Amit Deswal

From Jatland Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Shahid Major Amit Deswal
Amit Deshwal-6.jpg

Major Amit Deswal (15 January 1985 - 13 April 2016) (मेजर अमित देशवाल) from village Surehti, Jhajjar district Haryana was a Martyr of militancy in an encounter with Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militants in Manipur’s Tamenglong district. Deswal is survived by his wife and a three-and-a-half years old son.

Early life

Amit Deswal was born on 15 January 1985 in the family of Shri Rishi Ram Deswal and smt Vedvati. He completed his primary education from village Surehti. He studied at Ambala from 6-8th standard and went to Nasik for his studies of 9-12th classes from Kandriya Vidyalaya Nasik. His father posted at Nasik at that time. He did B.A. from Guru Govind Singh College Delhi in 2004. [1]


Career in Army

On January 15, 1985, Rishi Ram held two celebrations at home — to mark Army Day and the birth of his son. From that day, his family members recall, the Subedar Major’s only dream was to see his son become an army officer.

The dream came alive 21 years later, when Amit Deswal was commissioned to the Regiment of Artillery on June 10, 2006. And it died this Wednesday on 13.6.2016, when Major Deswal of 21 Para was killed in an encounter with Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) insurgents in Manipur’s Tamenglong.

Within hours of Major Deswal succumbing to a gunshot wound on his stomach, the army broke the news to the father who was in Imphal at the time, said Deswal’s younger brother Ankit Deswal, speaking on behalf of the family.

For Ankit, it has been a jumble of painful moments over the last 24 hours at their family home in Jhajjar. His mother, holding his hand, refuses to believe that she has lost her elder son. His sister-in-law Neetu is “inconsolable” and keeps “repeating the same thing… ‘Yeh bahut galat hua. Yeh bahut galat hua (what happened is wrong)’” -

The last time Amit visited home was when Ankit got married on February 16. He stayed in Jhajjar for ten days. “The Jat quota agitation was happening at the time. However, the wedding went off peacefully. Never could we imagine then that such a tragedy would hit us,” said Ankit.

Rishi Ram was in Manipur to teach his four-year-old grandson Aryan — Deswal’s only child — to swim, said Ankit. “Amit wanted Aryan to be with his grandfather during the summer holidays so that he remained attached to the family,” he said.

According to Ankit, Amit Deswal was selected for the coveted Special Forces and joined the elite unit in January 2011 before being sent to Manipur for Operation Hifazat-II this January.

”My father always dreamt of becoming an officer. Amit fulfilled his dream. Not only he accomplished this dream, he stood second in the Combined Defence Services examination in 2004. After joining the elite forces, he was declared the best student commando,” said Ankit, displaying photos of his elder brother being commissioned into the Artillery.

Col Narender Chhikkara (Retd), who was Deswal’s company commander in Dundahera, Gurgaon, from 2007 to 2009, said, “Amit was posted here right after his Young Officer’s Course. He had an unmatched spark on his face. He was bright and always keen to know the unknown. The respect this young gentleman officer had for the uniform is something I still remember,” said the retired officer.

Another senior officer, under whom Amit served, remembers him as someone who recognised that his calling was somewhere more adventurous. “As a young officer, he got commissioned in an Artillery regiment where he was posted as a Gun Position officer. But his calling was always for the Special Forces. He died fighting. He died a commando,” said the serving officer.

The officer also described Amit as a “flying machine”. “He was a brilliant cross-country runner and an undefeated hockey player. For his troops, he was not just their ‘Saheb’ but someone they looked up to,” he added.

Reference - Kaunain Sheriff M, Sandali Tiwari, Jhajjar, Apr 15, 2016, News Indianexpress

Major Amit Deswal cremated with full military honours

Ref - Ajay Sura,TNN,Apr 15, 2016

Major Amit Deswal of 21-Para (Special Forces)---who was killed on Wednesday in a gun battle with Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militants in densely forested Nungba in Manipur---was laid to rest on Friday at his native village Surheti in Jhajjar district with full military honours.

His younger brother Ankit Deswal lit the pyre in presence of senior officers of army, police, district administration, ministers and a large number of local residents.

Cries of 'Major Amit amar rahe' (Long live Maj Amit) and "Veer Amit Amar Rahe" (Long live brave Amit) filled the air as the gun salute reverberated before the funeral pyre was lit. Martyr's father retired subedar major Rishi Raj, mother Bidyawati and wife Neeta were inconsolable.

