The district administration on Sunday paid rich tributes to Param Vir Chakra awardee and 1971 Indo-Pak war hero Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on his martyrdom day, recalling his extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice for the nation.

A wreath-laying ceremony was organised at the District Administrative Complex in Ludhiana, where Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, along with senior Indian Air Force officers, honoured the martyr by laying wreaths. Personnel of the Punjab Police and the Indian Air Force presented a Guard of Honour, while officials and attendees observed a two-minute silence to pay respect to the fallen hero.

Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, a native of Issewal village in Dakha, was born on July 17, 1943, and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on July 4, 1967. During the Indo-Pak war of 1971, Srinagar Air Field came under attack by six Pakistani aircraft on December 14.

Despite being heavily outnumbered and facing intense enemy fire, Flying Officer Sekhon took off to defend the airfield, displaying exceptional flying skills, courage and determination. He successfully destroyed two enemy aircraft, forcing the remaining intruders to retreat, before making the supreme sacrifice while defending the nation.