Capt orders immediate promotion of Kargil hero from constable to ASI

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 26

Within hours of discovering that a hero of the Kargil war was managing traffic as a mere senior constable, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered an immediate double promotion for the Vir Chakra awardee, whose credentials were ignored at the time of his recruitment in 2010.

The CM said Satpal Singh worked as a mere constable after his act of gallantry during the Kargil war, as the Akali government failed to give him his due.

He said he found out about the situation of Satpal, who also belonged to the CM’s battalion, when he read about it on Friday morning and decided to immediately correct the wrong.

An official spokesperson said Satpal, who had joined Punjab Police after his discharge from the Army, had been awarded a double promotion to be named Assistant Sub Inspector following orders from Capt Amarinder Singh in recognition of his valiant contribution during the Kargil war.

As a special case, Satpal will be recruited as an ASI by relaxing Punjab Police Rules.

Satpal was posted in Drass sector during Operation Vijay. Part of the team that helped the 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.

Later, Satpal was recruited to Punjab Police and is currently discharging his duties in an outstanding manner, according to DGP Dinkar Gupta. The DGP said Satpal was posted in Sangrur but had sought transfer to Bhawanigarh six months ago, which was accepted.