ITBP officer gets Shaurya Chakra for thwarting Herat attack

ITBP Inspector Manjeet Singh, who led his commandos in repulsing an audacious terrorist attack on the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Herat province last year, has been decorated with the Shaurya Chakra this Republic Day in recognition of his valour and meticulous leadership.
The 36-year-old Indo-Tibetan Border Police officer has become the lone recipient of this military medal among all paramilitary forces this January 26. There have been very few instances of paramilitary soldiers accorded this honour.
Surprisingly, the information of commando-trained Singh being awarded with the third highest peacetime gallantry medal was not communicated to the border guarding force on the eve of Republic Day as per set norms and official message in this regard reached the force headquarters only today.

Singh was the contingent commander of the ITBP team which, in the wee hours of May 23, 2014 at the Indian Consulate in Herat, came came under heavy gunfire and rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shell attacks from terrorists.
The officer, his citation said, displayed great valour and meticulous planning "steadfastness, dedication to duty and rare quality of leadership in the face of imminent danger" and intelligently led his troops in thwarting the terror bid on the Indian mission which would have claimed many lives had it been successful.
His four colleagues, Head Constable V P Malik and constables Praveen Kumar, Rakesh Kumar and Jadeja Rajender Singh have too been decorated with the highest police gallantry medal- Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry- few days ago.

Singh, who joined the paramilitary force in 2000, hails from Haryana's Sonepat and was inducted for heading the ITBP unit at Herat in April 2013.
Officials said the officer has an excellent track record in the force, both operationally and otherwise, as he has already won a DG commendation disc for his devotion to duty and rose up to the rank of Inspector in quick time after he joined the force in the lowest entry rank of a constable.