New Delhi, Sept 06: Lt Col Dhan Singh Thapa, a
recipient of the nation's highest gallantry award Param Vir
Chakra for valiantly engaging an overwhelming strong Chinese
attack in fierce hand-to-hand fighting in Ladakh during 1962
Sino-Indian conflict, died in Pune last night.
A Gorkha battalion officer, Thapa who had been ailing for
some time was 77.
Wielding the famous Khukri, Thapa had charged out of his
post when an attacking Chinese force vastly outnumbering the
Indian defenders were on the verge of overwhelming the post in
Ladakh's Chushual sector on October 20, 1962. Thapa's charge
came after he and his beleaguered garrison had repulsed a
number of Chinese attacks.
The Gorkha colonel, born in Shimla in 1928 was
commissioned in the first battalion of the 8 Gorkha rifles in
1949 and led the Param Vir Chakra winners contingent at the
republic day parade each year.
Thapa is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son,
who is a serving Lt Col in the army.
Army chief General J J Singh has condoled the death of the
officer saying that his brave deeds were pathfinders for the
forces.
Bureau Report
