AR felicitates man who escorted Dalai Lama in ’59

SHILLONG: The Assam Riffles felicitated its veteran, Naren Chandra Das, who escorted the Dalai Lama during his escape from Tibet nearly 60 years ago at the Force’s Headquarter on Tuesday.
DG Lieutenant General Shokin Chauhan felicitated Das in the presence of the rank and file of the force.
Assam Riffles chief reaffirmed the Force’s pledge to look after its veterans and how a special cell was started wherein all veterans can register and interact directly for their grievances, Assam Riffles spokesman Lt Col Rahul Josan said.
Josan said that a befitting tribute was paid to 76 year-old Das, the only surviving Jawan among the eight Assam Riffles men who escorted the Tibetan spiritual leader in 1959.
Das, who was dressed in the Force’s uniforms, carried a broad smiled boasting of how he happily carried the duty entrusted to him when he was posted at Lungla near the China border.
Commanders’ conference held
The Assam Rifles Commanders’ Conference was held at the Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles in Shillong on Tuesday.
The conference was chaired by Lieutenant General Shokin Chauhan, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Director General of Assam Rifles and attended by Formation Commanders and Officers of Headquarters DGAR.
The emphasis of the conference was on drawing lessons from past experience in various fields and improving upon these aspects for an overall better efficiency of the Force.
The Director General exhorted everyone to carry out an honest and critical self appraisal for long term betterment of the Force.
“The Assam Rifles has always identified itself with the populace of North East and ensured their security and well being. The challenge now facing the Commanders was to sustain the same and live up to it.” he added.