In yet another long-distance lockdown drive, the parents of a 39-year-old decorated Indian Army officer and Shaurya Chakra winner, were forced to travel a distance of more than 2,600 km between Amritsar and Bengaluru by road to perform the last rites of their son.

Colonel Navjot Singh Bal, a Special Forces officer who commanded the elite 2 Para unit of the Army, lost a long-fought battle against a rare cancer this Friday. 

The previous day, he had posted a selfie that showed him smiling on a hospital bed in Bengaluru.

© India Today

According to reports, when the family approached the government, they were told that the requests made for a military aircraft to transport them did not materialise as the required orders for the Indian Air Force to fly his parents were not issued.

@PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia @AmitShah @Ra_THORe @rajeev_mp MHA not sanctioned move parents of Col NS Bal Para SF to Banglore 4 last rites, restrictions for COVID19. Inflexible adherence to policy. Request exception & sanction. Col Bal Shaurya Chakra gave best years 2 d nation

â Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia (@Ptr6Vb) April 9, 2020

Despite this bureaucratic barrier, the Karnataka government stepped in to allow special permissions for Col Balâs family to enter through Karnatakaâs borders and finally perform his last rites.

Thank you for the call and assistance from DGP Praveen Sood and team Karnataka @rajeev_mp .

Let us all pray for a safe journey for parents and brother if Col N S Bal. pic.twitter.com/1Ye24xKyoB

â Meghna Girish (@megirish2001) April 11, 2020

Colonel Bal himself was an outstanding member of the Armed Forces, distinguishing himself ever since his commission back in 2002. 

Since then, he has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award, for his role in an operation in Jammu and Kashmirâs Lolab.

He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018, when a tumour was detected in the officerâs right hand. 

After rounds of chemotherapy and radiology served only to delay the spread of cancer, oncologists then had to amputate his right hand - even this did not slow the Colonel down, who despite this severe disability, continued to command his troops, even learning how to shoot with his left hand - earning the respect of several top brass ex-military figures, some of whom sent their best wishes to Balâs family.

Deepest condolences! Have a safe journey. Sad GOI did not help. Rules are never written on stone. They are modified or changed in special circumstances.

â Vedmalik (@Vedmalik1) April 11, 2020

Some followers also expressed their disappointment in how the government did not issue a special order and make an exception for Balâs family owing to his tragic death and dedicated service.

Very sad state of affairs. At one end our bureaucracy and political class rolls out red carpet to proclaimed offenders like Wadhawans and other end we treat our saviors -men in uniform so badly. Black day for armed forces.

â Girish Sethi (@Trekgrey70) April 11, 2020

Are we living in stone age ??? What the hell is happening in India ..a decorated man dies n no courtesy is extended to his parents!! What if some pol person dies .same treatment wl b fr thm as well? ??
Shame !!

â .Alexâ¸â· (@Alex19172447) April 11, 2020

Colonel Bal is survived by his wife and two children, aged four and eight.

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