An 18-member platoon comprising of BSF and CRPF personnel, along with six para-cyclists and a handful of civilians will be received by Maharashtra chief minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis at the Gateway of India on November 26 to mark the black letter day in 2008, when armed terrorists attacked the city.
Named ‘Martyrs’ Ride’, the entourage had set off on their cycles from the India Gate in New Delhi on November 14 to pay tribute to the bravehearts who had laid down their lives on that ghastly day. Up to 18 security personnel had made the ultimate sacrifice during the 26/11 terror attacks.
Led by champion para-cyclist Aditya Mehta, who conceived the entire ride, the group rode and completed the strenuous journey in just 12 days, stopping only to rest their tired limbs.
“I came here not just to pay tribute to the soldiers of our country, who sacrificed their lives for the safety of the citizens, but to all those people who stood in harm’s way and displayed bravery. We are proud of them. I personally wanted to congratulate all these steel-hearted armed force personnel who rode all the way from Delhi to honour the people who died during the Mumbai attacks,” CM Fadnavis said. “We are a tired but a very happy lot. This 1450 km long ride has taught me so many things, especially about the way our brave soldiers fight for us every day,” Mehta said.
The group covered 140 kms on their first day from New Delhi to Behror in Rajasthan. Their next stop was in Jaipur, 127 kms away. After that, they departed for Ajmer (135 kms), then to Deogarh (109kms) and Udaipur (131kms). This leg took them five days.
After a day’s rest, on November 20, they set off again to cover 613 kms, again in five days before their second break in Palghar. They ultimately made their way to the majestic Gateway of India, where the Honourable Chief Minister flagged them in.
This is not the first time that the BSF and the Adiyta Mehta Foundation has organised a strenuous ride such as this. They organise the ‘Infinity Ride’ every year to raise substantial amount of funds to aid para-athletes and help them realize their dream of winning medals for their country.
