Jammu, Jan 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir paid tribute to the fallen heroes on the 75th Republic Day by laying a wreath at the ‘Eternal Flame’ of the Balidan Stambh War Memorial in Jammu. The ceremonial homage included a guard of honour from the ranks of the Tiger Division, capturing the solemnity of the occasion.
Sharing his sentiments on the social media platform X, Sinha expressed the nation’s eternal gratitude to the brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice in safeguarding the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the motherland. He wrote, “Paid tributes to the bravehearts of Police, Army, and CAPFs. The nation will forever remain indebted to the brave hearts for their supreme sacrifice in safeguarding the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the motherland.”
Balidan Stambh, meaning ‘Tower of Sacrifice,’ stands as a poignant memorial, commemorating the sacrifice of soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the motherland on the soils of Jammu and Kashmir during various battles and counter-insurgency operations since independence. Erected in 2009 at a cost of Rs 12 crores, this towering war memorial, with a height of 60 meters, is the country’s tallest.
The memorial features a necklace of 52 pillars, bearing the names of 7,512 bravehearts, along with murals of nine Param Veer Chakras and 27 Ashok Chakras on the inscription wall. Each year, on the historic day of January 26, Republic Day celebrations are observed with pride at Balidan Stambh, underscoring the valor and sacrifice of those who dedicated their lives to the nation.
