Sqdn Leader does Ludhiana proud, to receive Vayu Sena medal

LUDHIANA: Squadron Leader Mantej Singh Somal, 33, will receive the Vayu Sena Medal (Galllantry) from President Pranab Mukherjee during Vayu Sena Divas celebrations on October 8. The Ministry of Defence made the announcement three days ago. In peace time, the medal is conferred in recognition of a job well done while in times of war, it recognizes gallantry in the face of the enemy.
Somal will get the medal for saving the lives of three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in a Naxal attack at Chintagufa, Chhattisgarh. On April 7, 2014 Naxalites attacked the CRPF camp at Chitagufa in Chhattisgarh. Three CRPF personnel, who were critically wounded in the fierce gunfight with the Naxalites, needed air evacuation as a life saving measure. Somal was the one who dodged bullets and evacuated the injured CRPF personnel.
He has been posted at Phalodi, Rajashtan for the past three years. But his family lives in Amar Park, Ferozepur road. "The Chintagufa helipad is surrounded by hills on three sides. The naxals had occupied dominating area on one side and security forces were able to sanitize the approach tunnel away from the hills, ensuring only unidirectional approach. Despite the fact that landing was possible only in one direction, Mantej decided to go it since waiting any longer would have endangered the lives of the injured personnel," said Lakhwinder Singh Somal, Mantej's elder brother. Eventually, he evacuated the injured personnel from the battle scene, saving their lives and boosting the morale of troops fighting on the ground.
That's not all. "Throughout the election period in the same time-frame, Mantej participated in close to 20 high risk missions, which ensured peaceful elections in Chattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 2014. So, Mantej will receive the Vayu Sena medal for his unflagging spirit and courage," added Lakhwinder Singh Somal.
Mantej wanted to be in the defence services since childhood. After completing his senior secondary from DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune. "Mantej was inclined to join Defence services. Watching the Republic Day parade on television, he would always say he wanted to join the services to serve the nation," said his father, Nachhattar Singh, a retired PAU employee. Mantej's mother, Surjit Kaur said, "I am very proud of my son."