CRPF Jawan lauded for feeding special kid in J&K

A heart-warming video went viral on social media at the beginning of the week and chased away Monday blues: A turbaned security personnel hand-feeds an apple-cheeked boy dressed in black. He even wipes his mouth with the blunt efficiency of an experienced caregiver.

The CRPF jawan Iqbal Singh, who was part of the convoy targeted in the Pulwama attack, has been decorated with the paramilitary force's highest service award: The director general (DG) commendation disc and certificate for showing "exemplary human gesture in spirit of the values enshrined in the charter of the force".

"On 13th of May, 2019 we were posted in Nawakadal area of Srinagar," the head constable of 49th battalion told a WION correspondent on Tuesday, "In the afternoon, when our tiffins arrived, a little boy walked up to me and signalled that he was hungry. So I gave him my dabba." However, the boy did not take it and Singh noticed that he could not use his arms. "So I fed him," he said simply.

His actions drew applause from his seniors and politicians too. "He also shared his tea with the child in the afternoon," said S P Vaid, Director General (Srinagar) of the Central Reserve Police Force, in a statement. "We appreciate the noble gesture of HC Iqbal Singh for going beyond the call of duty."

Singh was part of the 78-vehicle convoy that was attacked in Pulwama on February, 14. After Jaish's suicide attacker rammed his explosive-laden car into a bus carrying CRPF personnel, Iqbal was part of the first team to help with rescue operations. "The CRPF is always ready to help the people of Kashmir in times of distress," Singh said.

(With agency inputs)

Dabba-Ful Of Love

• Child signalled to Constable Iqbal Singh that he was hungry
• Singh gave him his tiffin, but realised the child could not use his hands