'Vijay Diwas' observed in Vizag to celebrate victory in 1971 war with Pakistan

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) today held a wreath laying ceremony to mark ' Vijay Diwas', celebrated to commemorate India's victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Bimal Verma placed a floral wreath at the Andaman Memorial" inside the Naval Dockyard this morning.

Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral SV Bhokare and Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Rear Admiral SR Sarma also paid floral tributes, an ENC release said.

A 50-man Guard was paraded at the venue and a two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the martyrs.

Vijay Diwas marks the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to India in the 1971 war between the two neighbours, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, the release said.

"On this momentous day, the Pakistani Forces under the command of Lieutenant General AAK Niazi surrendered at Dhaka, in the presence of the three tri-service theatre Commanders of Indian Armed Forces.

"It was on this in 1971, that a declaration of cease-fire was brought into force ending the Indo-Pak War and resulting in the birth of the sovereign country of Bangladesh," it said.