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It's a shame to ignore CRPF commandant Chetan Cheetah's bravery

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Shantanu Mukharji
Shantanu MukharjiApr 07, 2017 | 12:41

It's a shame to ignore CRPF commandant Chetan Cheetah's bravery

The entire nation heaved an immense sigh of relief when the gallant son of India and CRPF commandant Chetan Cheetah came out of the trauma centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on April 5, after battling for life for a long time.

As is already known, 45-year-old Chetan Cheetah, a resident of Rajasthan, was injured in a fierce gunfight with Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists in Bandipora, Kashmir, on February 14. The deadly exchange of fire that ensued between Cheetah and his forces fractured Cheetah's torso, leaving a bullet lodged in his skull and a grievously injured eye.

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Braving the gun shots and barrage of fire, undeterred, Cheetah held the ground throughout the gun battle and was able to neutralise the dreaded militant and LeT commander Abu Harris. That was a huge "mission accomplished", and only because of his diehard commitment to finish the enemy.

By his act of personal valour and exemplary courage, Cheetah made the CRPF and the nation proud. CRPF, the 78-year-old force engaged in fighting terror and anti-Naxalite operations, to name a few,  and has been battle-hardened with over 250 battalions, patiently incurring the wrath of the stone-pelting youth in Kashmir abetted by separatists and their mentors from across the border.

To face such provocation and incessant stone-pelting, remaining calm and unprovoked is the hallmark of the CRPF. And that too in the midst of constant criticism by human rights activists and "pro Azadi" campaigners. That's really creditable on part of the CRPF.

Supreme sacrifices by CRPF officers and men are etched in history and their leadership qualities have always been on the fore. Undaunted, they move in Naxalite-infested areas, be it Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand, fighting terror. Officers of CRPF at the helm are great motivators and that's precisely why Cheetah and his ilk remain charged to take on any inimical or hostile forces in the worst of circumstances.

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Cheetah's courage and his act of bravery in Bandipore stand out as a great source of inspiration to young CRPF officers, encouraging them to take on terrorists and other national security challenges with complete devotion.

Meanwhile, and most significantly, it also becomes imperative on part of the civil society, NGOs, human rights' bodies and Bollywood galaxies et al, to praise his valiant act in glowing terms.

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Why can't other leaders of society go and lift the spirits of the battling soldier?

Most unfortunately, we have not heard as yet any words to this effect from, say Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Alia Bhatt or from any other Bollywood star of renown. More crucially, socialites like Shobha De are surprisingly silent on Cheetah's fight against terror and the grievous injuries he sustained. 

Shobha was otherwise vocal, rather vehemently, in tweeting on an obese Madhya Pradesh Police sub-inspector and earned wide condemnation. The same Shobha chose not to heap praise on Cheetah when it's most needed.

These social birds and self-styled academics must realise the difficult conditions and adverse circumstances the CRPF and other forces work in. They require to be bolstered in terms of morale. After all, they are the ones who are totally committed, full-time, keeping the nation secure from internal security threats as well.

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It's incumbent not only upon the Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, to visit a hospitalised Cheetah. Why can't other leaders of society go and lift the spirits of the battling soldier? Such visits would lift the spirits of anxious and distraught family members as well.

Time has now come for all segments of society to become sensitive towards bravehearts fighting the enemy on the borders and within. Such a move will give a great sense of comfort to members of the armed forces and the nation will also stand sensitised to the dire need to remain united, rallying behind Chetan Cheetah  and company.

Let Cheetah's bravado inspire this generation as to how a brave soldier, with grit and resolve, can defeat death and emerge triumphant from hospital.

Last updated: April 07, 2017 | 17:11
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