Tamil Nadu Salutes Kargil Heroes: Memorial for Maj Saravanan unveiled in Tiruchy

Major General Tejbir Singh, Colonel of the Bihar regiment unveiled the renovated memorial at St Vestry School roundabout in Cantonment area and paid his tributes. Senior army officials of the 117th Infantry Batalliion (Territorial Army) of Tiruchirappalli, District Collector S Sivarasu, revenue and police officials among others laid wreaths and paid their homage.

The renovated memorial has four pillars each engraved with Ashoka Emblem, logo of the Indian Army, Bihar Regiment and Veer Chakra. The memorial was renovated at a cost of Rs 8.25 lakh on behalf of ‘Major Saravanan Memorial Trust’ run by his family members.

When the Kargil war broke out, Saravanan who was serving as a Major in the Bihar Regiment was assigned the task of capturing “Point 4268,” a well-fortified Pakistani position in the Batalik sub-sector of Kargil at a height of 14,229 feet on May 28, 1999.

Saravanan along with soldiers began to surge forward at around 4 am hours despite an intensive firing from the intruders. The Pakistan troops and terrorists were at a higher altitude and better placed to strike at the surging Indianarmy.

Despite the fact, Saravanan, who was codenamed ‘Chengiz Khan’ for the operation killed four intruders before attaining martyrdom. His body was retrieved 45 days later, after the war ended. Hence, Saravanan was remembered as the “Hero of Batalik” for his actions in military circles. He was hailing from Tiruchirappalli.