Captain Roopendra Singh Garcha

Captain Roopendra Singh Garcha hailed from Jalandhar district in Punjab and was born on 20 Oct 1974. Son of Lt Col Joginder Singh Garcha and Smt Harminder Kaur, Capt Roopendra Singh  had a brother Deepinder Singh as his sibling. As he grew up in a military family, Capt Garcha had a passion for army life since his younger days and always wanted to serve in the Armed Forces like his father. After completing his graduation, he got selected to join the Army and went to the prestigious OTA (Officers' Training Academy), Chennai. He joined the SS 64 course at OTA and passed out on 05 September 1997 as a Lieutenant. He was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence, an important combat support arm of Indian Army. 

Pulwama Operation  (Op Rakshak): 30 Jun 2000

During Jun 2000, Capt RS Garcha's unit 323 AD Regiment was deployed in the Pulwama district of J&K  as part of "Operation Rakshak". The unit was operating in a militant-infested area and consequently, it had to undertake operations against the militants on a frequent basis. The LOC located near to its AOR(Area of Responsibility) remained highly active and volatile with ceasefire violations occurring very often and without any warning. The area was also prone to infiltration, which necessitated regular armed patrols to check any infiltration from across the border. Following inputs from intelligence sources about the presence of some terrorists, the security forces decided to launch a search operation in Lakipur village in Pulwama district on 30 Jun 2000. Capt RS Garcha was tasked to lead that operation on 30 Jun 2000.

As Capt Garcha was entering the village,  he sensed something amiss and ordered his team to halt. Without caring for his own safety, Capt RS Garcha said that he would move alone first and they should follow him only if he signaled.  But as Capt RS Garcha stepped forward, he came under a massive IED blast and was severely injured. Capt RS Garcha soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Capt RS Garcha was a committed soldier and a fine officer, who led from the front and laid down his life in the service of the nation before he could even turn 26.

Capt Roopendra Singh Garcha is survived by his father Lt Col Joginder Singh Garcha(Retd), mother Smt Harminder Kaur and brother Shri Deepinder Singh.

• Capt Garcha’s father Lt Col JS Garcha(Retd) is managing a Trust dedicated to the promotion of education among weaker class students and sports, in the memory of his son.
• The Garcha family has constructed a memorial in the Urban Estate in memory of Capt Roopendra Singh Garcha.
• Apart from constructing the memorial, the Garcha family has been conducting an NCC Golf Cup in his honour.
• The AD regiment has also named a trophy in the memory of Capt Garcha and mentioned the brave soldier in their regiment heritage hall.
• The regiment has named SA Firing trophy and a road in Vadodara cantonment after Capt Roopendra Singh Garcha.
• A Young Officer Trophy has also been constituted by the Air Defence College, Gopalpur (Orissa), in the memory of Capt Garcha.

• Major General Dhanda:  “Due to his sacrifice, our country has become a safe place to live. Others should also learn from his sacrifice, who laid down his life for the nation and its citizens.”
• Capt Garcha's father Lt Col JS Garcha(Retd):  “He seems to have been destined for the job as he had an inclination towards Army since childhood. He used to play ‘battalion’ games at home and even made us participate in those games as Army men. Within a short span of two years service, ‘Rupi’ was almost done with four crucial courses of the Army. His flourishing career was cut short by his sudden death,”.
• Capt Garcha's father Lt Col JS Garcha(Retd): “I have lost the most precious gem of my life and I will remember the harsh fact till my last breath,”.