17/06/2024
A SOLDIER IS NEVER OFF DUTY.
This is the story of Capt. Manjinder Singh Bhinder who saved 150+ lives while his son and wife were charred to death. This story will move your conscience.
13th June 1997. Board exam results were out. Young boys and girls were celebrating their victory. A super hit movie Border was in theatres. Upahar Cinema was jam packed with young students. Among them were Capt. Bhinder, his wife Jyot-Roop and his 4 year old son Ruskin.
Fire broke out inside the theatre. The fire exits were all locked from outside. Trying to find an exit, Capt. Maninder's son and wife caught fire. He tried to save them but both of them burnt to death.
Capt. Manjinder had no time to mourt. He started evacuating the other and saved nearly 150 lives before he also caught fire and could not survive.
The story doesn't end here. The Indian Army declared his death “attributable to military service”. But the then government of India refused to acknowledge his death as service to the nation as he was "Off Duty". His parents fought the case in the Delhi High court and this is when the Delhi High Court in a landmark Judgement declared that "A Soldier is Never Off Duty."
Remembering, the bravest of the brave, Young National Horse Riding Champion, Capt. Manjinder Singh Bhinder on the day he attained Veergati, while saving civilians.
