Saluting our Heroes: Nb Subedar Bana Singh, PVC

From the Indian Army website:

The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.

*** Saluting our Heores – Nb Subedar Bana Singh, PVC ***

Nb Subedar Bana Singh, PVC’s story begins at the icy heights of Siachen Glacier. Winding its way through 76 kilometers, Siachen is bounded by high peaks and mountains varying in height from 17,000 feet to 22,000 feet.  It is said that the Indian Army has two enemies in this area: Pakistan and the environment (temperature goes down to minus 60 degree Celsius on the world’s largest non-polar glacier.)

The conflict in Siachen goes back to late 70s when Pakistan started showing this area as belonging to Pakistan in their maps. By the early 80s, they also started sponsoring mountain expeditions across the LoC (although the LoC itself was poorly defined). In 1987 the Pakistanis intruded and established a feature, naming it “Quaid Post”, at 6452 meters on the Saltoro ridge overlooking the defenses on the Bilafond Pass. This is perhaps the most strategic location across this entire region – offering a vantage point and a view of the region to a distance of 80 kilometers.

The post not only has views of the entire Saltoro range but it also has two Indian posts in its sight: Amar and Sonam which get food and other materials by Indian helicopters.

Early April, 1987: Up amongst the high peaks and the mountains the snow has begun to thaw. Things are also heating up across the Line of Control…

Matters come to a head on April 18 when the Pakistan army at Quaid post begins firing at the Indian troops. The firing results in the death of six troops including a JCO.

It is evident that the post must be regained to secure the safety of our men and the supply lines to Amar and Sonam.

This is easier said than done though. At a height of 6500 metres, the enemy post was virtually an impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls, almost 500 metres high, on either side.

Image Courtesy: Mangalorean.com

End June, 1987:  Army command gives the green light to “Operation Rajiv” – so named in the honour of 2nd Lt. Rajiv Pande VrC – to recapture Quaid post.

Two attempts are made – on 23rd June and 25th June – but both are dogged by unfortunate circumstances.

On 26th June, Naib Subedar Bana Singh takes the third platoon to lead the attack along with Riflemen Chunni Lal, Laxman Das, Om Raj and Rifleman Kashmir Chand.  This is what happened next – in his own words*:

My Commanding Officer (CO) decided to send a patrol to find out the position of the Pakistanis and how many of them were manning the post. On May 29, a patrol of 8 J&K Light Infantry (8 JAK LI) was sent for a reconnaissance of the possible approaches to the Quaid Post. The patrol leader was Lt. Rajiv Pande. He had 12 men with him. Unfortunately, they were sighted by the Pakistanis commandos. Ten of them, including Rajiv Pande were killed. Only three survived.

There was a 90° climb on  ice walls. Lt Pande had managed to fix ropes, but due to heavy snow fall, the rope had got completely lost, they had to fix them again. In the meantime, to divert the attention of the Pakistanis, Indian troops had been firing at the Post.

A total of 62 people participated in the final operation. Two officers, 3 JCO and 57 jawans were selected. The operation was conducted in three phases on June 23, June 25 and June 26, 1987.

A first platoon was sent on 23rd but unfortunately they had to come back. Two soldiers were killed. The second platoon with 10 jawans made an attempt on June 25. At that time due to some communication gap with us, the mission had to be aborted.

The next day, on 26th I got the green light to go ahead. Though it was day time, because of the heavy snowing we could not say if it was day or night. The Pakistanis must have been   knowing that something was going on because our troops were firing at them from the base camp (to divert their attention). When we reached the top, there was a single bunker. We had been trained for such a fight. I threw a grenade inside and closed the door. At the end, a total of six Pakistanis were killed. We brought back their bodies which were later handed over to the Pakistanis authorities during a flag meeting in Kargil. Some must have escaped towards the Pakistani side, perhaps over the cliff. I think that I have bayoneted three or four persons, I don’t remember now.

Naib Subedar Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult and hazardous route…and displayed exemplary courage, valour and leadership to recapture Quaid post. It was subsequently renamed as Bana Post (Bana Top) in his honour.

Unfortunately Bana Singh is better remembered in news-reports and stories than in real life.

In 2007, national dailies reported the amount he was getting as a PVC winner. It was an unbelievable sum of Rupees 166 per month (in 2007).  This was even as neighbouring states (such as Punjab and Haryana) paid upwards of Rs 10,000 to a Param Vir Chakra awardee. Subsequent to the revelations the government of Jammu & Kashmir agreed to review the amount and bring it on par with other states.

Even more remarkable is the fact that Bana Singh was offered Rs 25 Lakhs, a monthly allowance of Rs 15,000 and a 25-acre plot if he moved to Punjab. He refused.

In 2008, he was awarded with the first Shivaji-FACT Award for Courage by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar . That same year, his son joined the Indian Army.

CITATION

Naib Subedar (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh, 8 JAK LI (JC-155825)

Naib Subedar Bana Singh volunteered to be a member of a task force constituted in June 1987 to clear an intrusion by an adversary in the Siachen Glacier area at an altitude of 21,000 feet.  The post was virtually an impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls, 1500 feet high, on both sides.  Naib Subedar Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult and hazardous route.  He inspired them by his indomitable courage and leadership.  The brave Naib Subedar and his men crawled and closed in on the adversary. Moving from trench to trench, lobbing hand grenades, and charging with the bayonet, he cleared the post all intruders.

Nb Subedar Bana Singh displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and leadership under the most adverse conditions.

For those of you keen to understand the region and conflict in some more detail, here is a map of Siachen and the conflicting claims by India and Pakistan.

INDIA : Occupies northern slopes of Saltoro ridge and most of the ridge itself. Claims boundary from NJ 9842 to Karakoram pass runs along Saltoro ridge.

PAKISTAN : Occupies southern slopes of Saltoro ridge. It claims LoC is a straight line from NJ 9842 to Karakoram pass.

Location : 78-km long, at about 6,000-metre height, the glacier is hemmed in between Saltoro Ridge and the Karakoram Range, in Kashmir.

Image courtesy: The Times of India

Additional References: Ramesh Lalwani

Confrontation at Siachen – By L.N. Subramanian

Also read: Why Siachen matters

P.S. Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh is one of the few living recipients of Param Vir Chakra and the only recipient of the highest military honour  from J&K state.

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Saluting our Heroes: Maj Shaitan Singh, PVC

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