Times News NetworkPanchkula: The 31st martyrdom day of Captain Rohit Kaushal, SM (Gallantry), will be commemorated at his memorial in Jalauli, Panchkula, on Wednesday at 11am.Captain Rohit, of the 18th Punjab Regiment, laid down his life during an encounter with militants in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on November 11, 1995.Captain Kaushal, born on Aug 5, 1968, in Ambala Cantonment, was the only son of Veena Sharma and SS Kaushal. His wedding was scheduled for Nov 27, 1995.On the night of Nov 10-11, 1995, he raided militant hideouts along with his contingent. During the encounter in the Gandoh area of Doda district, he sustained bullet injuries to his chest and neck while fighting courageously. Despite bleeding profusely, he continued firing and fatally wounded two militants before succumbing to his injuries.The Haryana govt and the martyr’s family jointly raised a memorial to immortalise his memory.Former Haryana governor Mahabir Prasad unveiled the memorial, built in the martyr’s ancestral village of Jalauli in Panchkula, in 1997. The state govt has named the Govt Senior Secondary School in Jalauli after the martyr. A road in Sector 12 leading to District Sainik Bhawan, Panchkula, has also been named after him.The Municipal Corporation of Panchkula has dedicated the community centre and a public park in Jalauli to the martyr.Rohit is also remembered at the National War Memorial at India Gate, Delhi; Chandigarh Martyrs’ Memorial in Sector 3; DAV College Martyrs’ Gallery in Sector 10; Martyrs’ Pillar at Terraced Garden in Sector 33, Chandigarh; and the War Memorial in Sector 12, Panchkula. The Govt of India honoured him posthumously with the Sena Medal for his gallant action, courage and dedication in making the supreme sacrifice for the nation.Vinod Vashisht, patron of the Shaheed Captain Rohit Kaushal Trust, said, “On this martyrdom day, a guard of honour will be presented by the 16 Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army. Officers from Western Command and the Punjab Regiment, the Panchkula mayor, representatives of the Panchkula district administration and Municipal Corporation, besides the local councillor and representatives of the Zila Sainik Board and District Red Cross Society, will attend the wreath-laying ceremony and pay floral tributes.“A blood donation camp will also be organised at the memorial by Gur Ram Rai Sports Club, Jalauli, in association with Shree Shiv Kanwar Mahasangh Charitable Trust, Panchkula, and Mahamai Mansa Devi Charitable Bhandara Committee. Students and staff of Shaheed Captain Rohit Kaushal Senior Secondary School, Jalauli, will also present a memoir on the martyr.”
