Fourteen years after he died fighting the enemy at Kargil, a young Malayali captain is getting a memorial at his native place here in the district.
The state government on Friday sanctioned land for establishing a memorial for Kargil martyr Captain Jerry Premraj. The memorial will come up on the Irrigation Department’s ‘channel puramboke’ land at his native place Venganoor, said Water Resources Minister P J Joseph. Thirty-six square metres of land has been allotted for the purpose.
The government’s decision came on a request placed by the Captain Jerry Premraj Memorial Committee.
On the fateful day - July 9, 1999 - Jerry was commanding a unit on Tiger Hill and he was grievously injured in the ensuing battle. He died the same day. It was only two years previously that he had been commissioned into the Indian Army. The India Government honoured him with the Vir Chakra for his bravery.