Ex-servicemen urge govts to rename Bihta airport after slain AF commando

Patna: Bihar Ex-Servicemen Association (officers) on Saturday urged the state and the Central govts that the upcoming Bihta airport be renamed after slain Air Force Garud Commando, Jyoti Prakash Nirala. He was a native of Bihar and a posthumous recipient of the Ashok Chakra — the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award.
Talking to this newspaper, the association president, Col V K Singh, said that renaming the Bihta airport after Nirala would be a ‘befitting tribute' to his bravery and ultimate sacrifice during a counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 2017. Nirala, who hailed from Rohtas district, was instrumental in neutralising several militants before succumbing to his injuries, he said.
"Bihar has produced countless heroes who laid down their lives for the nation. It is only fitting that the state recognises their sacrifices in public spaces that carry symbolic and strategic importance," Col Singh said. He added that alongside the renaming of Bihta airport, the association also recommended that the Danapur railway station be rechristened as "Danapur Cantt" in line with railway stations serving cantonment areas like Delhi Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Agra Cantt, and Ambala Cantt in other states.
Col Singh said that such a move would not only honour Bihar's strong military tradition but also bring uniformity with national practices. The ex-servicemen's association emphasised that these symbolic acts would inspire the youth and deepen public respect for the armed forces. He added that the association would submit a formal proposal to the ministry of defense (MoD), ministry of civil aviation, and railways to consider the proposals to carry on a rich legacy of the armed forces in the state.
Patna: Bihar Ex-Servicemen Association (officers) on Saturday urged the state and the Central govts that the upcoming Bihta airport be renamed after slain Air Force Garud Commando, Jyoti Prakash Nirala. He was a native of Bihar and a posthumous recipient of the Ashok Chakra — the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award.
Talking to this newspaper, the association president, Col V K Singh, said that renaming the Bihta airport after Nirala would be a ‘befitting tribute' to his bravery and ultimate sacrifice during a counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 2017. Nirala, who hailed from Rohtas district, was instrumental in neutralising several militants before succumbing to his injuries, he said.
"Bihar has produced countless heroes who laid down their lives for the nation. It is only fitting that the state recognises their sacrifices in public spaces that carry symbolic and strategic importance," Col Singh said. He added that alongside the renaming of Bihta airport, the association also recommended that the Danapur railway station be rechristened as "Danapur Cantt" in line with railway stations serving cantonment areas like Delhi Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Agra Cantt, and Ambala Cantt in other states.
Col Singh said that such a move would not only honour Bihar's strong military tradition but also bring uniformity with national practices. The ex-servicemen's association emphasised that these symbolic acts would inspire the youth and deepen public respect for the armed forces. He added that the association would submit a formal proposal to the ministry of defense (MoD), ministry of civil aviation, and railways to consider the proposals to carry on a rich legacy of the armed forces in the state.