New Delhi, July 26: Punjab Police head constable Satpal Singh, who manages traffic at a road intersection in Bhawanigarh, a small town in Sangrur district of Punjab is no ordinary person. Satpal was awarded the Vir Chakra for his exceptional bravery on the Tiger Hill during Kargil war.
Twenty years ago, Satpal Singh was a Sepoy, battling Pakistan Army on Tiger Hill. Satpal killed Captain Karnal Sher Khan of the Pakistan Army and three others. Sher Khan was later conferred the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award.
The Punjab Police head constable 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.
Pakistan’s first counter attack came early July 7, pushing back Indian troops.
Recalling the twenty-year-old battle Satpal Singh said, “We had reached our 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 woolens or extra arms and ammunition. The choice was obvious.”
The attacks came one after another. We would beat one and then there would be another. The Pakistanis had a good officer leading them.”
According to a report in Indian Express, 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.
Satpal Singh did not know then that the man he had killed was Capt Karnal Sher Khan.
Brigadier Bajwa, Satpal’s former brigade commander, said, “I recommended Satpal’s name for Param Vir Chakra given his exceptional bravery on Tiger Hill. He was awarded Vir Chakra.”
Satpal joined Punjab Police after completing his service in the Army in 2009. He now manages traffic at a road intersection of a small town. Maybe I made the 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, said Satpal.
