From nation’s border to Panjab University campus, three Kargil veterans always on guard

Akashdeep Virk

Chandigarh, July 26

Amidst the hustle and bustle on the Panjab University campus, one can always spot a security staffer clad in khaki sitting outside departments, near parking and at entrance gates, always aware of the surroundings.

After securing the nation’s borders for years and rendering services during the Kargil War in 1999, Manjit Singh (59), deployed outside Law Auditorium, is securing the university campus since 2010.

Manjit, who retired as Naik in 2003, served 108 Engineer Regiment during the Kargil War. “We were responsible for planting mines, assembling and dissembling artillery, clearing paths and making bridges for troops advancing for action,” he said. After retirement, he joined the PU’s security staff, but spent 14 years as a daily wager.

A native of Gharuan village in SAS Nagar district, Manjit resides in Kharar with his wife and two sons. His daughter is married to an Army man and resides in Bhopal. “I am proud of having served as a fauji for 20 years. Our lives were tough, but we were trained for every situation,” he said. Retiring in December 2025, after 14 years of service in the PU, Manjit is not the only Kargil veteran donning PU’s khaki uniform.

“I served 101 Engineer Regiment during the Kargil War. We took the Bofors gun from Bathinda to the Uri sector in J&K,” said PU’s another security staffer Hansa Singh. A native of Kasumbari village in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Hansa served in the Army for 24 years before retiring as Naib Subedar in 2010. “The Army trained us well, which is helping us discharge our duties today as well,” he said. “We were in Uri for days. I am proud of the fact that I could do my bit for the nation during the Kargil War,” added the 58-year-old, who would retire in September next year. Like Manjit, Hansa Singh has also spent his tenure at the PU as a daily wager and was not regularised.

Virendra Singh, an assistant security officer at the university, is a proud Garhwali who served 15 Garhwal Rifles during the Kargil War. Part of the war theatre, he was posted at a remote place, 70-80 km ahead of Kargil.

“We were a support system for infantry troops proceeding towards the frontline. It is because of the Army that we are doing well in this job. Both the jobs demand equal discipline and dedication. In Army, we were guarding the frontiers of our nation and now the PU campus,” said Virendra. After serving the Army for 18 years and retiring in 2001, he joined the PU security department in the same year and was regularised in 2009. He is set to retire in December this year.

PU’s Chief Security Officer Vikram Singh, who served the Indian Air Force before taking up a job in the university, said, “I am an ex-serviceman and I value the services rendered by fellow ex-servicemen. The university is secure because of these diligent staffers.”

An official said regularisation was a policy issue to be decided by PU high-ups.