Mail News Service
Imphal, Mar 24: Rajeev Memorial Park was inaugurated today.
The park has been named as “ Rajeev Park” as a tribute to Late 2 Lt Rajeev Sandhu, Maha Vir Chakra, the gallant martyr of the Assam Regiment who made the supreme sacrifice in Sri Lanka in July 1988 while serving as part of Red Shield Division.
The skillful terriers of Manipur under the leadership of their Commanding Officer, Col K Biswas toiled hard and left no stone unturned to create the beautiful park next to a pond, which was once an undulating and rocky wasteland. On 19 Jul 1988, 2 Lt Rajeev Sandhu of 7 ASSAM under 57 Mountain Division was leading a convoy from Madurang Keni Kolam to Mangani in Sri Lanka. On the way, his jeep was suddenly fired upon by the militants with rockets, AK- 47s and 7.62mm rifles. He was seriously wounded and a direct hit of a rocket completely mutilated both his legs. Totally crippled and bleeding profusely, he tumbled out of the jeep with his 9mm carbine and crawled to a firing position. Presuming that everyone in the veh had been killed, one of the militants came out of hiding and approached the jeep to pick up the weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that his legs were totally smashed and his body was perforated with bullets, 2 Lt Rajeev Sandhu, in an act that defies description and goes beyond the realms of imagination, lifted his carbine with his blood soaked hands, sprayed the militant with bullets and killed him. He blunted every effort of the militants to come anywhere near his fallen comrades or their weapons.
For displaying conspicuous courage and making the supreme sacrifice, 2 Lt Rajeev Sandhu was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously.
The Rajeev Memorial Park was inaugurated by Mr & Mrs D S Sandhu, the proud parents of the martyr. The statue of the Martyr was unveiled by Maj Gen RN Singh, AVSM, SM, VSM Colonel of the Assam Regt and Arunachal Scouts. The Ngongin Hut was inaugurated by Mrs Annie Poonnen and Siroy Lily Hut was inaugurated by Mrs Raka Singh while Maj Gen Binoy Poonnen, VSM, inaugurated the fountain along the pond and the lighting system. During the impressive inauguration ceremony, the Brass Band of Assam Regimental Centre from Shillong and the Pipe Band and Jazz Band of Manipur Terriers presented some heart rendering Patriotic tunes and songs which touched the souls of everyone present.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/martyrs-park-at-leimakhong/
