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TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE
War heroes cheated out of land
Maneesh Chhibber
Tribune News Service
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Capt Reet M.P. Singh
Brig K.S. Chandpuri
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Chandigarh, October 11
The exploits of soldiers such as Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, Brig Sukhdev Singh, Lance Naik Shangara Singh, Wing Commander H.S. Mangat, Lt. Colonel Ranbir Singh and Capt Reet M.P. Singh in the 1971 Indo-Pak war are legendary. They have something else also in common - they have all been cheated out of the land promised to them by the Punjab Government. It is often said that Major Chandpuri, as he was then, and 82 soldiers of the Punjab Regiment deployed on the border post of Longewala turned the tide against the Pakistani Army in the war by holding the post against a much larger and superior force. The battle of Longewala is now part of Indian military's chequered history. Some years ago, a Hindi movie "Border", based on the same battle, with Sunny Deol essaying the role of Major Chandpuri, ended up as one of Bollywood's biggest-ever blockbusters. For his conspicuous bravery, inspiring leadership and exceptional devotion to duty, Major Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the nation's second highest gallantry award. Capt Reet M.P. Singh was just 22 when he suffered serious injuries during the 1971 war. Lance Naik Shangara Singh was of 2 Sikh, the same regiment to which Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh belonged. All of them have been taken for a royal ride by the Punjab Government officials, who denied them the rightful privilege of allotment of land as a token of gratitude for their sacrifices. Brig Chandpuri and many others were denied the benefit of a grant of 10 acres of land in Punjab meant for
Armymen winning bravery awards. Instead, in 1977, a lackadaisical bureaucracy sent to Brig Chandpuri a cheque for Rs 30,000, informing him that since there was no land, he would have to be satisfied with the cash grant. He and some others merely accepted the monetary grant.However, Brig Chandpuri and the others learnt later that they had been taken for a ride and land was, in fact, being allotted discretely to some other war heroes. A Punjab government circular dated March 4, 1976, had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to allot 10 acres of land to the awardees of Maha Vir Chakra or give a monetary grant of Rs 30,000, if suitable land was not available. Later, in 1981, Vir Chakra winners were also made eligible for allotment of five acres of land or Rs 15,000 in cash, if land was not available. On coming to know the truth, Brig Chandpuri made a representation to the Governor of Punjab. Another representation was made on October 27, 1987, through the Commandant, Punjab Regimental Centre, Ramgarh Cantonment, Bihar. This and many other representations were rejected on flimsy grounds. Meetings with the then Governor, Mr S.S. Ray, also
yielded no result. The terse response in almost all cases was that since they had accepted money, they were no longer eligible for land. "We accepted the money on the basis of a false claim by the officials. Had we known that land was available, we would never have accepted the money", remarked Capt Reet M.P. Singh, a decorated soldier, whose case for land allotment was also denied. On his part, Brig Chandpuri still refuses to say anything on the issue, maintaining that whatever he had to say, he would say to the government. "I have full faith that justice will not be denied to us. Capt Amarinder Singh was himself a soldier and I am sure he will undo the wrong," he added. But Capt Reet is scathing in his condemnation of the officials.
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