Tributes were paid to Brigadier Rajinder Singh, saviour of Kashmir, the first recipient of the Mahavir Chakra in Independent India.
Top civil and army official paid tributes at a function held in Jammu on Friday.
On 21 October 1947, Pakistani forces besieged Jammu and Kashmir after Maharaja Hari Singh declared independence. Under siege, on 22 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh ordered Brigadier Singh, who served as the chief of army staff of Jammu and Kashmir, to defend the state
Brigadier Singh gathered 110 soldiers and moved to Muzaffarabad to counter the invading force of over 6,000 militiamen
For four days, Brigadier Singh and his brave jawans hindered the progress of the Pakistani invaders. This may have been the first time in contemporary military history where an army chief personally led soldiers in combat.
As Brigadier Singh and his men fought, on 26 October, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession joining the Union of India.
He saved Srinagar airport enabling Indian Army troops to land and take on Pak raiders.
