In an apt celebration of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh came as a saviour for a Kargil War hero on Friday ordering double promotion for Vir Chakra awardee Satpal Singh after learning that he was managing traffic after being re-employed as a senior police constable — a rank below his stature — in Sangrur district of the State.
The CM, himself a former Army man, accused the previous SAD-BJP Government of ignoring the credentials of Satpal at the time of his recruitment in 2010.
“Satpal, who joined the Punjab Police after his discharge from the Army, has been awarded a double promotion to the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector following direct orders from the Chief Minister in recognition of his valiant contribution during the Kargil War,” a Punjab Government spokesperson said.
As a special case, he will be recruited as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, in relaxation of Rule 12.3 of the Punjab Police Rules by the DGP, who has been so authorised by the Chief Minister, he said.
Satpal was posted in Drass Sector during Operation Vijay and was part of the team that helped the Indian Army capture Tiger Hill. He killed Pakistani Captain Karnal Sher Khan of the Northern Light Infantry and three others.
Khan was later conferred the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, on the recommendation of an Indian brigade commander who vouched for his bravery on the icy heights.
Capt Amarinder lamented that Satpal had to suffer the ignominy of working as a senior constable after his act of gallantry during the Kargil war. He alleged that it was the failure of the Akalis that they did not give him his due recognition.
The Chief Minister has authorised the DGP to grant the required relaxation in age November 7, 1973, for the recruitment of senior constable Satpal as an ASI in the Punjab Police, the spokesperson said.
Satpal was recruited into the Punjab Police as senior constable and is presently discharging his duties in an outstanding manner in Bhawanigarh town of Sangrur district, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said.
He said ex-post facto approval of the Council of Ministers will be obtained subsequently for the required relaxation in rules.
Gupta said Satpal was posted in Sangrur but had sought transfer to Bhawanigarh six months ago, which was accepted.