A documentary has been produced by a Chandigarh resident in association with a group of former military officers seeking redemption of the honour of Brig Pritam Singh, the ‘Hero of Poonch', who was court martialled and dismissed from service on trumped up charges immediately after having saved the town from Pakistani invaders.
Brig Pritam Singh, who had been awarded the Military Cross for bravery during the Second World War, had led a year-long dogged defence of Poonch (J&K) in 1947-48 against Pakistani invaders. However, instead of being decorated with a medal for his bravery and military initiative, he was court martialled and dismissed from service in 1951 due to professional rivalry and intrigues.
Titled ‘The Saviour — Brig Pritam Singh', the documentary will be premiered in Chandigarh on January 21 with several senior military officers in attendance.
The documentary is the brainchild of Karanvir Singh Sibia, a Chandigarh resident who originally belongs to Sangrur, the home district of Brig Pritam Singh. Though he has no military background, yet Sibia has taken a keen interest in the manner in which Poonch was saved from the tribal invaders and regular Pakistan Army troops by Brig Pritam Singh and his band of soldiers along with the resilience shown by the civilians of the area.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Karanvir Singh Sibia said it was unfortunate that the nation was not only unaware of the bravery shown by the common citizens of Poonch…
