Home Minister Rajnath Singh Breaks The Protocol. Hugs A BSF Constable For His Service.

In a rare gesture, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday broke protocol and hugged BSF constable Godhraj Meena who has suffered 85 percent disability after militants’ bullets hit him during an attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur in 2014. Meena’s bus, part of a Border Security Force convoy, was ambushed by militants on August 5, 2014 near the ‘narsu nalah’ area in Udhampur with a heavy gunfire.

The citation of the 44-year-old trooper said he was on guard duty on the bus and his bravery, acute presence of mind and the accurate fire kept the two militants at bay and thwarted their attempts to enter and target the about 30 personnel onboard.

BSF officials said as per protocol, the home minister, after pinning the medal and handing over the citation, has to shake hand with the awardee and the person moves ahead after according a salute to him. “What we saw today is rare, very rare. This is only in very special cases like that of Meena who has suffered 85 percent disability after the attack. He is not able to talk and walk properly but despite this, he dons his uniform with pride,” a senior officer said.

The officer said Meena has now been deputed for conducting administrative duties. This retaliation had led a total of four BSF personnel, including Meena, being decorated with gallantry medals. The others included constable Subhendu Roy, driver Daljit Singh and constable Rocky who was awarded the ‘Shaurya Chakra’.

Later, during his speech, Singh said he was proud of Meena’s bravery and grit. He also awarded the police medal for gallantry (posthumous) to the wife of the constable and cook of the BSF unit Sanjay Dhar.

Watch the video here:

(The report was published in inuth)