Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 17 2009:
To commemorate the gallant achievements of the Red Shield Division and on the auspicious occasion of the 62nd Independence Day of the country, Major General Shakti Gurung, VSM, General Officer Commanding of the Division inaugurated a New War Memorial for the Division at Leimakhong yesterday.
All the officers, JCOs and ORs in station were present at the ceremony, a PIB (Defence Wing) statement informed.
It said, this will go all long way in reminding everyone of the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers of the Division like Lance Naik Albert Ekka who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra during the war with Pakistan in 1971 .
According to the statement, the Red Shield Division was raised on December 10, 1969, consequent to the uprising in Mizo Hills, under the able command of Major General BF Gonsalves, PVSM.
It has participated in all the major operations of the Indian Army, the main ones being Operation Cactus Lily during the Indo-Pak conflict of 1971, Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka in 1988-90, Operation Vijay in 1999 and presently conducting Operation Hifazat in Manipur and Operation Rhino in South Assam.
The Division has been moving to various places ever since its raising and has only come to Leimakhong in 2004 .