On days when our jawans are not fighting with all their might for our nation's safety, they work for even greater purposes. 

In a bid to honour the 1971 war veterans of the country, BSF personnel ran a 180 kilometres relay race at midnight (December 13-14) at the international border.  

As per an ANI report, the race culminated at Anupgarh in less than 11 hours. 

© Reuters

Even Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiran Rijiju lauded the BSF personnel who participated in the race braving the cold winter night. 

“BSF honoured the war heroes of 1971 war today in style! 180 km baton relay race was run by 930 BSF boys and girls in the midnight at international border and completed in less than 11 hours,” Rijiju tweeted. 

BSF honoured the war heroes of 1971 war today in style! 180 km baton relay race was run by 930 BSF boys and girls in the mid night at international border and completed in less then 11 hours. pic.twitter.com/EeBZ5V16aQ

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) December 14, 2020

Here’s how people on social media reacted to the patriotic gesture by the BSF personnel: 

Salute @BSF_India 16 km an hour is not easy that too at below 5/10deg temperatures , that clearly shows the fitness and commitment our brothers / sisters at bsf have This run is for a great cause , Thanks for protecting us and our borders 1.3bn hearts are with u. Jai Hind 🇮🇳

— Sunder Manikandan (@manisun99) December 14, 2020

11 hours me 180km, Kaun se speed bhage ye log.. kya training li hai... salute to them

— Unknown (@rahulya06740896) December 14, 2020

Salute! 🇮🇳

— urmila 🇮🇳Indian (@urmila2008) December 14, 2020

Amazing Salute to our Indian Army. Jai Bharat pic.twitter.com/6jySRgl1L1

— आत्मनिर्भर बिलौटा (@KillwishKaBhoot) December 14, 2020

Super humans. Salute to the bravest souls. Thanks @BSF_India jai hind

— Rishav (@lifeofcolorsu) December 14, 2020

Proud of you @BSF_India 🇮🇳 It's a great gesture towards our 1971 war veterans.

— Manthan Purohit (@Purohit1512) December 14, 2020

My Salutations to spirit

— Sush@18 (@Sush184) December 14, 2020

Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on December 16 to mark India’s triumph in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.

#WATCH Bikaner, Rajasthan: BSF personnel ran a 180 kilometres relay race at midnight (13/14th December) at the international border, to honour the 1971 war veterans. The race culminated at Anupgarh, in less than 11 hours.

(Source: BSF) pic.twitter.com/3jDpAtjfhW

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

For the unversed, in one of the fastest and shortest campaigns of military history, a new nation was born as a result of the swift campaign undertaken by the Indian Army. 

After facing defeat in the 1971 war, the then Army Chief of Pakistan General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendered to allied forces which also comprised of Indian Army personnel. 

No amount of words can ever suffice in expressing our gratitude towards the bravery, courage and selflessness of our soldiers, for putting their lives on the line to protect us from all kinds of external threats.

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