Grenadier Sukhbir Singh

Grenadier Sukhbir Singh Malik hailed from Rukhi village in Gohana tehsil of Sonipat district in Haryana. Son of Shri Hoshiar Singh Malik and Smt Roshni Devi, Gdr Sukhbir Singh was born on 01 Apr 1976. Gdr Sukhbir Singh wanted to serve in the Armed Forces since his childhood and eventually joined the Indian Army after completing his school education. He was inducted into 18 Grenadiers Battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers and various battle honours. After serving for some time, he got married to Ms Chanda Devi hailing from Haryana. 

Battle of Tololing (Kargil War): 13/14 Jun 1999

During 1999, Gdr Sukhbir Singh's unit 18 Grenadiers was deployed in the J & K along the LOC. On 03 May 1999, the intrusions by Pak forces were detected and on 26 May 1999, the first air-to-ground strike was launched by the Indian Airforce (IAF), followed by Operation Vijay, by the Indian Army to evict the intruders from the Indian areas. The army quickly mobilized its forces to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators from Indian territory. Gdr Sukhbir Singh's 18 Grenadiers battalion, under the command of Col Kushal Thakur, was inducted into the Drass area by 3rd week of May 1999. The battalion was functioning under the command of 56 Mtn Bde, with overall operational control being exercised by 8 Mtn Div under Maj Gen Mohinder Puri. The Tololing Heights was the deepest penetration beyond the LC by the Pakistani intruders. The task of capturing the Tololing feature was assigned to 56 Mtn Bde. The Tololing feature comprised Pt 4590, Tololing Top, South East Spur, South Spur, and Hump to its north. Pt 4590 and Tololing Top dominated all the approaches leading to it. As per the plan of attack of 56 Mtn Bde, 2 Raj Rif was tasked to capture the Tololing top by 0600 Hr on 13 June 1999. 18 Garh Rif battalion was to capture Pt 5140 by 0700 hrs on 13 June. Two companies of 18 Grenadiers were to provide a firm base and the balance of the battalion was to act as reserve to 2 Raj Rif.  

After the capture of Tololing top by the 2 Raj Rif battalion, by 13 June 1999, the 18 Grenadiers Battalion was tasked to capture Hump in conjunction with 18 Garh Rif battalion. Gdr Sukhbir Singh was part of the team of 18 Gren that was assigned the task. Gdr Sukhbir Singh and his comrades launched the attack on the Hump on the night of 13/14 June 1999 preceded by heavy shelling by the Artillery. The area was heavily fortified, but Gdr Sukhbir Singh along with his comrades kept on neutralizing the enemy’s resistance en route. Despite stiff resistance by the enemy, 18 Gren carried on with the attack and by morning captured part of Hump. However during the fierce exchange of fire, Gdr Sukhbir Singh got severly injured and was martyred. By mid day on 14 June 1999, the Hump feature was captured which later facilitated the capture of Point 4590. Besides Gdr Sukhbir Singh, twelve other soldiers of 18 Grenadiers were martyred during this entire operation. The other brave hearts martyred on 13 June 1999, included Nk Praburam Chotiya, Nk Rajvir Singh, L/Nk Raj Kumar, L/Nk Shyam Singh, L/Nk Vinod Kumar, Gdr Surender Singh, Gdr Sita Ram Kumawat, Gdr Manohar Lal, Gdr Naresh Kumar and Gdr Ved Prakash. Two other soldiers, Hav Udham Singh and Hav Sidh Kam were later martyred on 14 Jun 1999. Gdr Sukhbir Singh was a valiant and determined soldier, who laid down his life at the age of 23 years in the line of his duty. 

Gdr Sukhbir Singh Malik is survived by his wife Smt Chanda Devi.