Indian Discussion Forum

New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) Ten days into his posting in an insurgency-hit area of Assam, sub-inspector Bhupal Singh of the SSB fought with extremists and laid down his life, making him the lone para-military recipient of the 'Kirti Chakra' for gallantry this Republic Day.

Singh, in April last year braved a hail of bullets from insurgents in Assam, saving the life of five civilians and the men in his patrol party, which earned him the second highest peacetime gallantry medal posthumously.

"Sub-inspector Bhupal Singh of 32 battalion Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Howly in Assam was on vehicle patrol duty in North Cachar hills on April 23, 2009. Enroute, extremists had laid an ambush for the patrol party and they started showering bullets from both sides of the road as the party reached.

Singh and his men retaliated by firing.