SHIMLA---Isn’t it strange that when Indian cricket team won the T-20 cricket series the Himachal Pradesh government joined the league of other states in announcing bounties - such as free holiday in Himachal - for the cricket team, which anyway had no player from Himachal. But when it came to heroes of the Indian Army, the state government forgot to laud the armymen from Himachal who played a major role in the combat operation in Taj Hotel, Nariman House and Trident Oberoi in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Brigadier Govind Singh Sisodia, posted on deputation as DIG Training in National Security Guards (NSG), Delhi, and Major Amit Bhardwaj were the part of core teams that lead the operation against the terror siege in Mumbai and successfully completed the operation. While Brig. Sisodia hails from Chopal in Shimla district, Major Bhardwaj, son of retired Colonel M.R. Bhardwaj is from Hiranagar in Hamirpur, home district of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

In the ongoing assembly session the government passed a resolution to condemn the terror attacks and expressed its support to the centre government in fighting terror. However, either outside the assembly the government forgot to laud these men who upheld the tradition of bravery shown by Himachali men in the armed forces in the past, whenever the country was under external aggression or other internal incidents of turmoil.

After the names of Brig. Sisodia and Major Bhardwaj were flashed in the local media, with pictures of their families watching the live operation, the only cabinet minister to have shown sensitivity was Horticulture Minister Narendra Bragta, who touched base with family of Brig. Sisodia living in Kumar Building in Sanjauli. However, no one else cared to even call up these men and their families to even express gratitude for the task performed by them.

Brig. Sisodia did his schooling from Government Vijay High School in Mandi and later studied in S.D. College in Shimla before going to the Indian Military Academy. He passed out in 1975 and was commissioned into 16 Sikh Regiment.

During his peace-keeping assignment in Sri Lanka in year 1987, he was injured after being hit by a bullet in his arm. He has commanded 19 and 20 Sikh Regiment and a brigade in Faizabad (U.P). He also lead various operations against the militants in the Kashmir valley.

His Brother Gopal Singh Sisodia, who lives in Sanjauli, said, “After reading in the media about his presence in Taj Hotel in Mumbai for the combat operation his friends from school and college called up to laud his effort and congratulate the family, but nothing came from the government’s side, though Bragta ji called up few days later”.

Brig. Sisodia is the youngest of four brothers of the family and belongs to Bharano village in Chopal district of Shimla. His elder brother K.S. Sisodia retired as a DIG from police and the second one, I.S. Sisodia, retired as Colonel from the Indian Army. His father Sher Singh Sisodia, a retired revenue services officer passed away six months ago.