Suraj
Bhan
He Died a Lion's Death
JAMMU:
He
had just finished distributing Shivratri Prasaad
of walnuts amongst his collegues. Suraj Bhan a
member of the Special Operation Group (SOG) had
returned to join his duties on 17th February
after celebrating Shivratri, with his family at
Udhampur. He was still in a 'festive mood', when
at
11:30 AM
the same day, he received orders to join the
security contingent for a combing operation in
Ganderbal.
The contingent comprising of around 40 security
personnel drawn from CRPF, Army and SOG rushed
to Kharbagh Sumbal area of Ganderbal. They
reached the assigned place at 2:30 PM. Kharbagh
village was wearing deserted look-a clear signal
of an impending trouble. Villagers had fleed the
village, expecting a security operation, as
large number of dreaded terrorists had sneaked
into the village.
Initial search operations revealed nothing.
However, inspector PV Singh and Suraj Bhan where
not sure ofthese initial conclusions. They
suspected the near by house to be a hideout and
forced their way into house. Both got killed as
they were climbing the third story, in the
indiscriminate firing resorted to by the holed
up terrorists hiding behind the haystack on the
third storey of the house. In the counter
offensive by security forces the house caught
fire. However, most of the holed up terrorists
are reported to have escaped. As per sources the
escaped terrorists included those who had
participated in the Wandhama massacre of
Kashmiri Pandits last year.
During the heavy exchange of fire, two
constables of CRPF 28 Bn and 3 Army personnel
also got killed in addition to Suraj Bhan and PV
Singh of SOG, Srinagar. As per reports, when two
of the holed up terrorists tried to escape and
succeeded to reach the willow plantation beat
near the embankment of river Jhelum, Naik Narain
Das of 15 Assam Regiment chased them and killed
both of them. In the retaliatory firing Narain
Das also got martyred. Heart rending scenes were
witnessed in the Shamshan Ghat at Devika
Udhampur where the funeral of Suraj Bhan took
place. The wooden coffin carrying the dead body
was also consigned to flames on the funeral pyre
by his family members who thought that the box
had become a part of the mortal remains of Late
Suraj.
Inspector Ravinder Bhat under whom Suraj worked
was taken aback when one of the brothers of
Suraj asked him immediately after the funeral
rites.' Inspector tell us honestly. Which type
of death Suraj died-a Cowards or a martyrs'. In
an emotion choked voice he told his family
members that for the answer they needed only to
see his file. 'Even while he has not yet
completed his two years probation his name is
being considered for a police medal for his
services.'
Constable Suraj Bhan had to his credit four
major security operations. At Kamarwari sometime
back Suraj had participated with distinction in
a daredevil operation in which five foreign
mercenaries and two local terrorists were
killed. In other operation deputy supreme
commander of Harkatul Mujahideen Saif-ullah
Chikhat code named 'Hafat' was killed by
constable Suraj earlier. In another daredevil
operation Suraj Bhan had arrested the deputy
supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Ali Mohd
Dar. Police sources also revealed that in a
major security operation Suraj alongwith other
constable of SOG had killed two Lashkar-i-Toiba
terrorists at Bemina which also resulted in
capture of lot of arms and ammunition. Both
these martyred police personnel from SOG
Srinagar, have a distinguished family
background. Dy SP Anantnag Mr KT Singh is the
brother of inspector Param Vir Singh who got
martyred alongwith Suraj Bhan at Kharbagh Sumbal.
While mortal remains of PV Singh were yet to be
consigned to flames who had died at Kharbagh ,
KT Singh was busy leading another operation at
Wuter Hall the very next day. During this search
operation a fierce exchange of fire took place
in which 3 terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen were
killed. Late Suraj Bhan also belongs to a family
of police personnel. His father Jamna Das Bhan
is a retired fire-services officer. His elder
brother Himmet Bhan is employed with the Railway
Crime Police and his younger brother Vijay Bhan
has just joined police services.
The father of Suraj Bhan Sh Jamna Das is a tall
and tough persons. 'I know he has died a lion's
death and it is a matter of pride for me inspite
of the blow which his death has inflected on
us'. Suraj Bhan was just 22. He had joined the
police services and volunteered for Special
Operations Group. His family did not know that
he was working with SOG. And that is the only
remorse his father had. 'I never thought that he
was involved in such operations. I wish I could
have given him a salute when he was alive'.
Source: Kashmir
Sentinel
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