AGARTALA, December 16 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar commemorated the new war memorial at Lichubagan here today in the presence of Major General PN Rao, SM, general officer commanding, Red shield division and Brigadier Ashutosh Shukla, SM, station commander, military station, Agartala.

The Army in coordination with the civil administration initiated the task of construction a new war memorial in memory of the valiant soldiers of Red Shield Division who made supreme sacrifice in operation cactus lily, defending the honour of the nation, during India-Pakistan war of 1971. After the commemoration CM laid a wreath on behalf of the citizens of the state and paid glowing tribute to the gallant soldiers.

Addressing in the ceremony CM Manik Sarkar said that operation cactus lily was launched on 3rd December 1971 by Indian Army in East Pakistan. It was a brilliantly planned and meticulously executed military operation resulting in unilateral and unconditional surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops and subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. This unprecedented military victory stands a testimony to the indomitable spirit, undaunted courage and supreme sacrifices of the gallant soldiers of the Indian Army in the eastern front. Operation cactus lily is marked as one of the finest military operation in the glorious history of the Indian army, he mentioned.

This day had a unique significance for the Army, as it was in this day in 1971, the Indian forces in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) accepted and unconditional surrender of Pakistani troops resulting in an unprecedented military victory over Pakistan, in which Lance Naik Albert Ekka, 14 guards, was awarded the most coveted Param Vir Chakra posthumously, for his gallant display of most conspicuous valour and determination, the CM added.

 "Over 1,600,000 Bangladeshis - a number larger than the state's then total population of 1,500,000 - had taken shelter in Tripura alone," he said.

 During the Bangladesh Liberation War, 10 million men, women and children from then East Pakistan took shelter in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, he mentioned.