1971 Indo-Pak hero Bhairon Singh Rathore passes away | 5 facts about veteran

Bhairon Singh Rathore was deployed at the Longewala post in the Thar desert of Jaisalmer, commanding a small BSF unit of six to seven personnel that was accompanied by a 120 men company of the Army"s 23 Punjab regiment.

NewsBharati    20-Dec-2022 10:46:24 AM
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New Delhi, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Bhairon Singh Rathore, a BSF veteran of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, who passed away at AIIMS, Jodhpur on Monday. He was 81.
 
Rathore's son Sawai Singh said on Saturday that his father was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Jodhpur on December 14, two days before the 51st anniversary of the war, after his health deteriorated and his limbs got affected in what seemed like a paralysis.
 
1971 war longewala Bhairon Singh passes away
"Doctors told us that my father possibly suffered a brain stroke. He was in and out of ICU over the last few days," Singh as quoted as saying to PTI. The Rathore family lives in Solankiatala village, about 100 km from Jodhpur.
 
"Naik (Retd) Bhairon Singh Ji will be remembered for his service to our nation. He showed great courage at a crucial point in our nation's history. Saddened by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti," Pm Modi tweeted.
 
 
A BSF spokesperson said a wreath-laying ceremony will be held in Jodhpur, while cremation will be conducted in his village Solankiya Tala – located around 100 Km from Jodhpur – with full military honours.
 
5 facts about Bhairon Singh Rathore:
 
1. Rathore was deployed at the Longewala post in the Thar desert of Jaisalmer, commanding a small BSF unit of six to seven personnel that was accompanied by a 120 men company of the Army's 23 Punjab regiment. It was the bravery of these men that decimated an assaulting Pakistani brigade and tank regiment at this location on December 5, 1971.
 
2. Bhairon Singh received the Sena Medal in 1972 for his gallant action. Posted with the 14th BSF battalion during the war, Bhairon Singh Rathore retired from service as a Naik in 1987.
 
3. BSF records about the Longewala battle state, "When one of the 23 Punjab boys was killed, Lance Naik Bhairon Singh took his light machine gun and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy." "It was only their courage and determination to do or die that won the day and Lance Naik Bhairon Singh became a great inspiration to his other comrades on the post," official records state.
 
4. Posted with the 14th BSF battalion during the war, Bhairon Singh Rathore retired as a Naik in 1987.
 
5. Actor Suniel Shetty, who essayed Bhairon Singh Rathore's bravery in the 1997 movie 'Border', paid tributes on Twitter. "Rest in power Naik Bhairon Singh Ji. Heartfelt condolences to the family," he wrote.
 
 

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