Himachal CM inaugurates war museum in Dharamsala

Shimla Aug 9 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday dedicated to the public a war museum in Dharamsala and also laid the foundation stone of a memorial to freedom fighters near the town.

The war museum he said was a reminder of the sacrifices of the valiant soldiers hailing from the state.

He said the museum costing Rs 9.85 crore would help people know about the nation s first Param Vir Chakra recipient Maj Somnath Sharma and late Captains Vikram Batra and Saurabh Kalia.

"I salute the valiant men and women of Himachal Pradesh who became martyrs and their families as well who contributed equally to the country in one way or the other right from the freedom struggle till date " an official statement quoted the Chief Minister as saying.

He said 52 brave men from the hill state made the ultimate sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil war. "These heroes will find a mention in this museum so as to keep their sacrifices alive for the generations to come."

--IANS
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