Punjab mulls policy of promoting gallantry awardees joining police

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 29

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said his government is making a policy to award a one-rank promotion to anyone who has won a gallantry award and is joining the state police.

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

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

Amarinder had promoted the Vir Chakdra awardee on Friday, from senior constable, in which capacity he was managing traffic in Sangrur district till July 26. DGP Dinkar Gupta was also present at the pipping ceremony.

Amarinder said he had merely set right the wrong done to Satpal by the previous SAD-BJP government, which had ignored the valour of the soldier, and failed to give him the recognition he deserved.

The Chief Minister said he was not aware of the situation and what he had done now was merely a case of “too little too late” for the brave soldier. This should have been done at the time of Satpal’s recruitment in 2010, he added.

The policy to be drafted by his government would leave no scope for such injustice, Amarinder said, making it clear that the policy would cover police gallantry award winners, including JCOs and NCOs, in addition to the jawans of the defence forces.

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