Hav Bipul Roy SM

Havildar Bipul Roy hailed from Bindipara village in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, a region known for its simple living and strong sense of duty. Born on 02 March 1986, he was the eldest son of Shri Niren Roy and Smt. Kusumbala Devi, and grew up in a close-knit family with one younger sibling. Inspired by the ideals of service and sacrifice, he nurtured a steadfast ambition to join the armed forces, an aspiration he pursued with determination throughout his formative years. After completing his schooling at Bindipara BFP School, he fulfilled his childhood dream by joining the Indian Army in 2005 at the young age of 19 years. He was recruited into the Corps of Signals, a highly specialised arm regarded as the nervous system of the Army. The Corps plays a critical role in establishing, maintaining, and safeguarding secure communication networks, both during peace and in the midst of intense military operations. Through rigorous training and hands-on experience, the young Sepoy Bipul Roy developed strong professional competence in military communications, becoming a dependable and skilled soldier.

Operation Snow Leopard (Battle of Galwan): 15 June 2020

During 2020, Havildar Bipul Roy’s unit was deployed in Eastern Ladakh at a time when the security environment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was steadily deteriorating. Beginning in April, Indian forces observed a gradual yet unmistakable buildup of Chinese troops, military equipment, and supporting infrastructure across multiple areas of the eastern sector. By early May, Chinese troops began obstructing India’s long-established and traditional patrolling routes in the Galwan Valley, leading to a series of tense face-offs between the two sides. Similar transgression attempts were also reported at Kongka La, Gogra, and along the North Bank of Pangong Lake. Each of these provocations was promptly detected and firmly countered by Indian forces. Through sustained diplomatic and military engagement, India conveyed in unequivocal terms that any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo along the LAC would be unacceptable. As tensions continued to escalate, senior military commanders of India and China met on 6 June 2020 and agreed upon a disengagement process based on reciprocal actions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to respect the LAC and to refrain from activities that could disturb the prevailing situation on the ground. However, in blatant violation of this understanding, Chinese troops instigated a violent confrontation on the night of 15 June 2020 in the Galwan Valley.

Amid this period of extreme operational tension, Hav Bipul Roy was deployed in the forbidding heights of the Galwan Valley as part of Operation Snow Leopard. On the night of 15 June 2020, what began as a routine disengagement-related interaction rapidly escalated into an unprecedented and brutal face-off. The clash devolved into savage hand-to-hand combat, marked by stone-pelting and the use of improvised weapons, and was fought in treacherous terrain under freezing conditions at high altitude. Considering the gravity of the situation, Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Battalion deployed in the area, decided to personally lead the negotiations on the ground. During the discussions, an altercation broke out, sharply raising tempers and resulting in a scuffle. This soon escalated into a coordinated and violent assault by Chinese soldiers, who attacked using deadly clubs and rods. The Indian soldiers, heavily outnumbered, displayed extraordinary courage and resolve despite it becoming evident that the opposing side had come prepared for a confrontation. As the fighting intensified, Havildar Bipul Roy and several other soldiers moved forward to reinforce their beleaguered comrades and confront the attacking Chinese troops. The clashes continued for several hours in darkness and extreme cold, during which many Indian soldiers sustained grievous injuries. Hav Bipul Roy, along with Col Santosh Babu and 18 other brave soldiers, later succumbed to their injuries and were martyred. The other gallant soldiers who laid down their lives included Nb Sub Nanduram Soren, Nb Sub Satnam Singh, Nb Sub Mandeep Singh, Hav Sunil Kumar, Hav K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh, Sep Ganesh Hansda, Sep Chandan Kumar, Sep C.K. Pradhan, Sep Aman Kumar, Sep Kundan Kumar, Sep Rajesh Orang, Sep Ganesh Ram, Sep K.K. Ojha, Sep Jai Kishore Singh, Sep Gurtej Singh, Sep Ankush, and Sep Gurvinder Singh. Hav Bipul Roy was a valiant and dedicated soldier who laid down his life in the line of duty, exemplifying courage, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to the nation. In recognition of his exceptional bravery, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the “Sena Medal” on 26 January 2021.

Havildar Bipul Roy is survived by his father, Shri Niren Roy, mother, Smt. Kusumbala Devi, wife Smt. Rumpa Roy, daughter of Ms Tamanna, and brother Shri Bakul Roy.