Body of Major Amit was brought to Delhi on Friday morning, where army chief, General D S Suhag also paid homage to the deceased soldier. Thereafter, his body was brought to Jhajjar in a special helicopter along with his father, wife and three and half years old son. Amit's father, wife and son were already in Jorhat, where the officer was allotted family accommodation.

Major Deswal had suffered two bullet injuries into his stomach on Wednesday in a gun battle with ZUF militants in densely forested Nungba area during a combing operation undertaken by Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces personnel. Due to inclement weather in the area, his body was recovered on Thursday from a remote place in Tamenglong district in Manipur and flown to Imphal. After postmortem and the wreath lying ceremony by the local army formations, the body was finally flown to Delhi on Friday morning.


Second among three siblings, Major Amit Deswal is survived by his wife Neeta and a three and half year old son. His elder sister was married and his younger brother works with a MNC at Jamanagar in Gujarat. His father had retired as subedar major from army in 2009 and the family was settled in sector-6 Jhajjar for the past three years.


Amit was posted in Manipur as part of Operation Hifazat-II since January 2016 and had visited Jhajjar on February 16 this year to attend his younger brother's marriage.

He was commissioned into regiment of artillery in June 2006 but later he had volunteered to join the elite para (Special Forces) regiment.


State agriculture minister, Om Prakash Dhankar, former chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, director general of police, Dr K P Singh, several MLAs including Raghubir Kadian, Geeta Bhukal, Naresh Kaushik, military veterans including Lt Gen Raj Kadian (retd) and a large number of people were present in the village to pay homage to the martyr.

Salient facts about Major Amit Deswal

Here are some inspiring facts about Major Amit Deswal[2]

  • Maj Amit Deswal was commissioned on 10 Jun 2006 into Regiment Of Army.
  • He opted for Special Group at first but finally opted and was selected and marooned into the coveted PARA Special Forces
  • He joined the elite PARA unit in Jan 2011.
  • He was physically robust which was reflected in his performance at the ‘Ghatak Course ‘, where he secured ‘ Commando Dagger – Best Student’ at 8 yrs of service.
  • He got inducted in Manipur for Op Hifazat II in Jan 2016. After relentless hard work combined with a superior tactical acumen, the officer homed on to eliminate the leadership of NSCN K and ZNF cadres. With his Cdo spirit at the helm he followed them and in an ensuing gunfight on 13 April 2016, he sustained two GSW in the stomach. Despite grievously injured the officer shot down the top militant Cadres at last Light in Tamenglong District.

Major Amit Deshwal, SM , 21 PARA

Maj Amit Deswal was born on 15th January 1985 in the family of now Army veteran Subedar Major Rishi Ram Deswal and Smt Vedvati. He hailed from Surheti village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. After completing his primary education from village Surehti, he went to Ambala for his 6-8th standard and continued his studies at Kendriya Vidyalaya Nasik, as his father was posted at Nasik at that time. He completed his graduation from Guru Govind Singh College Delhi in 2004.

Maj Amit Deswal was commissioned on 10th Jun 2006 and later joined the elite 21 Para(SF) unit in Jan 2011. He was a tough soldier and physically very fit, which reflected in his performance at the “Ghatak Course”, where he achieved the distinction of being selected as a “Commando Dagger – Best Student”. During his service career, Maj Amit Deswal served in various challenging operational areas and proved his mettle during many assigned op tasks. In Jan 2016, he got posted to Manipur and got involved in Op Hifazat II. During his tenure in Manipur, Maj Amit Deswal succeeded in eliminating the leadership of National Socialist Council of Nagaland( NSCN) and its two major factions NSCN (K), led by Khaplang; and NSCN (I-M), led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muviah.

Manipur Attack: 13th April 2016

On 13th April 2016 at 3.30 AM the 21 Para troops launched an operation against a splinter group of Naga insurgents who were not part of a peace process with the government. The unit had received credible information from the intelligence sources about the presence of militants in an area 30 km off the National Highway 36 in the heavily forested area. The assault team led by Maj Amit Deswal, after intensive search finally spotted the militants, who opened fire at them on being challenged.

