The jawans of the Indian armed forces are known to be one of the fiercest and brave warriors in the world. One such brave Soldier from the Assam regiment of the Indian army wasHavildar Hangpan Dada AC (2 October 1979 — 27 May 2016). Dada was born in Borduria village, Tirap district, Arunanchal Pradesh. He was known as a brave kid in and around his place and he had saved his childhood friend Somhang Lamra from drowning in a river.
Dada joined the 3rd battalion of the Parachute Regiment on 28 October 1997. In 2005, he was transferred to the Assam Regimental Centre, and on 24 January 2008, he joined the 4th battalion, Assam Regiment.[2] He then requested a transfer to a Rashtriya Rifles battalion on operations in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir. He was posted to 35 Rashtriya Rifles in May 2016.
He was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India‘s highest peacetime military decoration in August 2016. The tale of his bravery is documented here. On the fateful night of 26 May 2016, Dada, who was the Sabu Post Commander of 35 Rashtriya Rifles, while establishing a stop along with his section at 12,500 feet, led a charge on hiding terrorists in the Shamshabari Ranges in Naugam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the neutralisation of four heavily armed terrorists. He along with his team spotted the movement of terrorists in the area and engaged them in a fierce encounter that went on for over 24 hours. He charged at the spot where terrorists were and killed two terrorists on the spot and later the third one after a hand-to-hand scuffle as they slid down the hill towards the Line of Control. Dada sustained a sudden burst of automatic fire from the hiding fourth terrorist, receiving a gun shot wound. He continued to pin down the fourth terrorist and later succumbed to his injuries before wounding the terrorist.
Hangpan dada showed bravery of highest order in action of eliminating three terrorists in an engagement at close quarters and injuring a fourth one, in disregard to his personal safety. This act of his foiled the infiltration bid and ensured the safety of his men. He was honored posthumously, with the government announcing the highest gallantry award during peace-time operations, the Ashok Chakra, on the eve of the Republic Day in 2017.
This act of bravery of Hangpan Dada will remain in our hearts and the greatest sacrifice won’t be forgotten. Dada is survived by his wife and two children
