Double promotion for Kargil hero in Punjab

Chandigarh: Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered an immediate double promotion for Vir Chakra awardee Satpal Singh, whose credentials were completely ignored by the former SAD-BJP government at the time of his recruitment in 2010.

Satpal was posted in the Drass sector during Operation Vijay. Part of the team that helped the Indian Army capture Tiger Hill, Satpal killed Capt. Karnal Sher Khan of the Northern Light Infantry and three others. Sher Khan was later conferred the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, on the recommendation of the Indian brigade commander who vouched for his bravery on the icy heights.

Moved by his plight, the CM lamented that Satpal had to suffer the igno-miny of working as a traffic constable after his act of gallantry during the Kargil war as a result of the failure of the Akalis to give him his due recognition. He said he found out about Satpal’s situation when he read about it on Friday morning.

An official communique of the government said that Satpal Singh, who joined the Punjab police after his discharge from the Army, has been awarded a double promotion to be named assistant sub-inspector following direct orders from Capt. Amarinder Singh in recognition of his valiant contribution during the Kargil war.

Subsequently, Senior Constable Satpal Singh, was recruited into the Punjab Police and he is presently discharging his duties in an outstanding manner in district Sangrur, according to DGP Dinkar Gupta, who added that ex-post facto approval of the Council of Ministers will be obtained subsequently for the required relaxation in Rules.