NEW DELHI: More than a year after he miraculously survived nine bullet injuries he received during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir , CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah has once again joined active duty.

Cheetah, who was awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal last Independence Day, has joined the CRPF’s directorate at CGO Complex for the moment and is waiting for a posting.

Officials said that for now, Cheetah will be given office related work as he has not completely recovered to go back to combat duties.

The officer has been reportedly calling on his seniors ever since he joined back. TOI couldn’t contact Cheetah himself, but his wife Uma Singh said, “There are small issues (related to his health) which will take some time. But he is very happy to join back and is even eager to go back to combat duties”. After he was discharged from the AIIMS last year, he had claimed in interviews that he wants to join CoBRA battalion of CRPF which tactically fights Naxals in left-wing affected areas. Officials said that Chetan would need another year or two to completely return to normal but his zeal to serve the nation is inspiring and youngsters joining the central paramilitary forces should learn from him.

He was Commanding Officer (CO) of CRPF’s 45th battalion in Kashmir Valley and had suffered bullet injuries in his brain, right eye, abdomen, both arms, left hand and in the buttock region while fighting terrorists in Bandipora on February 14 last year. He remained in coma for almost 1.5 months before he regained consciousness. After the attack last year, Cheetah was lauded by home minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief General Bipin Rawat, and chiefs of other forces.

