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Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ashoka Chakra awardee Col Jojan honoured at memorial event
Kochi: Late Col Jojan Thomas was commemorated on the occasion of his 60th birth anniversary in a solemn memorial function titled 'Smrithi' held on Sunday at Bolgatty Palace in Kochi. The event was organised by his wife Beena Thomas, close family members, friends, fellow officers, and admirers who paid tributes to the brave soldier who laid down his life for the nation. Col Jojan, who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, was killed in action during an anti-terror operation on Aug 22, 2008, in Machal sector in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir. He eliminated three terrorists single-handedly in that operation. He was the commanding officer of the 45 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion then. Col Jojan was commissioned into Indian Army's Jat Regiment (11 JAT) in March 1986. Col Jojan belonged to Kuttoor village in Thiruvalla. The evening was marked by reflections on Col Jojan's life of courage and selfless service. Emotional recollections, poetry, music and silent moments of remembrance came together to honour the memory of a man who lived and died with valour. Lt General BS Raju (retd) remembered Col Jojan as a person of strong personality and sharp mind. "Col Jojan and I are from the same battalion. We served together in the Siachen glacier in 1986. I have very fond memories of that time when we scaled the mountain together," he said. Former army commanders, many senior military dignitaries, and people's representatives attended the event, besides his mother, wife, children and close relatives. Major Shiju Sharif from Kerala State Sainik Welfare Board informed that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had passed instructions to Pathanamthitta district authorities to make immediate arrangements to create a befitting memorial to the brave soldier of Kerala. Indian Railways honoured the brave soldier by mentioning his name on a train running between Lucknow and Patna.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC rejects plea to form army Gujjar regiment
The Delhi high court on Wednesday took a dim view of a petition demanding the Centre to have an exclusive army regiment for Gujjars, terming such a move as 'divisive'. With the court declaring its intent to dismiss the petition with costs, the petitioner chose to withdraw the plea. The petition filed by Rohan Basoya referred to the tradition in the army to have units such as the Jat Regiment, Sikh Regiment, and Gorkha Regiment and demanded the Union government create a similar arrangement for the Gujjar community as well. 'It's absolutely divisive,' said a bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela finding no reason to entertain the petition. 'Which law vests a right to have such a regiment having people of a particular community? Where is that right? There has to be an infringement of the right.' Finding no response forthcoming, the court warned of dismissing the petition with heavy costs. Basoya chose to withdraw the plea. 'Heard the counsel for the petitioner. After arguing at some length, the counsel for the petitioner says that she has instructions from the petitioner to withdraw the writ. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed as withdrawn,' the order said. In his petition, Basoya, an advocate, asserted that the community despite having a rich martial legacy by way of its participation in various wars including 1857 revolt, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, Kargil war (1999) and counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, had not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras. 'Despite this rich martial legacy, they (Gujjars) have not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras,' the petition stated. To be sure, all the examples cited by the petitioner refer to regiments that were formed and christened after communities in the 19th century by the British. The petitioner's argument was that ' the exclusion of Gujjars from the regimental system, violates Articles 14 and 16, contradicts Indian army precedents and denies rightful recognition of their military contributions.'
