Two lads of UP will lead marching contingents at Rajpath on #RepublicDay . Among the two, major Manish Verma will lead the youngest battalion of Indian army-- the 172 Madras Territorial Army (MTA), while captain Rajpoot Saurabh Singh will be commander of 17 Garhwal rifles

infantrymen. The battalion is Vir Chakar recipient of Kargil War.

Major Manish Verma of Khurja, Bulandshahar but settled in Agra and Captain Rajpoot Saurabh Singh of Ayodhya is a son of farmer. His is alumnus of Sainik school Lucknow

The 172 MTA battalion was raised on August 1, 2017 for local intelligence gathering of southern group of Nicorbar islands. Barring the contingent leader, the troops of the MTA have never been on mainland. They all belong from tribes of Nicobar island.

This infantry battalion is third of its kind in the ‘Thambi Territorial Army’ fold and 24th in Madras regiment.

Within two years of its commissioning, 95 percent of the battalion will roll down for parade on Rajpath. The marching contingent commander Major Manish Verma

earlier had served with Territorial Army troops of Bihar, Nagaland, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman. Prior to army he was an advocate and has also participated in 50 marathons.

While Captain Rajpoot Saurabh Singh 17 battalion of Garhwal Rifles participated in operation Vijay.

The battalion’s legendary figure Captain Jintu Gogoi had killed two enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and took over their machine gun position.

Though in the process he was mortally wounded. Captain Gogoi was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery in utter disregard for his own safety. Their regimental motto is yudhay krit nishchay (fight with determination) and war cry Badri Vishal Lal ki Jai (

Victory to the sons of Lord Badri Vishal).