New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) India’s premier border guarding force BSF’s Artillery division completed 50 years of its raising on Thursday and to mark the Golden Jubilee Year, the force will commemorate this event till October 1 next year.
BSF Artillery was raised on October 1, 1971 with 20 PGA to provide close support to the Force units primarily in defensive role by engaging enemy on the border.
During the celebration of “Golden Jubilee Year” 1st October 2020 to October 1, 2021 BSF Artillery has planned to conduct a number of events such as Cycle Rally, Medical Camps, Fun Fitness Events, Sports Competition, Cultural programme and will convey the message of various initiatives launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi like ‘Fit India Movement’, ‘Beti Padhao, Bedi Bachao’, ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ and educate youth of the country regarding various avenues available to join the BSF, an official release said here on Thursday.
The Force’s Artillery is equipped with the indigenously manufactured 105 mm Light Field Guns(LFG) and has seven field Arty Regiments, deployed in different Sectors on the Western borders from Jammu and Kashmir in the North to Gujarat in the West and come under operational control of Army during war.
In the last 50 years, BSF Artillery has lived up to its motto, “Lakshey, Nischey, Vijay” and displayed excellent synergy and seamless integration with the Army and have always proved their mettle, be it the innovative and dedicated fire support in Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 or the fierce Arty duels in the Kargil war of 1999 or the accurate and consistent response during 'cease fire violations in the Kashmir Frontier during recent times.
Brigadier R P Mittal was the first Deputy Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) Artillery.
During the 1971 war, the BSF Battalions were supported by this Artillery division in securing the areas of Vingoor and Virawah in Gujarat where the Deputy Commandant of this unit Mr Joginder Singh made the supreme sacrifice and was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously.
Assistant Commandanat K J Thakur of 2 PGA was awarded Sena Medal for his conspicuous act of bravery during the same conflict whereas a dauntless courage was also shown by BSF Artillery from December 7 to 14 in 1971 in the liberation of Nawabganj in Bangladesh.
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