Punjab formulating policy for gallantry awardees

Captain Amarinder Singh honoured Kargil War Hero and Vir Chakra Awardee Satpal Singh with double promotion. He said that his government was formulating a policy to award a one-rank promotion for any defence or police personnel/officer from Punjab winning a gallantry award in war or in peacetime.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said his government was formulating a policy to award a one-rank promotion for any defence or police personnel/officer from Punjab winning a gallantry award in war or in peacetime.

Days after the 20th anniversary of the Kargil War, Captain Amarinder honoured Kargil War Hero and Vir Chakra Awardee Satpal Singh with double promotion.

Amarinder Singh said in a tweet "Really happy to pipp #Kargil war hero Satpal Singh as ASI. Only feel sorry he didn’t get his due earlier. "

Captain Amarinder alleged that the valiant soldier had not been given due recognition at the time of his recruitment into Punjab Police by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government in 2010.

If any such officers/personnel wish to join Punjab Police, their service and bravery would be given due recognition, said the Chief Minister, while pipping the stars of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) on the uniform of Kargil war hero Satpal Singh.

Amarinder came across Satpal Singh's plight through newspaper reports and issued the orders for his promotion as ASI, directing the DGP to relax Rule 12.3 of the Punjab Police Rules. Part of the team that helped the Indian Army recapture Tiger Hill, Satpal Singh had killed Captain Karnal Sher Khan of Pakistan's Northern Light Infantry and three others in the battle.

Satpal Singh, who joined Punjab Police after his discharge from the Indian Army, was posted in Drass sector during Operation Vijay in 1999.

The Chief Minister said his government was committed to the welfare of soldiers and ex-soldiers whose sacrifices to the nation and its people could not be allowed to go unrecognised.

He said he had been pained to hear that Satpal Singh was working as a senior traffic constable and wanted to give the dignity and respect that the brave soldier deserved.

Interestingly, Satpal Singh finds mention in Amarinder's book 'A Ridge Too Far -- War in the Kargil Heights'.