Warm tributes were paid to the martyrs of the battle of Saragarhi at various places including Ferozepur and Amritsar in Punjab today. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann laid the foundation stone of a Saragarhi memorial in Ferozpur and directed officials to complete it within next six months. About 126 years ago, on 12 September 1897, 21 brave soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British-Indian Army gave their martyrdom while fighting against about 10 thousand Afghani tribesmen. The 36th Sikh Regiment is now known as the 4th Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army. A Report:

"The battle of Saragarhi presents an example of bravery in which 21 Sikh soldiers under the leadership of Havaldar Ishar Singh of the Sikh Regiment fought bravely against the Afghani tribesmen in Samana village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presently in Pakistan. They fought to the last breath, killing about 600 Afghani tribesmen and foiled their attempt to capture the area. These 21 Sikhs who died in this war were mostly from the Majha region of Punjab, so memorials of these martyrs were built in Amritsar and Ferozepur districts. These martyrs were honored with the highest Indian military bravery award, Indian Order of Merit at that time, equal to the Paramvir Chakra presently. Shishu Sharma Shantal, Akashvani News, Jalandhar."