Army Chief to keep promise made to 1965 martyr's wife

Keeping his promise to the wife of Shaheed Param Vir Chakra Abdul Hamid, Army Chief Bipin Rawat is all set to visit the martyr's village in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on Sunday. Havildar Abdul Hamid lost his life on the same day during the battle of Asal Uttar in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

General Rawat had received Hamid's 80-year-old wife Rasoolan Bibi soon after he became the new Army Chief in January, 2017. At the time, the martyr's wife had requested him to attend the memorial service for Hamid, to be held on his 52nd martyr's day, and he, in turn, had promised to do so.

Hamid's family pays a tribute to him at his village in Dhamupur of Ghazipur every year.

"He is expected to be here by 10 am and pay homage at 11.30 am.

Soon after meeting the family members, he will also address the ex-servicemen and 'Veer Naaris' (widows of martyrs). We have made all arrangements for his arrival and he will be flying back to Delhi by 4 pm," sources said. Rawat will fly in a Heptar from Delhi.

On September 10, 1965, Pakistani forces had launched an attack on the Cheena village in Khemkaran sector, where Havildar Hamid showed great courage and put up a gallant fight. He knocked down two Army tanks before getting hit by an explosive shell. He was a soldier in the 4th Grenadier of the Indian Army and received Param Vir Chakra, highest military award, posthumously. In the 1988 Television series Param Vir Chakra, Hamid was portrayed by Naseeruddin Shah.