Brigadier BS Shergill

Brigadier Balwinder Singh Shergill was born on 04 Mar 1951 and hailed from Sangrur district of Punjab. He completed his schooling from Gangarh village in Sangrur district before being selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy. He joined the 39th course of NDA and later moved to IMA Dehradun for further training. He passed out of IMA and got commissioned on 14 Nov 1971 at the age of 20 years. He was commissioned into 3 Punjab of the Punjab Regiment, an infantry Regiment with long history gallantry and numerous battle honours. He took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and thereafter served in various operational areas in the north and north-east.

Brig BS Shergill had the distinction of commanding his battalion twice — during the period of militancy in Punjab and then in the North East. In addition to serving as Colonel General Staff of 6 Mountain Division, Brig Shergill had also served with the IPKF in Sri Lanka. He was earlier posted in Bareilly for a short while before being posted to Kashmir valley as commander of Sector-7, controlling various RR battalions.  While this was his first posting to the strife-torn state, he had earlier been to the valley on special operations. By the year 2000, Brig BS Shergill had put in around 29 years of service and was known to be a die-hard soldier and an excellent officer, who always led from the front like a true military leader.

Rajwar Sector-IED Blast : 21 Aug 2000

Brig BS Shergill had taken over as Commander, 7 Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles on August 18 and busy familiarizing himself with the operational plans and troops under his command.  As the AOR(Area of Responsibility) of the sector was infested with terrorists, the sector command HQ was involved in operations against the terrorists on a regular basis. As part of his familiarization tour, Brig Shergill planned a visit to 21 RR battalion HQ on 21 Aug 2000.  As planned Brig Shergill along with the CO of the battalion, Col RS Chauhan set off for the HQ in the afternoon after having detailed operational briefing.

This visit by high ranking officer was probably known to the militants and as a result an insidious plan was hatched by them. The militants detonated the remote-controlled IED planted on the road at Warpora village, 12 kms from Handwara town at 3.30 pm, when Brig Shergill was being driven around by Col RS Chauhan on the ”area familiarization tour”. When their vehicle neared Jachal Dor, near the RR battalion headquarters, the IED exploded, with a devastating effect. Brig BS Shergill and Col RS Chauhan bore the brunt of the attack and did not get time to take any retaliatory action. Brig BS Shergill and Col RS Chauhan succumbed to their injuries and were martyred.

Brig BS Shergill was a valiant soldier and a committed officer who laid down his life in the line of his duty following the highest traditions of the Indian Army. Brig BS Shergill is survived by his wife Smt Harinder Paul Kaur and two daughters Smt Parneet Kaur and Smt Harkirat Kaur.