Inspector’s act of bravery fetched him neither honour nor help

JAMMU, NOV 7: Inspector Vijay Kumar's single act of bravery has cost him a lot. In an operation on December 2, 1997, in Anantnag district,...

JAMMU, NOV 7: Inspector Vijay Kumar’s single act of bravery has cost him a lot. In an operation on December 2, 1997, in Anantnag district, while facing a barrage of bullets, he shot dead dreaded district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Tariq Ahmed Khan. Kumar was permanently disabled in the operation.

In January 1998, his name was recommended by the Anantnag Superintendent of Police for the President’s Medal for Gallantry. Kumar is still waiting, nursing his wounded right leg which now has steel rods inserted in it. The financial assistance he badly needed never came. The country seems to have forgotten him.

Kumar remembers the encounter distinctly. On December 2, 1997, the Anantnag police was tipped off about the presence of three top-ranking militants at a house in Dabran village.

Story continues below this ad

The police raided the house. The team was led by DSP Tejinder Singh and had Inspector Vijay Kumar CRPF’s Kali Dass in it. When Vijay Kumar and Kali Dass challenged the militants, they started firing indiscriminately. Kali Dass was killed on the spot and Vijay seriously injured. With no regard to his safety, Kumar kept firing at them and killed the Hizbul commander.

But Kumar’s act is no surprise to his colleagues who are familiar with his career. He joined J&K Police in 1990 as a Sub-Inspector. On account of his exemplary work, Kumar had been sent for a special commando course to the ITBP at Mussoorie in 1995. On his return, he was included in the Special Operation Group (SOG) which deals with militancy. He participated in many operations and killed at least a dozen militants under STF operations.

In recognition of his outstanding performance in the SOG, he was promoted as Inspector out of turn in May 1996.

But all this is of little use to Vijay Kumar now. He has spent over Rs 1 lakh on his treatment so far and needs to spend Rs 40,000 more. He has got neither the assistance that he is entitled to, nor promotion. Vijay says he is entitled to Rs 75,000 on account of permanently disability, but only Rs 5,000 has been given to him so far. However, Inspector General of Police P S Gill had sent him Rs 30,000. Little compensation for his valour.