The Galwan valley clash martyred 20 of our soldiers, but they ensured that there is no land grabbing by the Chinese troops. Amongst them was 3 Punjab’s Ghatak Platoon’s, Gurtej Singh. He fought against all the odds and despite losing his own life for it, took down 12 Chinese soldiers. This is his story. Twenty-three-year-old Gurtej Singh hailed from Beerewala village in Punjab’s Mansa district. He joined the Army in December 2018. He had always been keen to serve the army, and the dream came true when he joined the Sikh regiment. On the evening of 15 June 2020, the 16th Bihar regiment was posted in the valley and came under immense fire. The 3 Punjab’s Ghatak Platoon was called upon to reinforce the outmanoeuvred fighters. The Medium Arty regiment’s Sikh gunners rushed out to help to carry their customary kirpan and an assortment of sticks, rods and sharp knives only. Sources from the military state that four Chinese soldiers attacked Singh. He swung around two of them, and as two others tried to pin him down, he dragged all four of them towards the cliff and flung them over. He lost his balance though and slipped. But he got stuck in a boulder that stopped his free fall.
Though he was injured severely in the neck and head, he rewrapped his turban and pulled himself back to the fight. He used his kirpan to fight more soldiers until he could snatch a sharp weapon from a Chinese soldier. He further took down seven Chinese soldiers making the tally to 11 before one stabbed him from behind. But before going down, he killed his final 12th enemy with his kirpan too.
Gurtej is survived by his father Virsa Singh, mother and two elder brothers.
Friends and relatives rushed to Singh’s house and consoled the bereaved family.
Mansa SSP Narinder Bhargav visited the family members. The body is expected to reach here on Thursday.
It is learnt Gurtej’s elder brother got married 20 days back and in his last phone call with his family members, he had said he will come soon to meet his sister-in-law. But that was no to be. Number of people from different walks of life poured in Birewala Dogran village in Budhlada to bid a final adieu to the Martyr Sepoy Gurtej Singh during his Bhog ceremony held in the village on Friday.
Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar, who attended the Bhog ceremony paid homage to the Martyr and assured every possible help from the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government.Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who delivered an emotional speech announced Rs 25 lakhs grant for the development of the village besides assuring to fulfil the demand of the martyr’s family to lay village roads and install tubewell connection at the earliest. He said that the Government Middle School in the village has been named after the Martyr Gurtej Singh and a Library has been established in the memory of the Martyr in the School.The Punjab Government had already announced Rs 50 lakhs ex-gratia compensation, along with a government job to a next of kin of the deceased to help the family to alleviate some of their sufferings.Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar along with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mansa Mohinder Pal handed over two cheques of Rs 2.5 lakhs each (Rs 5 lakhs total) to the Martyr’s Father Virsa Singh and Mother Parkash Kaur. Revenue Minister said that the remaining amount announced by the Punjab Government will be provided soon to the family.MLA Budhlada Budh Ram, MLA Mansa Najjar Singh Mansahia and MLA Gidderbaha Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also paid their homage to the Martyr.Meanwhile, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal also visited the blood donation camp organised by the villagers at the Government School, which was named after the Martyr Gurtej Singh.On the occasion, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Narinder Bhargav, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Budhlada Sagar Setia, Congress leaders including Ajit Inder Singh Moffar, Ranjit Kaur Bhatti, Manju Bansal and Vice-Chairman Safai Karamchari Commission Punjab Ram Singh Sardulgarh among other prominent persons were present.
surjitt sahani
