THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Among the soldiers who were captured by Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley, there was also one Malayali from Thiruvananthapuram.

His is Neyyattinkara Venpakal native S Shyamlal. He was one of the unarmed soldiers who faced the Chinese aggression.

As the clash was going on, the Chinese soldiers had held 20 Indians captive.

“We were subjected to brutal torture after that. It is unfathomable… For two-and-a-half days, the terrorists in Chinese fatigues unleashed barbaric torture on us.

He is the Naik of Bihar Regiment 16 of Indian infantry. He joined infantry 12 years ago.

He went to serve the nation in Leh area just one-and-a-half years ago. When he was getting ready to return to Kerala, Covid struck India after which, he decided to continue in Leh.

The news of Chinese aggression came out on June 16, 2020. Intimal news said that three soldiers including Colonel Santhosh Babu had attained martyrdom.

“Chinese attacked us without any provocation. We blocked their attempt to cross the border; we also hit back strongly causing heavy casualty on the other side as well.

Shashi Tharoor intervened

What paved the way for the release of the Indian soldiers in Chinese captivity was hard efforts made by NSS representative and Neyyattinkara Union president Kottukal Krishnakumar.

For 17 days, the whereabouts of Shyam and other soldiers were not known. Finally, Krishna Kumar could contact Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh through Shashi Tharoor MP.

The prime minister also directly intervened at a point. And procedures for the release of the soldiers happened fast after that.

On June 24, Shyam reached hometown and completed 14-day quarantine.

Despite going through the horrendous phase of his army life, Shyam’s patriotic spirit is still high.

Holding his wife and two children close to him he says, “What I have suffered is unthinkable…but feel relieved when I think that all those sufferings were for my country…Nothing has affected me… If my country calls me I shall go again to any border as guard…”