Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 26

Within hours of learning that Kargil war hero Satpal Singh was managing traffic as a senior police constable in Sangrur, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered double promotion for the Vir Chakra awardee.

The Chief Minister accused the previous SAD-BJP government of ignoring the credentials of Satpal Singh at the time of his recruitment in 2010.

An official spokesperson said Satpal Singh, who joined the Punjab Police after his discharge from the Army, has been named Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) following direct orders from the CM in recognition of his valiant contribution during the Kargil war.

As a special case, he will be promoted as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, after relaxing Rule 12.3 of the Punjab Police Rules by the DGP, who has been so authorised by the Chief Minister.

Satpal Singh was posted in the Drass sector during Operation Vijay and was part of the team that helped the 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 Singh had to suffer the ignominy of working as a senior constable after his act of gallantry during the Kargil war.

The CM said he found out about the situation of Satpal, who also belonged to the Chief Minister’s battalion, when he read about it this morning.

The Chief Minister has authorised the DGP to grant the required relaxation in age (November 7, 1973) for the recruitment of Satpal Singh as an ASI in the Punjab Police, the spokesperson said.

Satpal Singh was recruited into the Punjab Police as senior constable and was currently 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 would be obtained subsequently for the required relaxation in rules.

Gupta said Satpal Singh was posted in Sangrur, but had sought transfer to Bhawanigarh six months ago, which was accepted.

Elevated to ASI

• Satpal Singh will be promoted as an Assistant Sub-Inspector after relaxing Punjab Police rules
• He was posted in the Drass sector during Op Vijay and was part of the team that helped Army capture Tiger Hill
• He killed Pak Captain Karnal Sher Khan of Northern Light Infantry and three others