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IMPHAL: A Manipuri youth serving as Lieutenant in the British Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (RMAS), Special Forces, has been chosen for a prestigious gallantry award for his bravery during a fierce gunfight with al-Qaida insurgents in Afghanistan in 2011.
The award will be given on June 19.
Lt Khwairakpam Robin Singh will receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a second-level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces, along with six other personnel. He will also get 15,000 pounds as a mark of encouragement and respect for the act of heroism.
"I never expected that such a big award will be conferred on me. I'm proud to be a fighter in the RMAS," the 27-year-old officer told this reporter on Thursday in Imphal. "Upon our team's earlier feats, my commander encouraged me with his striking words like 'you are the hero of the Arabian sea'," said a soft-spoken (Indian citizen) Robin, who is currently putting up at his native Sekmai village in Imphal West.
Expounding what he termed as one of the fiercest gunfights ever since he joined the RMAS in 2009, Robin said in August, 2011 "we were called in as a reinforcement team to fight Al Qaeda terrorists at Lungmoor and Chandrima in the Arabian Sea."
"We were 47, including 40 commandos, in our ship and we fought off and on for a whooping seven days during which we also faced shortage of food as the insurgents cut the supply ships. We finally eliminated many of our enemies to make our mission successful," said Robin.
Born to Khwairakpam Sanajaoba and Kh Memcha Devi, Robin did his schooling in Manipur before completing his graduation from St Philomena's College, Mysore.
A statement released by Chief of Naval Staff , United Kingdom, on March 11, said, "Robin ensured the safety of his team, neutralized the enemy and achieved success," the statement said. Lt Robin Singh, as the lead scout of his team, heavily engaged at close quarters with automatic fire and rocket propelled grenades by a well armed and determined insurgent force, it added.
The statement said Robin displayed complete disregard to his personal safety by moving to an exposed position to fire and throw grenades to suppress the enemy within 30 meters of his position. "His selfless acts enabled the rest of his team to fire to regain the initiative and neutralize the enemy and his efforts are in the first traditions of the Royal Marine and Royal Defence Force," the statement added.
Robin said half of his cash reward would be donated to orphanages, fake-encounter victims and destitutes in his home state.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Bravery-award-for-Manipuri-officer/articleshow/19120065.cms
The award will be given on June 19.
Lt Khwairakpam Robin Singh will receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a second-level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces, along with six other personnel. He will also get 15,000 pounds as a mark of encouragement and respect for the act of heroism.
"I never expected that such a big award will be conferred on me. I'm proud to be a fighter in the RMAS," the 27-year-old officer told this reporter on Thursday in Imphal. "Upon our team's earlier feats, my commander encouraged me with his striking words like 'you are the hero of the Arabian sea'," said a soft-spoken (Indian citizen) Robin, who is currently putting up at his native Sekmai village in Imphal West.
Expounding what he termed as one of the fiercest gunfights ever since he joined the RMAS in 2009, Robin said in August, 2011 "we were called in as a reinforcement team to fight Al Qaeda terrorists at Lungmoor and Chandrima in the Arabian Sea."
"We were 47, including 40 commandos, in our ship and we fought off and on for a whooping seven days during which we also faced shortage of food as the insurgents cut the supply ships. We finally eliminated many of our enemies to make our mission successful," said Robin.
Born to Khwairakpam Sanajaoba and Kh Memcha Devi, Robin did his schooling in Manipur before completing his graduation from St Philomena's College, Mysore.
A statement released by Chief of Naval Staff , United Kingdom, on March 11, said, "Robin ensured the safety of his team, neutralized the enemy and achieved success," the statement said. Lt Robin Singh, as the lead scout of his team, heavily engaged at close quarters with automatic fire and rocket propelled grenades by a well armed and determined insurgent force, it added.
The statement said Robin displayed complete disregard to his personal safety by moving to an exposed position to fire and throw grenades to suppress the enemy within 30 meters of his position. "His selfless acts enabled the rest of his team to fire to regain the initiative and neutralize the enemy and his efforts are in the first traditions of the Royal Marine and Royal Defence Force," the statement added.
Robin said half of his cash reward would be donated to orphanages, fake-encounter victims and destitutes in his home state.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Bravery-award-for-Manipuri-officer/articleshow/19120065.cms
