Kolkata, June 9 (MExN): In a solemn yet symbolic display of Indo-US security ties, US Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz and West Bengal Cabinet Minister Dilip Ghosh led a motorcycle rally through the streets of Kolkata, honouring five Kolkata Police personnel killed in the 2002 terrorist attack on the American Center.
An update received here stated that the first-ever ‘Joy-Freedom Ride’, part of the ongoing Freedom 250 campaign, saw over 250 riders, including American diplomats, Indian police officers, bikers, and business partners, traverse an early morning route from the American Center to the Victoria Memorial, Princep Ghat, and Laal Bazar, headquarters of Kolkata Police.
The event concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony at the American Center, where the two leaders paid homage to the fallen officers: Pijush Sarker, Ujjal Burman, Suresh Hembram, Anup Mondal, and Sheikh Ashraf Ali.
“Just as a motorcycle needs two wheels to move forward, the US-India partnership relies on our nations working together,” Giles-Diaz said. “Our shared vision for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific drives us forward. What grew out of the 2002 attack is a network of partners who help us protect the ideas of freedom and peace every day.”
The rally was organised under the aegis of the US Consulate Kolkata’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), which fosters security cooperation between US missions and American private sector entities abroad. Key corporate partners included Speed Group, PepsiCo, and Hyatt Regency Hotel Kolkata, underscoring the private sector’s role in advancing shared security goals.
The 2026 Joy-Freedom Ride is intended to be the first of an annual tradition, with the Consulate describing it as “a living reminder that the US-India security partnership, built on sacrifice and sustained by shared purpose, continues to move forward.”
Minister Dilip Ghosh, representing the West Bengal government, hailed the enduring bond between the two nations and the bravery of Kolkata Police, stating that such partnerships strengthen global peace and regional stability.
