Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday (26 July 2019) announced a double promotion for Vir Chakra awardee and Kargil War hero Satpal Singh after knowing that the war hero was managing traffic in Bhawanigarh, a small town in Sangrur district of Punjab.
The CM accused the previous government of carelessly neglecting the credentials of Satpal Singh during his recruitment in 2010. As a special case, Satpal Singh will now be promoted as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Punjab Police as authorised by the Chief Minister.
Captain Amarinder Singh took to Twitter handle and said, “Have promoted Vir Chakra awardee Satpal Singh of the Kargil War from senior constable to ASI. He deserves special treatment, which previous Akali Dal govt didn’t deem fit to give him at the time of his recruitment in 2010. This is the least we can do for our brave soldiers.”
Have promoted Vir Chakra awardee Satpal Singh of the #KargilWar from senior constable to ASI. He deserves special treatment, which previous @Akali_Dal_ govt didn’t deem fit to give him at the time of his recruitment in 2010. This is the least we can do for our brave soldiers. https://t.co/OUHuosvSSA
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) July 26, 2019
Satpal Singh-Vir Chakra Awardee
Satpal Singh was posted in Drass Sector of Jammu and Kashmir during ‘Operation Vijay’. Serving with 8 Sikh Regiment, two officers, four JCOs and 46 ORs, Satpal Singh victoriously captured the Tiger Hill, which was one of India’s prime objective.
Satpal Singh gunned down Pakistani Captain Karnal Sher Khan, who was awarded Pakistan’s Highest Gallantry Award and three others during the operation. He proudly wears four rows of medal ribands, including half blue-half orange (Vir Chakra) which signifies his acts of valour in Kargil war.
After completing his service in the Army, Satpal was discharged in 2009. He joined Punjab Police the next year.
“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,” he told The Indian Express.
CM Announces Double Promotion
“Sportspersons 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, but I just feel bad for my unemployed post-graduate son,” Satpal Singh told The Indian Express.
CM Amarinder Singh regretted that Satpal Singh had to suffer the disgrace of working as a senior constable after his act of bravery during the war and blamed the previous government for not giving him his due recognition.
The CM was later alerted that Satpal Singh has been directing traffic from the past nine years as a senior constable in Punjab Police.
Satpal Singh’s condition came to the attention of the Chief Minister’s notice after a video of the war veteran went viral on social media. In the video, 46-year-old Satpal Singh could be seen managing traffic in a small town of Punjab.
Also, Read Kargil Vijay Diwas: Remembering ‘Operation Vijay’ & Those Who Won The War For Us