Havildar Dayal Singh SC

Havildar Dayal Singh hailed from Nathuwala village in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, known for its rich martial tradition and contribution to the Indian Armed Forces. He was the son of Shri Surendra Singh and Smt Shanti Devi, and from a young age, he displayed a strong sense of duty, discipline, and patriotism. After completing his school education, Hav Dayal Singh decided to serve the nation by joining the Indian Army. He was recruited into the 8 Garhwal Rifles, a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment, which is one of the most distinguished and decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment has a long and glorious history of gallantry, professionalism, and service in numerous wars and operations. Through years of rigorous training, exposure to various terrains, and consistent dedication to his responsibilities, Hav Dayal Singh evolved into a highly competent and disciplined soldier.

By the year 2010, he had rendered several years of dedicated service to the nation. During his tenure, he had been posted in numerous operational areas, including high-altitude zones, counter-insurgency regions, and sensitive border locations. These diverse deployments helped him sharpen his combat skills, particularly in fieldcraft, tactics, and leadership. His professionalism, steadfast commitment, and exemplary performance earned him steady promotions over the years, and he was eventually elevated to the rank of Havildar.

Operation Rakshak (J&K): 13 Jan 2010

During  2010, Havildar Dayal Singh’s unit, 8 Garh Rif, was deployed in Jammu & Kashmir as part of Operation Rakshak—an ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration mission to combat militant activities in the region. Given the high presence of militants operating within the unit’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), the troops were required to maintain an elevated state of vigilance and readiness at all times. The unpredictable nature of the threat meant that security forces had to be prepared to launch swift operations at short notice to neutralize hostile elements and safeguard the region. Based on the information from the intelligence sources, a search and cordon operation was launched in the AOR of the unit on 13 January 2010. Hav Dayal Singh, as part of the Battalion Intelligence Team, was tasked to cordon a suspected house from the rear. At approximately 2330 hours, while the cordon-and-search parties were still maneuvering into their designated positions, an unexpected development occurred. Three armed terrorists, sensing that their hideout was being surrounded, suddenly burst out of the rear door of the hut, firing indiscriminately in a desperate attempt to escape. Reacting swiftly and with remarkable presence of mind, Hav Dayal Singh immediately engaged the fleeing militants, effectively blocking their escape route and compelling them to take cover in the nearby vicinity.  A fierce exchange of fire ensued, with the terrorists unleashing heavy automatic fire in a bid to break through the cordon. Despite the intense situation, Hav Singh remained composed and fully aware of the presence of civilians still trapped inside the hut.

Recognizing the need for a calibrated response to prevent civilian casualties, he displayed exceptional restraint and fired with precision and control, minimizing the risk of collateral damage. Havildar Singh’s courageous and judicious actions ensured that the trapped civilians could be safely evacuated, even as he continued to engage the terrorists under extreme risk. His tactical acumen and bravery successfully pinned down the militants, preventing their escape and gaining a crucial advantage for the security forces. Demonstrating unparalleled valour and with complete disregard for his own safety, Havildar Singh then made a daring dash towards the terrorists' position. In close-quarters combat, he shot and eliminated one terrorist, thereby significantly weakening the enemy resistance. However, in the process, he was grievously injured, struck by a bullet in his left eye. Despite bleeding profusely and enduring excruciating pain, Havildar Singh continued to engage the remaining terrorists with unwavering determination. He fought valiantly until he lost consciousness due to the severity of his injuries. He was later declared martyred, having succumbed to his wounds in the line of duty. For his extraordinary courage, steadfast sense of duty, and supreme sacrifice, Hav Dayal Singh was posthumously awarded the "Shaurya Chakra", one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards. 

Havildar Dayal Singh is survived by his wife, Smt Anju Devi.

The Citation for "Shaurya Chakra" awarded to him reads :

On 13 Jan 2010 Hav Dayal Singh as part of the Battalion Intelligence Team was tasked to cordon a suspected house from the rear. At 2330 hours, while the parties were still getting into position, three terrorists rushed out of the rear door, firing indiscriminately. Havildar Singh immediately engaged them and blocked their escape route, forcing them to take cover in the vicinity. A firefight ensued, with heavy automatic fire from the terrorists who were desperate to escape. However, the presence of civilians in the hut warranted a measured response from our side. At grave risk to himself and displaying exemplary restraint, Havildar Singh fired back very selectively, preventing any civilian casualties or collateral damage. His sensible response ensured the safe evacuation of the trapped civilians while keeping the terrorists pinned down. The Indian braveheart, with utter disregard for his own safety, dashed forward and shot dead one terrorist at close quarters. In the process, he was struck by a bullet in the left eye.

Bleeding profusely, he continued to engage the remaining two terrorists until he lost consciousness and later succumbed to his injuries. For his extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice, Havildar Dayal Singh was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.