Major Shaitan Singh | Indo-China war

Major Shaitan Singh was born on December 1, 1924 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 1 August 1949. Major Shaitan Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his leadership and courage during the Sino-Indian War.

During the 1962 Indo-China conflict, 13 Kumaon was deployed in Chushul sector. Major Shaitan Singh, who bravely commanded 'C' Company of 13 Kumaon. 'C' Company's three platoons were numbered 7, 8 and 9 and had .303 rifles with about 600 rounds per head, and between them six LMGs, and 1,000 grenades and mortar bombs.

Major Shaitan Singh, the Company Commander, displayed exemplary leadership and courage in the battle of Rezang La. By all accounts, he led his troops most admirably. Unmindful of his personal safety he moved from one platoon post to another and encouraged his men to fight. While moving among the posts he was seriously wounded, by a sniping Chinese MMG. But he continued to fight along with his men. While he was being evacuated by two of his comrades, the Chinese brought heavy machine gun fire on them. Major Shaitan Singh sensed danger to their lives and ordered them to leave him. They placed him behind a boulder on the slopes of a hill, where he breathed his last.

In this action, 109 Kumaonis out of a total of 123 were killed. Of the 14 survivors, 9 were severely injured. The Chinese suffered more than a thousand casualties. After the war was over, the body of Major Shaitan Singh was found at the same place, dead from the bullet wound and the freezing cold. It was flown to Jodhpur and cremated with full military honours. Major Shaitan Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his leadership and devotion to duty.

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Karam Chand Katoch | Indo-China war

Agojar (Dharamsala), July 15: A small and quite hamlet in the lap of Shivalik hills near Palampur was today buzzing with activity. Army men from the Dogra Regiment were present in a large number to receive martyr Karam Chand Katoch whose mortal remains were recovered from Walong in Arunachal Pradesh after about 48 years.

The two-storey house of Karam Chand was packed with visitors jostling with each other to catch a glimpse of the wooden box in which mortal remains of the martyr were kept.

Wife of Karam Chand’s brother Beena Kumari and his nephew Jaswant Singh, who is serving in Paramilitary Force (SSB), were carrying out religious ceremonies.

Since in the past 48 years most of the kin and acquaintances close to Karam Chand had passed away, there were a few to shed tears at his death.

Dulo Ram, a 95-year-old retired havaldar from the Dogra Regiment, with eclipsed memories, was the only one who remembered how he got Karam Chand recruited in the Army. He talked about valour of his regiment and how they fought the Chinese in Walong in the 1962 war.

The body was carried in a military vehicle to the cremation ground, located about 1 km from the village. Thousands of villagers, including IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi, followed the procession. Various Army officers, including Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh Col of the Dogra Regiment, Maj General Amarjit Singh, GOC, 39 Mountain Division and Lt-Gen SS Sangra (retd) laid wreathes on the coffin.

Later, while addressing the media, Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh said Karam Chand was a brave soldier who died serving the nation.

On July 1 this year, due to incessant rains, a massive landslide took place near Walong. While cleaning the earth, Border Road Task Force (BRTF) labourers found a circular identity disc and a silver ring. The identity disc was found to be that of Sepoy Karam Chand of 4 Dogra Regiment. Unit of the Sikh Regiment dug out all area and recovered a fountain pen, cover of a pay book and parts of skeleton of Karam Chand. The remains were handed over to the Dogra Regiment with full military honours that further contacted the kin of the martyr at Agojar village. The mother, father and brother of Karam Chand had passed away. He is survived by wife of his brother and her family.

Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh said since no immediate kin of Karam Chand was alive, compensation could not be given to anybody. The name of Karam Chand would, however, be entered on the list of martyrs at Walong and Dharamsala.


1962 war hero's body identified after 48 years

TINSUKIA/ITANAGAR: The Army on Thursday identified the skull and bones of a jawan found in Arunachal Pradesh recently to be that of Sepoy Karam Chand of the 4 Dogra Regiment.

Arunachal government officials said labourers engaged in the restoration of Hayuliang-Walong road unearthed a disc badge, a silver ring and a rusted .303 ammunition on July 1. The disc badge bearing PIS No 3950976 belonged to the jawan. This was confirmed after verification with the martyrs' list of the 1962 India-China war.

The Army, in a statement, said Karam Chand was one of the unsung heroes missing since November 1962 after the Battle of Walong. A Border Road Task Force party, while clearing a landslide area, recovered two identity discs belonging to the soldier near Walong in Arunachal, said the Army. Sikh Regiment personnel recovered Chand's mortal remains along with personal belongings on July 5, after four days of digging in the landslide area under inclement weather conditions.

The mortal remains — along with identity discs of the soldier, a silver ring, a dilapidated cover of Soldier's Pay Book and a fountain pen recovered from the site — were handed over to the 4 Dogra Regiment on Thursday by Sikh Regiment commanding officer with military honours at the Hut of Remembrance at Walong.

The Army said, "The 48-year-long sleep and sojourn of Sepoy Karam Chand on the banks of the Lohit river ended on July 9, as his remains started from Walong for the place where the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his Gods are located. With the last rites of the soldier to be performed later at his native place Gogar, Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, his soul will finally rest in peace."

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