In 1999, Sepoy Satpal Singh won the Vir Chakra for his exceptional bravery on the Tiger Hill during Kargil war.
Today, he is an Assistant Sub inspector with Punjab Police. He was promoted from a Head Constable to ASI on Friday after a report in described how Satpal now directs traffic in a small town in Punjba바카라s Sangrur district.
Satpal 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. He killed Captain Karnal Sher Khan of the Northern Light Infantry and three others.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas - the day Kargil War formally came to an end after Indian soldiers successfully recaptured the mountain heights seized by the Pakistani Army.
Satpal Singh, who is now 46 years old, recalls the events of the day when he helped in recapturing the Tiger Hill. 바카라We had reached out position by the evening of July 5, 1999,바카라 Satpal Singh told the newspaper. 바카라It 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.바카라
The Sikh regiment had been directed to help the 18 Grenadiers regiment recapture Tiger Hill. Eighteen people died while pushing back Pakistani forces. Several others, including the two officers in the team 바카라 Major Ravindra Parmar and Lieutenant RK Sehrawat 바카라 were injured. Following this, Subedar Nirmal Singh of 8 Sikh took command.
The war veteran said that before being killed by a direct hit to the head, Subedar Nirmal Singh instructed the regiment바카라s soldiers to shout out 바카라Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal바카라 and rush the enemy and the officer leading them. 바카라I took four bullets as I fired my LMG [light machine gun],바카라 Singh said. 바카라There was hand-to-hand combat.바카라
The war veteran said he pounced on a 바카라tall, well-built man dressed in a tracksuit바카라 who was leading the Pakistani troops. 바카라There was chaos all around, both sides hurling abuses at each other as they fought,바카라 Satpal Singh added. 바카라I managed to kill him.바카라
After completing his service in the Army, Satpal was discharged in 2009. He joined Punjab Police the following year and was working as a head constable till today.
In an interview to English daily The Indian Express, Satpal said, 바카라May 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.바카라
바카라Sportspersons winning medals are also given higher ranks바카라I killed a man who was awarded Pakistan바카라s highest gallantry award. Anyway, God is kind. He kept me alive. I just feel bad for my unemployed post-graduate son,바카라 he said.
