A file picture of the war memorial at Batasia Loop

Siliguri, June 18: The secretary of the Zilla Sainik Board, Darjeeling, has appealed to ex-servicemen to maintain the sanctity of the war memorial at Batasia Loop, about 5km from Darjeeling town.

The appeal by Captain (retd) A.K. Saxena refers to an incident during a recent visit by a Parliamentary team to the war memorial, when members of the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurva Sainik Morcha, an organisation of ex-servicemen, shouted slogans in favour of Gorkhaland.

“It is a matter of concern that on the morning of June 8, when a Parliamentary team was being escorted to the memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony, some ex-servicemen in proper attire and with full medals engaged in raising political slogans with flags and banners at the site,” said Saxena.

The memorial was constructed and dedicated in the memory of Gorkhas from the Darjeeling district who laid down their lives for the nation in wars and other military operations.

The memorial, along with the Toy Train loop, is not only a tourist attraction in the Darjeeling circuit “but is also a monument held in great esteem and respect”, Saxena said. He is also the secretary of the War Memorial Committee.

“Ex-servicemen have the right to raise their voices for any political agenda but their action that day has been to the detriment of the uniformed services and the sanctity of the war memorial has been abused. I therefore appeal to the people to maintain the sanctity of the memorial,” said Saxena.

Among the group, which comprised three retired officers and about 25 ex-servicemen, was S.P. Pradhan, assistant secretary in charge of media and publicity of the Sainik Morcha.

Saxena alleged that Pradhan posed himself as a retired captain, although he was a former Naik of the army with service number 4307527. “He was instrumental in vociferously raising these political slogans and insinuating derogatory comments to the officer escorting the Parliamentary delegation,” said Saxena.

He said Pradhan has been “in the habit of impersonating a gazetted rank and misleading the press and people at large”.

Contacted, the president of the Bhutpurva Sainik Morcha, an organisation affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Colonel (retd) Ramesh Allay, said: “We will investigate the allegation about Pradhan’s rank. If found true, we will take up the matter with our central committee.”

Referring to the slogans raised, Allay said: “I was present that day. We are dedicated ex-defence personnel and had served the nation. We wanted to meet the Parliamentarians and deliver a letter to them. The authorities told us the best place to meet them would be the war memorial. On these grounds, we were justified in raising our demand there.”

Pradhan could not be contacted despite many attempts.