Chetan Cheeta roars: Braveheart CRPF who put his life in danger to kill terrorists in Kashmir shifted out of ICU

In what may be seen as a good news for all, injured Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Commanding personnel Chetan Cheeta's medical condition has shown some improvement. Cheeta has now been shifted to normal ward from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is off the ventilator since five days. 'Finally our prayers got answered #ChetanCheeta's condition is improving, shifted to normal ward from ICU & ventilator has been off since 05 days,' CRPF's official Twitter handle apprised of the same.

Earlier on March 7, it was reported that Chetan was in critical condition. The Commandant of the 45 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who sustained multiple wounds during an an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on February 14, is admitted at the AIIMS trauma centre.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had also visited the officer to take cognisance of his medical condition. As many as three army personnel were killed and seven others injured in the encounters in the Hajin area of Bandipora.

One Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was also killed in the encounter. The Indian Army officers recovered both arms and ammunitions.

But, who is Chetan Cheeta and what did he do?

The CRPF Commanding Officer of the 45th battalion was shot multiple times while fighting terrorists in Bandipore and was airlifted from Srinagar to AIIMS Trauma Center in Delhi. According to a report in The Week, CRPF chief K Durga Prasad said that without waiting, the commandant of the paramilitary force went with the Army, when he got information from the J&K police about two terrorists hiding in the village. In an operation, the trooper led from the front and fired sixteen rounds even after he sustained injuries, and his bravery resulted in the death of top Lashkar commander Abu Musaib.

What are his injuries?

Even though the militants had heavy arms and ammunition, Cheeta led from the front and suffered terrible injuries. His arms were fractured, he suffered injuries to the abdomen and shrapnel pierced his eyes. Cheeta was admitted to the ICU on Tuesday night and is suffering from acidosis, increased acidity in blood and other body tissues.

As many as three army personnel were killed and seven others injured in an encounter that took place between militants and security forces in the Hajin area of Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora.

Earlier, MoS Kiren Rijiju said the injured army personnel Chetan Cheeta is being treated by the best doctors and assured that the government would extend its support in every possible way. “Chetan Cheeta is being treated by the best doctors. His condition remains critical. The government will help him in every possible way,” Rijiju told media.

At a time when there’s a heated political debate about Army General Bipin Rawat’s statement about treating those who help terrorists by indulging in stone pelting during live operations as ‘over ground workers of terrorists’, we’d do well to remember the supreme sacrifices made by CO Chetan Cheeta and his ilk who don’t think twice before putting their lives on the line so we can sleep peacefully.

The Army chief's warning had come after four soldiers, including a Major, were killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir. In criticism of the Army chief's remarks, Congress said restraint should be adopted by security forces while dealing with people in the state. The BJP accused the Congress of speaking in the voice of separatists and politicising the Army for "lowly political gains" while defending Rawat's statement on tough action against locals hampering counter-militancy operations in Kashmir.