Younger brother joins elder brother as third Brigadier from State
3 Manipuris now in the rank of Brig in Indian Army
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2010: Strong will conquers all.

Hard work, firm determination and puntuality never fails to pay.

A perfect testimony to these adages are the three Manipuris who have been promoted to the post of Brigadier in the Indian Army in spite of all the short-comings and weaknesses associated with the trouble-torn State of Manipur.

Among the three Brigadiers, two are brothers.

While Laiphrakpam Nishikant Singh was promoted to Brigadier in 2006, his younger brother Laiphrakpam Ibotombi Singh was promoted to the same post recently.

This is a rare distinction, perhaps in the entire country, to have two brothers as Brigadiers at the same time.

Saluting the new Brigadier

The two army brothers hail from Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungba Leikai in the heart of Imphal.

The State has so far produced three Brigadiers in the Indian army.

The other Brigadier, K Himalaya Singh is senior to the two siblings.

Notably, Brigadier Ibotombi (47) who is commanding a Mountain Brigade somewhere in the Eastern Sector did his primary education in a local school before shifting to Sainik School Imphal in 1972 a year after its establishment.

More interestingly Ibotombi, son of late L Thakendrajit Singh and L Kanon Devi has also become the first alumni of Sainik School Imphal to rise to the post of Brigadier earning accolades from the institution.

The officer, popularly known as Brigadier LI Singh in the defence circle, belongs to the second batch of the School.

A jubilant Kanon Devi said hours after her third son Ibotombi got his promotion to the post of Brigadier, he informed the great news to her.

"Now I am a proud and happy mother that my two sons are Brigadiers.

They will definitely discharge their duties towards the country with distinction," Kanon said.

Headmaster of Sainik School Imphal, Wing Commander Srinivas said they are elated to have an alumni who holds the post of Brigadier in the Indian army.

"We are really proud of the senior officer.

We wish him all the best in his future career," the Headmaster said.

Even though Manipur is one of the most violence affected States, Sainik School Imphal has been continuously producing a number of military officers.

Of the total 39 students who appeared in the current year's NDA written examination, 24 have cleared the first hurdle, said the Headmaster.

An alumni of NDA, Brigadier Ibotombi, was commissioned into 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry on December 17, 1983 .

He is a graduate from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Higher Defence Management Course, Secunderabad.

In his 27 years span of service profile, he has held various staff and instructional appointments including General Staff Officer-3 (Intelligence) of the Siachen Brigade, General Staff Officer1 (Operations) of Assam Rifles, Col Military Secretary of a Strike Corps and Col General Staff of a Mountain Division, beside having done a tenure as an instructor at Infantry School, Mhow.

The officer was also posted in Somalia during 1993-94 as part of the United Mission In Somalia-II .

Besides earning General Officer in Chief Commendation Cards from Northern and South Western Commands, he was awarded Yudh Seva Medal during his command of a J&K LI battalion in Drass Sector (Jammu and Kashmir) during 'Operation Parakram' .

Sainik School, Imphal has been performing consistently in the last few years and it has even over shadowed the Goalpara Sainik School.