AGARTALA, June 5 - Nearly 46 years after the supreme sacrifice made by Indian Army jawan Elbert Ekka in the historic Bangladesh Liberation War, a major park has been dedicated to the martyr�s name here.
The Rs 1.99-crore Elbert Ekka Park was inaugurated by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in the Lichubagan area today in the presence of thousands of people.
The park measuring about one hectare of area is covered by lawns, a garden and sculptures. It was opened on the occasion of the World Environment Day today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister recalled how Lance Naik Elbert Ekka saved Agartala from the Pakistani Army in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War that ended with the creation of Bangladesh.
�Despite bullets that pierced his neck and hand, the brave jawan continued to move towards an advanced post of the Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan. Ekka killed six to seven Pakistani Army personnel before breathing his last on the battle ground,� Deb said.
He said he had conveyed to the Jharkhand Chief Minister on Monday the Tripura Government�s decision to dedicate a park in the memory of Ekka. Ekka hailed from Gumla district of Jharkhand.
�In the park, there is no provision of setting up a museum, but we will erect the statues of national heroes like Ekka and ten other colleagues,� the Chief Minister said, adding that this would help people coming from outside the State and the younger generation to know about Ekka.
Forest Minister Mever Kumar Jamataia, MLA Dr Dilip Das and PCCF Dr AK Gupta were also present in the programme.
