Indian soldiers stolen medal in London auction

On November 12,1945,Ram,then 28,repulsed a grenade attack and saved fellow soldiers,but lost his life in the explosion. The George Cross,which ranks next to the Victoria Cross,was received by his wife Brahmi Devi,then aged 13,on January 1,1946. It was presented by Field Marshal Lord Wavell,Viceroy of India,on behalf of King George VI.

Brahmi Devi,who today lives alone on a meagre government pension in Papral village of Bilaspur district,had lodged an FIR with the Bilaspur police in 2002 that the medal had been stolen from her house along with a few other items.

Unable to make any breakthrough,the police closed the case as untraced a few months later.

It has emerged now that the same George Cross medal is being auctioned by DNW,which estimates it to be worth 25,000 (about Rs 20 lakh). The auction house,however,says on its website that the Cross is sold with the recipients 13 F.F.R. cap badge,an original group photograph (the only one known of the recipient),and two original affidavits confirming the passing of legal title of the G.C. from his widow in April 2000.

The DNW website has listed the medal in the category A Collection of Medals to the Indian Army the property of a retired Indian Army officer.

Shakti Singh Chandel,a retired IAS officer,has brought the auction of the Cross to the notice of the district police. On Wednesday,he wrote an email to Bilaspur SP Kuldeep Sharma,informing him about the auction. He has also raised questions on whether the owner who has put it up for auction has the legal authority to do so.

Brahmi Devi,76,has also approached the local administration seeking intervention to check the authenticity of the medal,and take suitable action to stop its sale,if its happens to be the one which her husband was awarded, Chandel,who is also from Papral village,said.

He told The Indian Express that he has also written to Additional Chief Secretary (Ex-Servicemen welfare) Harinder Hira asking her to take up matter with the Indian High Commission in London and prevent sale of the medal. The Himachal Pradesh DGP has also been approached to get intervention of the agencies like Interpol to find out how the medal reached London, he added.

P Kamal Kumar,ADGP (headquarters),confirmed he has received a communication from the Bilaspur police chief,informing him about Chandels request.

I have asked the SP verify the authenticity of the widows claim on the medal. The police,on their part,continue to maintain that the theft case had remained untraced. If the widow writes for its reopening,that request can also be considered, the ADGP added.