in the Indian Army.
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