Saint general Hanut Singh’s ashram sealed

A part of the ashram of Hanut Singh known as the ‘saint general’ was sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun on Friday. The Municipal Corporation claims that it had sealed it as it had been illegally built on its land. 

Notably, the sealed part of ‘Shiv Balyogi Ashram’ houses library and memorial of the Lieutenant General Hanut Singh, the legendary hero of  the 1971 Indo-Pak war who after retirement had turned  into an ascetic. A disciple of Saint General who is also his nephew Nripendra Singh termed the action of sealing by Municipal Corporation without any notice as an insult on the revered memory of the great warrior and a saint who had served the nation with his sweat and blood.

He claimed that its keys of the sealed property have been handed over to Shiv Rudra Balyogi who resides in a part of the ashram. Singh, further, alleged that the action has been taken at the behest of some people who want to grab the prime land the Ashram is situated on.

 He also alleged that the State BJP chief Ajay Bhatt  has been supporting the people out to grab the land.

Contacted, Ajay Bhatt pleaded his ignorance of the matter and said that he had not the least idea about the identity of the person who has levelled such a wild allegation.  

The municipal commissioner Dehradun, Vijay Kumar Jogdande said while talking to The Pioneer that the property which has been sealed belongs to Dehradun Municipal Corporation. He denied that the keys of the sealed property have been handed over to different factions of Ashram. “The lock is ours and the keys too are with us’’ he said. 

General Hanut Singh had a spiritual inclination from his days in the Indian army and after he retired from the Army in 1991, he had started living at Shiv Balyogi Maharaj Ashram and led an ascetic life spending days in meditation. He had died while in meditation. Born in an aristocratic family, the 'Saint General', an alumnus of the Colonel Brown School in Dehradun is known for his exploits in the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Commanding ‘17 Poona Horse’-the tank battalion-Singh showed exemplary bravery and leadership skills in the war which is now famous as ‘Battle of Basantar’ in the annals of Indian army.

He received Mahavir Chakra for his exemplary and exceptional command. General Singh is considered as one of the finest armour commanders the Indian Army ever had and was considered an authority in modern warfare.