Albert Ekka was a soldier of the Indian Army who dies in the Battle of Hilli during the span of the Bangladesh liberation War in the year 1971. Albert Ekka was born on 27th December of 1942 in the village of Zari of Ranchi tehsil in Jharkhand state, which forms part of the Indian subcontinent. He was born to Zuluis Ekka in a Christian family of tribal heritage. At a tender age of 20 he was enrolled in the 14 Guards of the Indian Army.
When the war broke out between the Indian subcontinent and its neighbour Pakistan on 3rd December, 1971, Albert Ekka was in the left forward company of a battalion of brigade of guards and was ordered to capture a Pakistani position at Gangasagar which lies six and a half kilometers west to Agartala on the border between Tripura and Bangladesh. This was a well-fortified position held in the strength by the enemy. Lance Naik Albert Ekka went with the left forward company of the Battalion in this attack and the Indian troops soon became engaged in hand to hand combat. Albert Ekka noticed a light machine gun inflicting heavy casualties on his company. He immediately rushed into the enemy bunker and bayoneted two enemy soldiers manning the LMG to death. Albert Ekka was seriously wounded in this battle but he continued fighting and his fellow soldiers had cut a swath through the enemy lines. Yet again when a medium machine gun (MMG) opened up from the second floor of a well fortified building inflicting heavy casualties on the troops, this brave soldier he managed to crawl till he reached the building and threw a grenade into the bunker killing and injuring the enemy soldiers. By this daring act of his he not only saved further casualties to his company but also ensured the success of the attack. But soon after the achievement of his objective he succumbed to the serious injuries inflicted on him during the war. He is believed to have displayed valor and determination and made a great sacrifice for the army. For his magnanimous achievements he was awarded the nation`s highest wartime gallantry award Param Veer Chakra.
To honor his achievements and sacrifice a statue of Albert Ekka was built. The Firayalal Chowk named after the 1971 Param Veer Chakra was built in the heart of Ranchi but still inn general people refer to its as Firayalal Chowk because it is sited in front of the Firayalal store.
