<span style="color: #222222;">Manipur joined the rest of the country in paying tributes to the martyrs, who laid down their lives for the Nation during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The State level observance of Vijay Diwas was held today at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh as the chief guest and Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar Singh as the functional president.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking at the occasion, N. Biren Singh said, Indian armed forces were not well equipped at that time.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">However, it was their spirit of patriotism and sacrifice that won the war and liberated East Pakistan as Bangladesh.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Stating that Indian armed force is one of the most powerful armed forces in the world, the Chief Minister asserted that it is now capable to deal with any type of external aggression.</span><br />''