The Army on Tuesday paid rich tribute to former Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Major P Purushottam and five soldiers, who attained martyrdom in a fidayeen attack on this day in 1999.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that in a solemn and poignant ceremony held today at Badami Bagh (BB) Cantonment, Srinagar, all ranks of the Public Relations Office paid rich tributes to Major Purushottam and five brave soldiers on their 21^st death anniversary.    

“The martyred soldiers included Sub Brahm Dass, Hav PK Maharana, Sep Choudhary Ramji Bhai, Sep Md Razaul Haque and Sep C Radhakrishnan,” he said.

He said Major Purushottam, who was posted as Public Relations Officer (Defence) alongwith five of his comrades bravely fought militants who had launched a ‘fidayeen’ attack on his office in the evening of November 3, 1999.

“Having been engaged in a hand to hand fight with the militants, he and his colleagues made the supreme sacrifice of their lives while trying to save media persons,” he said.

Col Kalia said A Bharat Bhushan Babu, ADG (M&C) of Public Relations, MoD, also paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers. “We will always draw inspiration from the heroic deeds of the bravehearts “ Mr Babu said in his message and called upon all ranks to always keep ‘Nation First’ in their endeavours.

On this occasion wreaths were laid by Col Kalia on behalf of ADG (M&C) and all ranks of the unit at the memorial in Public Relations Office, Srinagar.