News

Volume 7 Issue 7 - April 01, 2010

Disabled Officer all set to become Major General

D.N.I.S. News Network: For the first time in the history of Indian Army, a paraplegic Brigadier will go on to become a Major General. Brigadier S. K. Razdan, aged 53 has been a wheelchair user for the past 15 years.

Brigadier Razdan was serving as Lieutenant Colonel in the Special Forces when in October 1994 he participated in an intensive counter terrorism operation in Damal Kunzipur area of Jammu and Kashmir. In his effort to save several Muslim women from being taken hostage by militants, he suffered grave injuries to his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed below the waist.

Razdan was awarded with the Kirti Chakra, the nation's second highest peacetime gallantry award in 1996 for his act of valour. He later went on to become a Brigadier.

This is not the first time in the Army that physically disabled officers have reached high ranks. As per the rule of the Army, any injury or disability suffered during war, counter-terrorism or any other operation, which is called a `battle casualty' does not come in the way of promotion of any soldier as long as he is capable of performing his duties.