ITBP jawan awarded for fighting terrorists

PANCHKULA: Indian Tibet Border Police (ITBP) jawan Jitendra Singh Yadav who fought terrorists at the Indian consulate in northern Afghanistan last year was awarded with DG Insignia and Commendation on Saturday at the ITBP centre here, though many believe he should have got the President Police Medal Gallantry.

The 33-year-old jawan was guarding the main gate of the consulate in Mazar-eSharif, Afghanistan, when a fidayeen attack took place on January 3, 2016. He engaged the three terrorists and injured two of them.

Other recipients of awards at Saturday’s function said he should have got the President’s medal and his case needed to be pursued properly.

Terrorists had launched the attack at 8:25pm, 25 minutes after the shift changed. Yadav, who hails from Jharkhand, was equipped with two grenades, a light machine gun and INSAS rifle. The terrorists attacked with rocket launchers, while Yadav relied on his INSAS rifle.

“Two of the three terrorists were injured and the third one came to their rescue and dragged them inside an abandoned German consulate. The gunfight continued for the next 27 hours,” said Yadav. “I am happy that I saved 43 lives in the Indian consulate. But, I was told that if I had failed in foiling the attack, I could have faced an inquiry,” he said. Yadav kept the terrorist engaged and alerted the Afghan police. There was no casualty on the Indian consulate side. Afghan forces killed the terrorists.