A Jharkhand village which gave more than 300 soldiers is in regular touch with jawans on LAC

Ranchi, June 19 (HS): Takra, a village of 150 houses known for giving more than 300 soldiers to Indian Army since Independence, is worried about  face off between Indian and Chinese soldiers on LAC, but not terrified.

They are in regular contact with the soldiers from the villages deputed at LAC and boosting their morale sitting in their village, about 30 km from Khunti district headquarters, and motivating them to give befitting reply to those trying to damage the sovereignty of the country.

A social worker Ajay Sharma, who is in direct contact with the families of soldiers, shared the mood of the village, which is also famous for giving hockey star and Olympian Jaipal Singh Munda.

“Shanti Kacchap’s husband Prabhu Sahay is at Leh. She received his call after face off between Indian and Chinese troops in which 20 from Indian side martyred. Sahay could not talk much due to poor network but in the short talk Shanti, a mother of three children, boosted his morale,” Sharma said adding Sahay had earlier participated in war with Pakistan and survived attack of Pakistani’s after a bullet passed through his mouth.

“Another youth of the village, Birendra Kacchap, who is posted in Doklam, had called his brother Jitendra Kacchap and shared the situation of LAC. His brother asked him to take care saying moral supports of all villagers are with him. Similarly Birsa Kacchap and Kuril Kacchap are also in contact with their families. Similarly Dashrath Munda, who participated in the 1965 war, also received the call of his soldier son Somra Munda. Once calls of any jawan come from the border it spread like wildfire in the village. Though villagers are worried about taking a war-like situation they are not afraid at all. Presence of villagers on LAC gives a sense of pride among the young generation,” Sharma said.

Asked  why there are so many soldiers from the village, Sharma said: “The village is known for giving hockey players like Jaipal Singh Munda. This identity gives them an edge. Apart from this, youths of the locality are also very conscious of taking army jobs and they start practising in the morning to qualify physical tests for selection in the army.”

Deputy Commissioner of Khunti, Suraj Kumar, said that the village is very famous and the government is giving proper care on its development.

“Our Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda has made a big plan for its development. It has been identified as Shahid Gram. Earlier, we also paid proper attention to this village. People in the village are very enthusiastic and there are also soldiers from most of the houses,” Kumar said.