In the exchange of fire that ensued Maj Amit Deswal killed one insurgent and seized an AK -47 guns at around 7 AM. But the other terrorists taking advantage of the forest area managed to escape. Maj Amit Deswal and his troops continued their search operation and tracked them down again at about 4 pm in the evening on the same day, about 20 km away from the highway. Maj Amit Deswal led from the front and engaged the militants in the gun-battle that followed. However, in the fierce exchange of fire Maj Amit Deswal got shot twice and attained martyrdom. Maj Amit Deswal showed exemplary courage and leadership skills in carrying out the assigned mission and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army. For his bravery, unyielding fighting spirit, and sacrifice, Maj Amit Deswal was awarded the “Sena Medal” posthumously.

Major Deswal is survived by his wife Neeta and son Arjun.

His wife Neeta also joined the army after his martyrdom.

Source of this info and images - Ramesh Dadhich

News in Daily Bhaskar dated 14 April 2017

http://www.bhaskar.com/news/HAR-OTH-MAT-latest-jhajjar-news-020005-2393836-NOR.html

गुमनाम शहीदों को पहचान देने के लिए आगे आएं इतिहासकार, पैसे की नहीं आने देंगे कमी : धनखड़

सुरहेती गांव में शहीद अमित देशवाल की प्रतिमा का अनावरण करते कृषि मंत्री ओ.पी. धनखड़

राज्य में हर गांव के गौरव पट्ट पर संबंधित गांव के रणबांकुरों का उल्लेख किया जाएगा। इससे नई पीढ़ी को प्रेरणा ही नहीं मिलेगी, बल्कि गांव का मान भी बढ़ेगा। यह बात कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण तथा पंचायत विकास मंत्री ओ.पी. धनखड़ ने कही। वे गुरुवार को सुरहेती गांव में शहीद मेजर अमित देशवाल की प्रतिमा के अनावरण के उपरांत उपस्थित जनसमूह से रू-ब-रू हो रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा जिन्होंने देश की रक्षा के लिए अपनी जान न्यौछावर की उन वीरों का नाम और वीरगाथा सभी को पता होनी चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा मुझे इस बात का भी दु:ख है कि स्वतंत्रता की लड़ाई के दौरान देश के लिए मर-मिटने वाले हजारों शहीदों का कहीं नाम भी नहीं है, वीर माटी के ऐसे अज्ञात शहीदों को भी हम शत-शत नमन करते हैं। उन्होंने कहा मुझे भी इस बात पर नाज है कि मैंने झज्जर जिले में जन्म लिया, यह वीरों की भूमि है जहां दो-दो विक्टोरिया क्रॉस से लेकर अदम्य साहस के साथ देश की रक्षा करने का जज्बा यहां के हर नौजवान में है।

शहीद अमित देशवाल का जीवन बहादुरी की मिसाल है। 2005 को भारतीय सेना अकादमी में कदम रखने के साथ ही उन्हें प्रशिक्षण के दौरान सर्वश्रेष्ठ खिलाड़ी चुना गया,स्पेशल फोर्टिज़ में जाने के उपरांत अक्टूबर 2014 में संयुक्त राष्ट्र की शांति सेना का भाग बने। बीते वर्ष आज ही के दिन आतंकियों से लोहा लेते हुए बहादुरी के साथ असाधारण शौर्य एवं वीरता का परिचय देते हुए अपना जीवन राष्ट्र के नाम समर्पित कर दिया। वाइपर टापू का जिक्र करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि वीर सावरकर जैसे वीरों के नाम को कुछ राजनीतिक लोगों ने दबाने का प्रयास किया। मगर ये ऐसी सरकार है जो गुमनाम वीरों को भी प्रकाश में लाने का काम करें। इसके लिए जो इतिहासकार इस पर काम करना चाहते है उन्हें पैसे की कोई कमी नहीं होने दी जायेगी। इस अवसर पर शहीद अमित के पिता ऋषि देशवाल, एस.डी.एम. प्रदीप कौशिक, जि.प. अध्यक्ष परमजीत, उपाध्यक्ष योगेश सिलानी,पूर्व विधायक नरेश शर्मा, आनंद सागर सतबीर सिंह उपस्थित थे।

Jhajjar Bus Stand renamed after Maj. Amit Deswal

on 14 April 2023, the General Bus Stand at Jhajjar was renamed in the name of Maj. Amit Deswal.

External links

Gallery

References

  1. Jat Gatha, May-2016,p.9
  2. ssbcrack.com

Back to The Martyrs