Names of Galwan braves put up at National War Memorial ahead of Republic Day

After a delay of months, the names of Galwan braves who were killed in action amid the military tussle with China in Ladakh have finally made it to the National War Memorial in New Delhi ahead of Republic Day.

Earlier, names of 90 soldiers killed in various operations between October 2019 and September 2020 were cleared for being inscribed at the National War Memorial that was unveiled in February 2019.

Though the names were cleared, further procedural delays meant the names could not be put up before.

If the matter was not hurried, the names would have been missing during Republic Day when Prime Minister pays homage to the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial.

Since last year, tributes are paid to those who sacrificed their lives in military action at the new memorial on Republic Day instead of India Gate. The National War Memorial was built in memory of those who were killed in action after Indian independence.

In the Galwan clash of June 15, 2020, India lost 20 soldiers in an area called the Galwan Valley in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with the Chinese soldiers. China, however, never revealed the number of casualties on its side.

India and China standoff has now entered its ninth month as both sides continue with heavy deployment of troops, artillery guns, tanks and armoured vehicles in close proximity.

The tensions started with skirmishes along Pangong Lake in May when troops came to blows on more than one occasion leaving many injured on both sides.