Havildar Krishan Kumar — an intrepid commando from Rohtak

Col Dilbag Singh Dabas (Retd)

Havildar (now Subedar, retd) Krishan Kumar is a second generation soldier in uniform. His father Amar Singh was martyred during 1962 India-China war, when Krishan was just about 7-year-old. 

Born on October 13, 1955, at Bakheta village in Rohtak, Krishan, after matriculation from High School, Gorad, was enrolled in the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment on March 5, 1976. In 1995, the 1 Para Commando Battalion was re-designated as 1 Parachute Battalion (Special Forces).

There is nothing difficult for the special forces (commandos) of the Army, for the Garuds (commandos) of Air Force and for the Marcos (marine commandos) of the Navy.  For a common man, they are just commandos but these men of steel are the ones who keep going even when the going gets tough. There’s nothing impossible for these daredevils. They have many a times undertaken some very dangerous and high-risk rescue operation successfully. During one such operation, Havildar Krishan Kumar displayed conspicuous courage, professional skill and devotion to duty and undertook a task full of hazards to save the lives of many passengers stranded in a cable car mid air (1,300-feet high) near Timber Trail in Parwanoo, HP, due to the snapping of the haulage cable, a courageous feat, for which he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra. 

While filming the rescue operation, the TV crew had gathered that the team of commandos was flown from Nahan to the timber trail in a helicopter piloted by Group Captain Fali Homji Major, a Parsi, who retired as the Chief of Air Staff; the team leader was Major Ivan Joseph Crasto, a Christian; the buddy to the team leader was Havildar (Commando) Krishan Kumar, a Hindu; and Naik (Commando) Joga Singh, a Sikh, as standby. Though, it was all just a coincidence.

After the successful rescue operation, the TV reporter said: "Krishan ji, helicopter pilot Parsi, team leader Christian, team leader ka buddy Hindu aur standby mein Sikh. Kya baat hai!" Hav Krishan Kumar, a man of few words, like all commandos, never liked anyone bringing religion anywhere near his duties. The reply by the innocent Haryanvi was classic: "Madam ji, ye India ki fauj hai jahan duty pehle aur baki sab kuchh baad me" (Madam, this is India Army, where duty comes first and everything later). The fearless commando also rendered the most apt advice, and said: "Aur madam ji, ek baat aur dhyan se sun lo - jahan fauj ka zikr karo, vahan dharam ko beech me mat laya karo." Not just Krishan Kumar, the entire Indian military is like that.

Havildar Krishan Kumar retired from the Army in October 1998 as Subedar. Subedar Krishan Kumar Dhankhad, SC, after retirement, is as happy being a farmer as he was as a jawan, with his son Bijender as his buddy.

The account of his bravery reads…

“On October 13, 1992, about 7: 30 am, the Commanding Officer of 1 Para (Commando) Battalion Col PC Bhardwaj was informed that 10 passengers were stranded in a cable car due to the snapping of the haulage cable. The cable car was suspended mid air at a height of 1,300 feet near Timber Trail in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh. The commanding officer was asked to move to the site and be prepared to launch a special rescue operation. A rescue team of five personnel was selected under the leadership of Major Ivan Joseph Crasto. Havildar Krishan Kumar was one of the members of the rescue team. He was to be lowered on to the cable car after Major Crasto and to assist him in the entire rescue operation and also to serve as a backup for any mid-air emergency. At the commencement of the operation on the evening of October 14, 1992, Havildar Krishan Kumar was lowered down on the winch of the helicopter after Major Ivan Crasto to serve as his buddy during the entire rescue operation. During this process, due to some turbulence with the helicopter, the winch wire collided with the haulage cable of the cable car threatening a dangerous entanglement. Undeterred, Havildar Krishan Kumar lurched forward in an attempt to grab the cable car and remedy the situation. With grave risk to his own safety, he managed to avert a fatal entanglement, which would not only have endangered the helicopter, but also the suspended cable car. Fearing an untoward outcome and to capitalise the limited visibility left, it was later decided to abandon further attempts at lowering the Havildar and instead rescue some stranded personnel. Krishan Kumar was winched up into the helicopter and thereafter served as the vital Heliborne Controller for the remainder of the operation. Attached with just a sling to the helicopter, Krishan Kumar remained dangerously hanging out during each rescue circuit to guide the winch accurately between the haulage cables and forestall any possible entanglements. Havildar Krishan Kumar, thus displayed conspicuous courage, professional skill and devotion to duty and undertook a task full of hazards to save the lives of many stranded passengers.”

About the award

• Shaurya Chakra was established as the 'Ashok Chakra Class 3' on January 4, 1952, with the award effective from August 15, 1947. The statutes were revised on January 27, 1967, and the decoration re-named ‘Shaurya Chakra’
• It is awarded for gallantry of a high order other than in the face of the enemy. It is granted to the military personnel as well as to the civilians and may also be awarded posthumously
• The award of the decoration carries with it the right to use SC as a post-nominal abbreviation
• Among 1,997 Shaurya Chakra awardees throughout India to date, 126 are Haryanvi bravehearts

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