Capt Mandeep Singh

Captain Mandeep Singh hailed from Jalandhar in Punjab and was born on May 19, 1969, to Shri Kanwaljit Singh and Smt Ravinder Kaur. Capt Mandeep studied from Gurunanak Dev University and took part in various activities at college level. During his student days in DAV college and Khalsa college, he took keen interest in bodybuilding and participated in a number of competitions, some being Mr. Punjab and Mr. Jalandhar. Capt Mandeep had a passion for army life since his younger days and always wanted to join the Armed Forces.

Capt Mandeep cleared the Combined Defence Services Exam and joined the Army in 1991. He was commissioned into the Corps of Air Defence Artillery which was re-designated as the Corps of Army Air Defence with effect from 18 Apr 2005. Capt Mandeep joined 49 Air Defence Regiment and served in various places, before being deputed to Rashtriya Rifles in 1998. During the Kargil conflict, Captain Mandeep Singh was attached with the 4 Rashtriya Rifles deployed in J & K area for counter insurgency operations.

Kupwara Attack: 06 Aug 1999

Though the Kargil war had ended on 26 July 1999, the situation along the LOC was tense during Aug 1999, and the troops were on alert for any eventualities. Also during that period a substantial number of army personnel were deployed at Anantnag as part of the security cover for Amarnath Yatra. The Kupwara town was left under the CRPF and the militants saw this as an opportune moment to attack the Army camp of 4 RR unit. Thus in a pre-planned move, at around 1:15 am on 06 Aug 1999, the Army camp of 4 RR unit in village Chak Nutnusa in Kupwara district was attacked by a group of heavily armed militants.

Capt Mandeep Singh was Company Commander of 4 Rashtriya Rifles battalion which came under the deadly armed assault on that day. Capt Mandeep and his troops swung into action and counter attacked. Though it was a surprise attack, Capt Mandeep rose to the occasion and led his troops in effective engagement of the militants. However during the heavy exchange of fire Capt Mandeep received a bullet and suffered an injury to left infraclavicular region of his chest. He soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Besides Capt Mandeep Singh three more soldiers from 4 RR Battalion made the supreme sacrifice during the operation. The other martyred soldiers included Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana, Naik Mithilesh Pathak and Sowar Sohan Singh Solanki. Known as “Harry” to his friends Capt Mandeep was a spirited and dedicated young officer, who was well regarded by his seniors as well as troops under him. Capt Mandeep Singh was a gallant and committed soldier, who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Capt Mandeep Singh is survived by his wife Smt Rajwinder Kaur, daughters Gurmehar and Bani, father Shri Kanwaljit Singh, mother Smt Ravinder Kaur, and brothers Shri Davinderdeep Singh & Shri Inderdeep Singh.