Revenue minister Bhumidhar Bharman presents the Bir Chilarai Award to Capt. Jintu Gogoi’s parents in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 19: Kargil martyr Capt. Jintu Gogoi was posthumously conferred Assam’s highest bravery honour, the Bir Chilarai Award, today.

Receiving the award, his father Thorigam Gogoi expressed gratitude to the state government for the honour and urged chief minister Tarun Gogoi to fulfil his promise of naming a road in Golaghat after Jintu so that his son’s sacrifice remained a source of inspiration for generations to come.

“During a visit to our residence at Khumtai three years ago, the chief minister had announced that a 7.5-km-long stretch of road at Badulipara in Golaghat would be repaired and named after my son,” he said.

“The road was repaired but the chief minister’s promise remains unfulfilled. I request him to name the road after my son on July 26, which is observed as Vijay Divas to commemorate the victory in Kargil,” he added.

Presenting the award, revenue and higher education minister Bhumidhar Barman said Capt. Gogoi was an apt recipient of the award named after legendary Koch general Bir Chilarai, known for his bravery and exemplary courage.

“The government and the people of Assam take immense pride in conferring the prestigious Bir Chilarai Award, 2007, on Capt. Jintu Gogoi, who sacrificed his life to defend the dignity and honour of Mother India,” he said at a function organised at Rabindra Bhawan this morning. The award carries Rs 2 lakh in cash and a citation.

Capt. Gogoi of 17 Garhwal Rifles had laid down his life at Juber Hills in the Batalik sub-sector of Kargil on June 30, 1999, while defending his country. He was posthumously decorated with the Vir Chakra.

Cultural affairs minister Gautam Bora, legislator Robin Bordoloi, secretary of cultural affairs department Rabendra Kumar Das, commander of 51 Sub Area of the army Brig. Azad Sameer and Capt. Gogoi’s mother Dulu Prabha were among those who attended the ceremony.

The chief minister could not attend the function, as he had to leave for Delhi. His speech was read out by his press adviser Debo Bora.

The state government instituted the award in 2006.

Last year, it was presented posthumously to former Assam chief minister Sarat Chandra Sinha.