Kolkata hosts first Freedom 250 Memorial Motorcycle Rally to honour decades of U.S.-India security cooperation

Organised as part of the Freedom 250 campaign, the event celebrated decades of cooperation built on mutual trust and shared democratic values.

It also paid tribute to five Kolkata Police personnel who lost their lives while defending the American Center during the 2002 terrorist attack — Pijush Sarker, Ujjal Burman, Suresh Hembram, Anup Mondal, and Sheikh Ashraf Ali.

U.S. Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz joined the event in Kolkata. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

U.S. Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz and West Bengal Cabinet Minister Dilip Ghosh participated in the programme.

The rally brought together more than 250 participants. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

“Just as a motorcycle needs two wheels to move forward, the U.S.-India partnership relies on our nations working together,” Consul General Giles-Diaz said.

“Our shared vision for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific drives us forward. This vision requires resilience and vigilance, and dedicated people like the Kolkata Police. What grew out of the 2002 attack is the network of partners who help us protect the ideas of freedom and peace every day,” she said.

The rally brought together more than 250 participants, including American diplomats, Indian police officers, motorcycle enthusiasts, and business representatives.

West Bengal Cabinet Minister Dilip Ghosh was present at the rally. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

The early morning ride began at the American Center and passed through key landmarks such as Victoria Memorial, Princep Ghat, and Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police.

The event was organised in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), which promotes security cooperation between U.S. diplomatic missions and the American private sector overseas.

Minister Dilip Ghosh and U.S. Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz paid tributes to five Kolkata Police personnel who lost their lives while defending the American Center during the 2002 terrorist attack. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

According to a statement issued by the American Center, Speed Group, PepsiCo, and Hyatt Regency Kolkata played a key role in supporting the event by providing organisational assistance, refreshments, and hospitality, underscoring the important contribution of the private sector in advancing shared security objectives.

(Photos Courtesy Avishek Mitra/IBNS)