Today, in the heart of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, a life-size statue of Lance Naik Albert Ekka, dressed in military attire, is pointing a machine gun. It tells the story of the victory of India and Bangladesh. When a new country was emerging on the world map, this sun of Gumla had set leaving its mark. This brave man was posthumously awarded Paramvir Chakra.
Lance Naik Albert Ekka was a resident of Jari village in Gumla district of Jharkhand. When Albert Ekka joined the army, he fought with China. Was in Bihar Regiment at that time. Nine years after the 1962 war, he had become the Lance Naik of 14 Guards when he set out to liberate Bangladesh from the jaws of Pakistan. Very few soldiers had the privilege of fighting with China and defeating Pakistan too. Albert Ekka is the first tribal to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
turned the war in India’s favor
It was the dark night of December 3, 1971 when bullets were being fired all around. Fireballs were being fired from somewhere and hand grenades and mortars were being fired from somewhere else. Albert’s front was near Ganga Sagar. There was a railway station nearby, where 165 Pakistani infiltrators had set up base. At 2.30 on the night of December 3, Albert and his companions crossed the railway. At that time Albert was 29 years old. As soon as we crossed the railway station. The sentry of Pakistani army said stop. After shooting that sentry they entered enemy territory. The attack took place from the LMG bunker. Then Albert Ekka displayed bravery and put his grenade into the LMG without caring for his life. Due to this the entire bunker of Pak Army was blown up. Killed 65 Pakistani soldiers and captured 15.
Albert was hit by 21 bullets
While coming back after capturing the outer signal area of the railway, the Pakistani army standing on top of the Top Tower house suddenly attacked us with machine guns. 15 Indian soldiers were killed in this. Then Albert ran and climbed the top tower. Captured the machine gun of the top tower and destroyed the enemies. During this time, Albert Ekka was hit by more than 20 bullets. The body was riddled. He fell down from the top tower. Where he breathed his last. Jari’s brave son Albert had been sacrificed. If Albert Ekka had not been there, 150 soldiers would have been killed.
India-Pakistan war lasted till 16 December
After the victory of Ganga Sagar, it became easy for the Indian Army to reach Akhaura from the southern and south-western ends. The result was that the enemy had to leave Akhaura and run away in front of the attack by the Indian Army. This war lasted from 3 December to 16 December 1971 and Bangladesh emerged.
Along with this son of Jharkhand, about 26 soldiers from Ranchi and surrounding areas had sacrificed their lives in the creation of this new country. In Ranchi, a compensation amount of Rs 5,000 each was given to all these 26 martyr families. Assurance of land, job etc. was also given by the government. On 21 January 1971, a function was organized at Bari Park, Ranchi. An amount of Rs 7 lakh, five thousand was provided in this. The then Bihar Governor Devkant Barua provided this amount.
