Brigadier Amarjit Singh Randwal ( Retd)
While driving from Shimla to Jammu I was held up in traffic jam on Punjab border at Una – Hoshiarpur Road and walked up to Excise Department check post to see as to what was happening. It was a pleasant surprise to meet Ex Lance NaikHarinder Singh of 7th Battalion of Jammu & Kashmir Rifles standing on the road and told me that he was the Excise Inspector in charge of the check post. Harinder was serving with mewhile the Battalionwas deployed on Line of Control in Batalik Sector of Kargil during 1982- 85. The unit had the operational responsibility to guard the Line of Control in entire Batalik Sector from Sher Quila in the South to Chor Batala in the North. This sector was center of gravity of KargilConflict with Pakistan later in1999. L/ NkHarinder had lost his both legs in the mine field while patrolling on the Line of Control. He walked smartly with his artificial legs and took me to his office for a cup of tea.
We recollected our old times at Batalik with nostalgia. It was on thefateful cloudy day on 23 Feb 1984 that No 13742697 L / NK Harinder Singh was leading scout of the patrol party to Listening Post 16, opposite Shankruti Ridge held by Pakistani North Light Infantry. At 0930 hrs, he was negotiating a bend on the slope that he stepped on a 1971 vintage mine which has drifted down over the years. His right foot was blown off. As he fell down with the impact of the blast anothermine exploded and blew up his left leg above the knee. His two buddies Rfn Suram Singh and Rfn Mulkh Raj dragged himback some distance away from the Pakistani observation post and applied shell dressing. The patrol party sent wireless message about the mine accident to the company HQ,a walking distance of 3 hrs on south bank of Indus River.
I was commanding C Company and located close to the battalion Headquarters at Batalik. We had good inter-action with the Air OP flight at Leh and requested the Divisional Headquarters for urgent helicopter evacuation. Meanwhile,the Patrol Party started his evacuation from the forward post to emergency helipad. Fortunately, due to good liaison with the Air OP, we were able toget the casualty evacuation helicopter sortie to Line of Control cleared even when flying is not permitted after 12 noon in that Sector. Air OP Boys picked me up from Batalik and I guided them to the emergency helipad at Boulders on south bank of Indus River closed to the LC. Flying had to be done unobserved from enemy post employing nap of the earth technique and it was at 2 PM that we landed at the helipad. Alfa Coy patrol party had done an excellent job by bringing Harinder down to the Helipad in record time on improvised stretcher. I happened to know Harinder and his family at GarhShanker, Hoshiarpur, as he is nephew of my course mate Maj Satdev Singh Dhadwal of theJat Regiment. Harinder was also preparing for Army Cadet CollegeCommission.When I spoke to him at the Helipad; inspite of having lost both legs and in severe pain he was very calm and told me; he wished it could have happened while capturing the enemy post opposite his Coy.
Harinder was evacuated to Military Hospital Leh by 1600 hrs, where emergency treatment was provided. Next day he was further evacuated to MH Chandigarh. When I met him in the MH after a month he was fast recovering. His left leg having been imputed above the knee and right leg below the knee. It took about a year for him to fully recover. Artificial legs were provided to him at ALC Pune and he was boarded out with 100 percent disability pension by a medical board in Feb 1985. He took a challenge of life gracefully and with courage.
Harinderresumed his studies and passed BA exam in 1988, from Punjab University and thereafter joined a private company as data entry operator. He continued his studies and passed LLB Exam in 1996. Thereafter, he started practicing law in Hoshiarpur Courts. He joined Punjab Excise and Taxation Department as a graduate clerk and worked with dedication in the Department. Due to his hard work and excellent performance he was promoted as Excise and Taxation Inspector in Oct 2009.
After we finished thecup of tea Ex L/Nk Harinder Singh and now Inspector escorted me on his Motor Cycle which he rode with his artificial legs and ensured that I am not caught up in another traffic jam in his sector. This made me proud of being part of Indian Army Family and our soldiers. This is a fine example of an Infantry Soldierwho can excel, not only in battle field but they can also meet challenges in civillife successfully.
” Success is not measured at the destination you have reached; but from the place you have started and number of obstacles you have crossed.”
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