Had Sukhwinder Singh not killed the human bomb, many lives would have been lost during the terror attack on Parliament in 2001. The CRPF head constable got Shaurya Chakra for his bravery
Had Sukhwinder Singh not killed the human bomb, many lives would have been lost during the terror attack on Parliament in 2001. The CRPF head constable got Shaurya Chakra for his bravery
Having served in insurgency-hit areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, terror was something that Head Constable Sukhwinder Singh knew at the back of his hand.
But, he never thought in his wildest nightmare that he would have a face off with terrorists in the most fortified place in the country the Parliament.
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Braveheart: Sukhwinder Singh |
December 13, 2001 was just another day for the Central Reserve Police Force jawan when he was on duty at the Parliament complex and heard a grenade blast. "It (the blast) announced everything loud and clear. It was clearly a do or die but then we knew we have to kill before being killed. After all it was our country's sovereignty that was at stake," Singh told MiD DAY.
He was on duty at the main gate in the 10 am to 2 pm shift when a car rammed into the barricade. "We thought somebody might have lost control but even before we could react a grenade was lobbed upon us," he said.
The grenade went off just meters away from him and he miraculously escaped the splinters flying past him. Before his colleagues could react, Singh moved out of his picket with his self-loading rifle and took position. He saw a man climbing out of the van and was alarmed by Kamlesh Kumari, a woman constable, who indicated that the man "looked dangerous."
"I started firing at him and suddenly felt severe pain in my stomach. Our guard Commander Vizeto Tinyi who till now has asked all of us to take positions was hit in his knee. Then I realized I was hit in stomach by one of the terrorists," Singh said.
Bleeding profusely from his stomach, Singh kept firing towards the militants who by now had started to run towards the main building. But, Singh was after the "dangerous" one, the man who was carrying some thing different with him. Before heavy bleeding could put him down and his target ran out of his firing range, Singh shot down the man.
His intuition did not betray him. As soon as the man was shot, he blew off into pieces. Singh's target was a human bomb.
"Singh showed immense courage and presence of mind. He was closest to the human bomb and other terrorists were giving him cover fire. Had he managed to enter the main campus he would have killed more people than the terrorists who were moving around with AK rifles," said a senior CRPF officer.
"His injury too was grievous but he is a very determined man. Within 15 days he was out of the hospital. He even did not let his family know about the incident," added the officer.
"My family got to know from newspapers and TV channels. I thought they would get worried and anyways it was a mild injury nothing unusual in a soldier's life." said Singh who is now posted in the hot bed of terrorism u2014 the Kashmir valley.
He was awarded Shaurya Chakra for his brave action, which saved so many lives. Punjab government promised him land and other facilities. "But all that Singh got was letters. Even after eight years, no promise has been fulfilled," a senior CRPF officer said, requesting anonymity.
DerailedHead Constable Sukhwinder Singh was awarded a free lifetime railway pass, which all gallantry awardees get.
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But the railway authorities confiscated the pass last month when Singh went to get it renewed.
"I was told that CRPF men are not entitled for such benefits. I don't know much about such things. I am not even concerned; my happiest moment in life was when my eight-year-old sons told me that he wants to join CRPF. He refused to even consider any other job," he said.
Railway spokesperson Anant Swarup when asked about the goof up clarified: "There was some confusion. We have cleared the issue and pass is available to all the Chakra series awardees, including the police gallantry medals."
