Hangpan Dada

Havildar Hangpan Dada AC
Born	(1979-10-02)October 2, 1979 Borduria, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Died	May 27, 2016(2016-05-27) Naugam, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Army (Rashtriya Rifles)
Years of service	1997-2016
Rank	Havildar
Unit	Assam Regiment
Awards	Ashok Chakra

Hangpan Dada AC (2 October 1979 - 27 May 2016) was a soldier in the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration in August 2016.^[1]

Early life

Dada was a member of the Nocte people, born in Borduria village, District Tirap, Arunanchal Pradesh.^[2]

Military service

Dada was recruited to the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment on 28 October 1997. Six years later, he was transferred to the Assam Regimental Centre and on 24 January 2008 he was taken on the strength of 4th Battalion, The Assam Regiment.^[2]

Ashok Chakra

On the night of 26 May 2016, Dada, as Sabu Post Commander of 35 Rashtriya Rifles, while establishing a stop along with his Section at 12,500 feet, led a charge on hiding terrorists in Naugam, Jammu and Kashmir resulting in the neutralisation of four heavily armed terrorists.^[2] He along with his team spotted the movement of terrorists in the area and engaged them in a fierce encounter that went on for over 24 hours. He charged at the spot where terrorists were and killed two terrorists on the spot and later the third one after a hand-to-hand scuffle as they slid down the hill towards the Line of Control. Dada sustained a sudden burst of automatic fire from the hiding fourth terrorist, receiving a gun shot wound. He continued to pin down the fourth terrorist and later succumbed to his injuries before wounding the terrorist.^[2]

Dada's action of eliminating three terrorists in an engagement at close quarters and injuring a fourth one, in disregard to his personal safety, foiled the infiltration bid and ensured the safety of his men. He was honoured posthumously, with the government announcing the highest gallantry award during peace-time operations, the Ashok Chakra, on the eve of the Independence Day in 2016.^[1]

Personal life

Dada was married to Chasen Lowang and they had two children.^[3]

Memorial

To remember his service The Assam Regimental Centre (ARC), one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian army, has named its main office block in its headquarters after Hangpan Dada. The plaque was inaugurated by Dada’s wife Chasen Lowang Dada. ^[4]

To honor him Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandhu renamed the annual football and volleyball (men and women) tournaments for Chief Minister’s Trophy as Hangpan Dada Memorial Trophy.^[5]

References