Army honours family of Major Saravanan

Trichy: Family members of Kargil martyr Major Saravanan were honoured by Indian Army officers at their house in Trichy on Monday.Army officers Rakesh Roshan, Suvesh P, Kingslin S, and Ramamoorthy, along with a few retired officers, handed over a memento and a letter of appreciation from the General Officer Commanding of the Army 8th Mountain Division in Kargil. They also paid floral tribute, garlanded Saravanan's portrait, and offered ceremonial salutes."Major Saravanan was the first officer to take charge of Operation Vijay," said Kingslin. Officers said families of other martyrs across the country are being honoured as well.Saravanan's sister Dr Chithra Senthilkumar said their family takes pride that her brother Major Saravanan was the first martyr of Operation Vijay. "A nation that does not forget its martyrs will always remain safe and strong," she said.Saravanan, an alumnus of St Joseph's College, was commissioned into the Bihar Regiment in 1995. His unit was deployed at Jubar Ridge in the Batalik sector during the Kargil conflict. Even after being injured by shrapnel, he fought bravely, eliminating four enemy soldiers. He died on May 29, 1999. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.