Almost a year in hospital after he fought death and miraculously survived, CRPF Commandant and Kirti Chakra awardee Chetan Kumar Cheetah has resumed active duty as Commandant in the Force Headquarters in the national Capital.
The Commandant of the 45th Battalion of the CRPF, Chetan sustained nine bullets in an encounter between a group of terrorists and security forces in the wee hours of February 14, 2017, in Hajin area of Bandipora in Jammu & Kashmir. He had been recuperating in hospital for a year.
Donning a Khaki uniform, wearing an eye-patch on his right eye, and metal glasses, Chetan said, “I am proud to resume my duty again. It is good to be back.” Referring to the uniform, he laughed and said, “This is my second skin.”
He had lost his eye during the operation and is undergoing massive physiotherapy to resume sensation in his hand. The 45-year-old had suffered bilateral upper limbs fractures and bullet injuries in his head. As many as three Army personnel were killed and seven others injured in the encounter.
Chetan has been calling on his senior officers ever since he resumed his active duty last week. Chetan said, “I want youngsters to give 100 per cent to the country, that’s what I have done. The duty which I had, I could have escaped, but instead, I faced the bullets.”
The commandant during his year-long recovery had reiterated several times that “military solution to Kashmir can be the only political solution to Kashmir’s problem”.
Chetan was first taken to military hospital in Srinagar where medications were given to prevent bleeding. However, given the extent of the injuries and his comatose state, it was decided to airlift him to the AIIMS trauma centre. Even, Army Chief Bipin Singh Rawat went to meet him when he was admitted to AIIMS.
Chetan was awarded the Kirti Chakra on the eve of Independence Day last year for his brave exploits against terrorists in Kashmir. Kirti Chakra is considered as the second highest peacetime gallantry medal.