Delhi HC allows release of Movie ‘72 Hours – Martyr who never died’

January 22, 2019

The Delhi High Court has allowed the release of the movie ‘72 Hours – Martyr who never died’. The film was based on the life of the 1962 war hero Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat. Jaswant Singh Rawat was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for gallantry during the 1962 war.
The family members of the Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat had sought a stay on the release citing it intrudes their privacy.

Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat

Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was serving as an Indian Army soldier serving in the Garhwal Rifles. He was serving in the 4th battalion of Garhwal Rifles during the battle of Nuranang of the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh)in the war of 1962.
On 17 November 1962 Garhwal Rifles had beaten back two enemy attacks. During the third attack Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, volunteered to silence the Chinese medium machine gun (MMG) which had come close to the Indian defences.
Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain with covering fire from with Lance Naik Trilok Singh destroyed the Chinese detachment of five men, seizing the MMG in the process.
While returning Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Lance Naik Trilok Singh were killed and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain was seriously injured.

Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was honoured by building a memorial at the post where he fought the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and it was named as “Jaswant Garh”. He is also bestowed with another honour as per which he continues to serve even after death. He has been awarded promotions as if he is still serving.