L/Nk Hoshiar Singh — Man with steely courage

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Hoshiar Singh, son of Kura Ram, was born at Goripur village in Gurgaon district of then undivided Punjab on September 17, 1947. Goripur is now in Mahendragarh district. He attended school for just about five years and on September 17, 1965, was enrolled in 6th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles, the battalion which is also referred to as ‘PVC Battalion’, as during the first war with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947-48 Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was awarded for himself and for of this highly-decorated battalion, the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry decoration.

In the late fifties, Mizo hills, also known as Lushai hill district of Assam, faced an acute famine called ‘Mautam’. Mizos (people of the present-day Mizoram) asked for relief from Assam as well as the Indian Government and waited for long but the help never came and their miseries kept on mounting. The Mizos felt alienated and rose in revolt against the state. As a protest against the inaction of the Indian Government towards the famine situation, the people of Mizoram, under Pu Laldenga, staged a major uprising followed by underground activities against the state and the movement soon turned secessionist. 

Realising that the situation in the hill state was getting out of control or was already out of control, the government decided to deploy the Army in strength to crack down on the organised uprising and insurgency and restore law and order. By the time 6 Rajputana Rifles Battalion was inducted for counter-insurgency operations in the mid-sixties, the insurgency in Mizo hill district was at its peak. The battalion quickly familiarised itself with the terrain and the modus operandi of the hostiles and based on credible intelligence, set about doing its task in earnest. It was during one such operation that Lance Naik (L/Nk) Hoshiar Singh, for his cool courage, dogged determination and steely bravery beyond the call of duty, was deservedly awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace-time gallantry award. The write-up on his demonstrated valour is recorded in the archives of 6 Rajputana Rifles.

The write-up on his bravey in archives of 6 Rajputana Rifles reads...

In 1976, 6 Rajputana Rifles Battalion was deployed in Mizoram for conducting operations against Mizo hostiles. On November 3, 1976, a hostile gang led by self-styled Colonel Biakvela was reported to be moving towards the border through South West Mizoram with the intention of crossing over to Bangladesh. A strong patrol, led by Captain Lal Chand, which included Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, was ordered to intercept this gang. After a long pursuit, the hostile gang was sighted the next day. Immediately, the patrol mounted a raid. Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh was ordered by the patrol leader to go ahead with a buddy and destroy a strong position from where the hostiles were bringing down effective machine gun fire on the patrol. 

Despite intense fire, Hoshiar Singh, at great risk, moved forward stealthily and silenced the machine gun. This unnerved the hostiles and they started fleeing, abandoning their positions. Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh chased the hostiles and inflicted casualties on them. Despite injuries sustained from a burst fired by a wounded member of the gang from close range, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh kept on firing and advancing towards the fleeing hostiles. Inspired by him, the rest of the patrol also pursued the hostiles. While in hot pursuit, he was hit by a machine gun burst for the second time and the braveheart died instantaneously. In this daring feat of Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, followed by a lightning charge by the remaining patrol, four hostiles were killed, and 10 wounded and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was captured.

In this action, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh displayed courage, initiative, determination and devotion to duty of a very high order for which he was awarded the Kirti Chakra, posthumously.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)