A Cartoon by our Biswasda
Friday, 26 July 2019
Tiger Hill Vir Chakra now directs traffic in a small Punjab town
Kargil Vijay Diwas: "May be I made a
wrong decision. I did not get any weightage for my Vir Chakra. Sports
persons winning medals are also given higher ranks... I killed a man who
was awarded Pakistan’s highest gallantry award. Anyway, God is kind. He
kept me alive," Satpal Singh said.
Twenty years ago, Satpal Singh was a Sepoy, battling Pakistan Army’s
counter-attacks on Tiger Hill in which he killed Captain Karnal Sher
Khan of the Northern Light Infantry and three others — Sher Khan was
later conferred the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award,
on the recommendation of the Indian brigade commander who vouched for
his bravery on the icy heights.
He was part of the 8 Sikh team of two officers, four JCOs and 46 ORs
(other ranks), tasked to help the 19 Grenadiers capture Tiger Hill.
Eighteen personnel, including three JCOs, died while beating back
Pakistani attacks on Helmet and India Gate positions on Tiger Hill. Most
who survived the battle were wounded, including the two officers Major
Ravindra Parmar and Lt R K Sehrawat.
At a road intersection in Bhawanigarh, a small town in Sangrur
district of Punjab, Head Constable Satpal Singh is busy directing
traffic. But a close look at his uniform tells you he is no ordinary
traffic policeman. On his shirt, he wears four rows of medal ribands,
including one that’s half blue-half orange. The Vir Chakra.
“We had reached out position by the evening of July 5, 1999. It was
bitterly cold and all we had with us were the clothes we were wearing.
Either we could carry extra woollens or extra arms and ammunition. The
choice was obvious,” recalls Satpal, now 46.
The first Pakistani counter attack came early July 7, pushing back
Indian troops. “The attacks came one after another. We would beat one
and then there would be another. The Pakistanis had a good officer
leading them.” With the officers and JCOs wounded, Subedar Nirmal Singh, among the injured, retained command and remained in touch with the brigade commander, Brig M P S Bajwa, on the wireless.
“Before he was killed with a direct hit to the head, Subedar saab told
us to shout our jaikara ‘Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal’, rush the enemy and
the officer leading them. I took four bullets as I fired my LMG (light
machine gun). There was hand-to-hand combat. I pounced on this tall,
well-built man dressed in a tracksuit. He was leading the Pakistani
troops. There was chaos all around, both sides hurling abuses at each
other as they fought. I managed to kill him,” he said.
He did not know then that the man he had killed was Capt Karnal Sher
Khan. “I killed four of them — the officer, his radio operator and two
jawans providing him close cover.” The death of the officer left the
Pakistanis in disarray. “We could see him (Sher Khan) leading his
troops, using the fire-and-cover method to attack us again and again. He
fought well,” he said.
Brigadier Bajwa, Satpal’s former brigade commander, said: “I
recommended Satpal’s n
name for Param Vir Chakra given his exceptional
bravery on Tiger Hill. He was awarded Vir Chakra.”
After completing his service in the Army, Satpal was discharged in
2009. He joined Punjab Police the following year. “May be I made a wrong
decision. I did not get any weightage for my Vir Chakra. I joined under
the ex-servicemen quota. I am a Head Constable now.”
However, on Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced that
Satpal was promoted from Head Constable to Assistant Sub Inspector.
Many Many thanks to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh.
JAI HIND JAI SATPAL SINGHJI
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