Indo-Pak war photos to be on display in Chennai

Chennai: The historic ceasefire agreement signed on the 13th day of the war in the evening of December 16, 1971 and also the picture of surrender of Pakistan armed forces to India would be displayed at the War Memorial here during the Vijay Diwas celebrations from Thursday, said Lieutenant General A Arun, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Dakshin Bharat Area, on Wednesday.

War veterans and war widows (veer naris) would take part in the golden jubilee celebrations (Swarnim Vijay Varsh) of India’s victory over Pakistan which led to the liberation of Bangladesh. “Senior defence officials and veterans will lay wreaths as homage to the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for India. Chief Minister M K Stalin has consented to participate to pay the homage,” Lt Gen Arun said. Members of the public would be permitted to pay floral tributes at the solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Victory War Memorial at Kamaraj Salai at the event to be organised by the Headquarters Dakshin Bharat. “This time, the War Memorial will be kept open from 10am of December 16 till 5 pm of December 19 to enable people to visit the memorial and pay homage and also to learn about the sacrifices of the bravehearts,” he said.

Speaking to reporters about the Vijay Diwas celebrations from tomorrow, he said 93,000 armed Pakistani soldiers surrendered on December 16. “Exactly at 4.21 pm, on the 13th day of the war with Pakistan in 1971, the ceasefire was signed. The size of the ceasefire was unparalleled in military history after World War-II. The historic picture of surrender and the ceasefire agreement signed by Gen Niazi will be displayed for the public at the War memorial here,” Lt Gen Arun said. —(PTI)