Today Havildar Hangpan Dada of the Assam Regiment was honoured posthumously with India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra. His wife Chasen Lowang received the medal from President Pranab Mukherjee.
Havildar Hangpan Dada, Ashok Chakra, 35 RR, Assam Regiment.
The brave soldier attained martyrdom at an impossibly difficult height of 13000 feet in Jammu and Kashmir on May 26, 2016 while battling four terrorists. At the time, he was attached to the Rashtriya Rifles, to which he had himself requested a transfer.
Ashok Chakra(Posthumous) for Havildar Hangpan Dada.Award is received by his wife Chasen Lowang Dada. #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/ywoGHj1VJL
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 26, 2017
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Dada, who was from Borduria village in Tirap district of Arunanchal Pradesh, himself killed three of the terrorists before he was shot in the stomach by the fourth. Yet without regard to his personal safety, Dada managed to injure the fourth and kept him pinned to his hiding place.
The gun battle lasted for over 24 hours.
The Indian Army released a video tribute that chronicles Dada’s life in Arunachal Pradesh and the operation which led to his martyrdom. His wife, his elder brother, his brothers-in-arms, and those who knew him well speak about Dada in the video.
It is just about 10 minutes duration, but what is sure is that you – if you are a true Indian – will be moved to the core. You’d respect the sacrifices of our armed forces even more and understand why what they do is necessary for the safety of India.
That rousing, military regimental song of the Assam Regiment, “Badlu Ram Ka Badan” gives us goosebumps and fills our hearts with pride for Havildar Hangpan Dada, his family, his son who wants to become an Indian Army officer, and this beautiful country.
