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| Lt. Colonel and his wife(left), his picture(centre) and his name's signboard(right). PC: Honourpoint, India Today. |
Faridabad, Haryana – In a shocking twist that has sparked outrage across India, a road sign honouring Lieutenant Colonel Rishubh Sharma—an Indian Army officer who sacrificed his life to save a village—has been stolen from Sector 21 in Faridabad, Haryana, just months after his family fought to install it. The theft, occurring mere meters from a police station, has left the Sharma family heartbroken and ignited a firestorm of public anger over the disrespect to a national hero.
Lt Col Rishubh Sharma, a skilled pilot in the Army Aviation Corps, perished on January 26, 2021, when his Rudra helicopter suffered a catastrophic technical failure during a night patrol near the border.
In his final act of bravery, the 34-year-old steered the doomed aircraft away from a civilian village, ensuring the wreckage spared innocent lives below. His co-pilot survived, but Sharma’s selfless courage earned him posthumous accolades—and a promise from his family to keep his legacy alive.
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That promise took shape after years of relentless effort by Sharma’s parents, Dr. Kalpana and Dr. Rajinder Sharma, and his widow, Radha Sharma. Battling bureaucratic apathy from the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF), the family campaigned tirelessly to have a road named in his honour.
When delays stretched into years, they took matters into their own hands, funding and erecting the signboard themselves on July 3, 2024—Sharma’s birth anniversary—after securing official permissions.
“We wanted his sacrifice to inspire generations,” Radha Sharma told reporters, her voice trembling with emotion. “What should have been a proud tribute from the state became our burden to bear.”
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That burden turned to disbelief in late March 2025, when the family discovered the steel sign—bolted to a pole in a busy residential area—had vanished. The theft’s audacity stunned them: the site sits just steps from a local police station, under the supposed watch of law enforcement.
When the Sharma's reported the loss, they say Faridabad Police brushed them off. “They told us it might have been hit by a vehicle and cleared away,” said Dr. Rajinder Sharma. “But there was no debris, no witnesses, no explanation.”
After days of pressure, police conceded the board was likely stolen and assigned a sub-inspector to investigate. Weeks later, the case remains cold, with no suspects or leads.
“We’re not just mourning the loss of a sign,” Radha said, her eyes blazing with defiance. “We’re mourning the theft of dignity, of honour, of everything Rishabh stood for.”
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The story has exploded across social media, with #JusticeForRishabh trending as citizens vent their fury. “A hero saves lives, and this is how we repay him?” one X user posted. Another wrote, “Stealing a martyr’s memorial near a police station?
This is a new low for Haryana.” Some speculate the steel was pilfered for scrap, while others smell a deeper conspiracy—pointing to the MCF’s earlier reluctance as evidence of systemic neglect.
Police have since promised action. “We are investigating thoroughly,” a spokesperson said. “If the board isn’t recovered, we’ll ensure it’s replaced to honour Lt Col Sharma.” But for the family, the damage is done. “It’s not about the board itself,” Dr. Kalpana said. “It’s about what it represents—and how little that seems to matter.”
As the investigation stalls, the Sharma's vow to fight on, planning a public campaign to demand accountability. Meanwhile, the missing sign has become a symbol of a larger question: In a nation that reveres its soldiers, how could a hero’s tribute disappear without a trace?