Itanagar, Aug 13: The three-day joint civil-military cycling expedition organised under the aegis of Tezpur-based Gajraj Corps of Indian Army was flagged-in on Saturday at Arunachal Pradesh’s last village Balemu at the tri-junction of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Balemu is a small village located at Indo-Bhutan border in West Kameng district of Arunachal.
The 163-km-long cycling expedition, which was flagged off from Thakurbari in Assam’s Rangapara on Friday, had participants from Indian Army (including four lady officers), SSB and ITBP, and most notably from the civilian background, some of which are aspiring to become Agniveers, a Defence spokesperson said. A total of 75 participants commemorating 75 years of Independence traversed through beautiful
Assam and pristine Arunachal Pradesh. They were given a warm and boisterous welcome at number of places by Tiranga carrying crowds soaked in nationalistic fervour. The final event also witnessed a short cultural program by the local artists, he said. The expedition was an ‘inspiration’ from the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra, who was scheduled to travel to this last village to attend the flag-in ceremony but could not ultimately make it due to inclement weather.

In his place, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Gajraj Corps Lt Gen DS Rana flagged in the expedition. Lt Gen Rana while addressing the gathering conveyed the message of national integration and unity. He praised all the participants, civil administration and locals including a large number of children for their effort in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, being celebrated all over the country with pride and fervor, Tezpur-based Defence PRO Lt Col A S Walia said.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Governor, who initiated the programme to take the festivity of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to the last village in the border, commended the GOC, 4 Corps (Gajraj Corps) Lt Gen Rana and GOC, 5 Mountain Division Major Gen AK Singh for ‘successfully’ organising the expedition. He also appreciated the West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Karma Leki for adding people’s participation in the programme.
The Governor, who was to attend the flag-in ceremony, had to cancel his travel first for technical snag in the Global Vector helicopter requisitioned for the purpose and then the alternative IAF chopper also could not take off due to inclement weather.
The Governor wished that the spirit of 75 years of Independence reaches every nook and corner of the State. “As we remember our freedom struggle and freedom fighters, let us renew our pledge to always uphold national unity, so that united we can secure peace and harmony in the nation,” he said. UNI 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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