Mohali college to be named after Kargil martyr

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 5

The Government College at Phase 6 here will soon be renamed after Kargil War martyr and Shaurya Chakra recipient Major Harminder Pal Singh. 

The Punjab Government has issued an order to rename the college as Major Harminder Pal Singh Memorial College. Major Harminder Pal Singh, who was a resident of Mundi Kharar, was an alumnus of the college.

The martyr’s family members, including his father Capt Harpal Singh (retd), wife Rupinder Pal Kaur and sons Navteshwar Singh and Mehtab Singh, have lauded the government decision.

“It is a great honour and we feel very proud and elated,” said Rupinder Pal Kaur.

She added that the family had raised this demand around a decade ago. “Today, our long-pending demand has been met. We are very grateful to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Rupan Deol Bajaj, who have been instrumental in bestowing of the honour,” said Capt Harpal Singh (retd).

College principal Komal  Broca said the entire staff and students were feeling proud. “We would change the name of the college in a day or two,” the principal said.

Major Harminder Pal Singh had made the supreme sacrifice on April 13, 1999. He had joined the Army in 1992 and was commissioned into the 18 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment. On April 13, 1999, Major Harminder Pal Singh and his colleagues got information of presence of Pakistani infiltrators, said to be members of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Sadar Kot Bala village of Baramulla district of the Kashmir Valley. During the exchange of fire, Major Harminder Pal Singh had received a gunshot in his temple and another bullet injury in his left arm. He had shot down at least two infiltrators before succumbing to his injuries.