CHANDIGARH: The role played by the Army troops in violence-hit areas of Haryana during the Jat stir demanding quota has received accolades from foreign nationals stranded during the stir.

Impressed with Army’s timely action in saving foreign nationals, stranded in Rohtak, when most of the business installations of city were set on fire, managing director of a Japanese company has written a letter to Army authorities extending his gratitude for saving their lives.

In his letter addressed to Major Sanjeev Balyan, Army’s column commander in Rohtak, Makoto Saito, managing director of AISIN automotive Haryana private limited has written on Thursday that the company appreciates the Army’s role for saving the company’s employees and property in Rohtak.

"We would continue to make our efforts to have the Indian economy grow by supporting the Indian car manufacturers and wish a peaceful India and a sound growth of Indian economy," said the ecstatic MD, who has started the operations at Rohtak on Tuesday.

Army had saved around 36 foreign nationals on February 20, when most part of Rohtak city was burning. These includes 27 Japanese, one each from Malaysia and Belgium, four from Sweden and three Italian who were evacuated by Army and airlifted to Delhi on the fateful day.

While the Japanese were working with the local industrial unit, others were tourists and were waiting for some vehicles at Bhiwani stand in Rohtak for some vehicles.

Giving details of the evacuation plan, Major Sanjeev Balyan informed that they had received information about the Japanese national, who were stranded during the violence, on February 20 at around 4 pm.

After evacuating them from their industrial unit, they were taken to the police line area along with some other foreigners, where the Army had setup its base.

“Though, helicopters were available only for troops movement, as a special request to air force, we asked for choppers to evacuate these foreign nationals to Delhi. As a special case, our request was accepted and we managed to send 18 people at around 5.20 pm on the same day,” Major Balyan said.

He further informed that though they tried to send all of them on the same day, choppers could land after the sunset even after their efforts to provide floodlights by Army trucks and buses at the makeshift helipad.

Thereafter, all the foreign nationals were taken inside the police line, where they were provided meal and blankets. Finally, all were sent to Delhi on February 21 at around 11.8 am.

"Situation at that was extremely tensed and difficult to handle at city and at the same time, we had to save these foreign nationals. We continued our flag march in city to bring the situation under control and continued to evacuate the foreigners at some safer place. Our biggest award is that appreciation letter by foreign company’s head who feels they are in safe hands and has even continued their operations in Rohtak," Major Balyan added.

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