RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.3: PVC Albert Ekka Memorial Foundation has sent a proposal to the Centre for renaming the Railway station in Ranchi after Param Veer Albert Ekka.
Former tribal advisory council member Ratan Tirkey informed this to Lagatar24.com saying he had received a telephone call from minister of state for minority affairs John Barla demanding a proposal to this effect.
“Minister of state Barla called me last night around 10.30 pm demanding a proposal and I have sent the same today on behalf of PVC Albert Ekka Memorial Foundation,” Tirkey said adding the copy of the proposal has also been sent to ministers from tribal community including union minister of state for steel, Fagan Singh Kulaste, besides Jual Oram and Sameer Oraon.
Tirkey also shared the letter of proposal citing reasons behind renaming the Ranchi station.
The letter justifies demand saying India is celebrating ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ in remembrance of the 50th years of strategic victory in 1971 Indo-Pak war, with an aim to showcase this victory of the Indian armed forces and Ekka, whose root is in Jharkhand, was awarded posthumously with Param Veer Chakra for his exemplary courage in that war. The letter reads that former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier also assured to do this.
Tirkey had earlier in 2016 with the support of the then chief minister Raghubar Das and other members of PVC Albert Ekka Memorial Foundation had brought the soil from Agartala, where Ekka was cremated, to Jari in Gumla to merge the braveheart into his own soil.
Ekka was a soldier in 14 Guard units of the Indian Army. His action to save Agartala from Pakistan during 1971 Indo-Pak war is unforgettable.
During the Indo-Pak War in 1971, the 14 Guards was dispatched to capture a Pakistani position at Gangasagar about 6 Kms west of Agartala in Brahmanbaria district of what was then East Pakistan. It was located on a major railway link to Dhaka and owing to its strategic position was well-fortified and was heavily mined too. But this position was critical to the Indian Army for the capture of Akhaura on the way to Dhaka.
So 14 Guards launched an attack on enemy positions on the night of 03 December 1971. Lance Naik Albert Ekka went with the left forward company of the battalion in the attack. The Indian troops were subjected to intense shelling and small arms fire by the enemy. Lance Naik Ekka spotted an enemy light machine gun firing from a bunker causing heavy casualties. Unmindful of personal safety, he charged at the bunker, bayoneted two soldiers and captured the bunker post. He was seriously injured in the exchange, but that did not stop him. Epitomizing the motto of his regiment, the Brigade of the Guards, “Pahla Hamesha Pahla” meaning ,”First Always First”, he continued his advance with his company, securing bunker after bunker.
Soon, they reached the northern end of their objective. An enemy medium machine gun opened fire on them, inflicting heavy casualties and once again, Lance Naik Ekka rose to the occasion and threw a grenade into the bunker and bayoneted the remaining enemies, and silenced the weapon. Although grievously injured in these close encounters Lance Naik Albert Ekka continued to pursue the objectives of his company relentlessly. His daring action helped his company in successfully driving the enemy away from Gangasagar. The fall of Gangasagar forced the enemy to vacate Akhaura and consequently the Indian troops soon were on their victorious march towards Dhaka.
Lance Naik Albert Ekka was martyred and his heroic action in the battle of Gangasagar changed the course of the war in India’s favour. Lance Naik Albert Ekka was given the nation’s highest gallantry award, “Param Vir Chakra” for his cold courage, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. He is survived by his wife Balamdina Ekka and son Vincent.
