Havildar Jitendra Singh

Havildar Jitendra Singh Jalodiya hailed from Dhaturiya village in Tonk Khurd tehsil of Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. Born into a humble family, he was the son of Shri Vijay and Smt Geetha Bai, and grew up with his two brothers, Vishnu and Kamal. From childhood, Hav Jitendra was deeply inspired by the idea of serving the nation in uniform. He nurtured this dream with determination, and while completing his school education, he worked diligently towards joining the Armed Forces. In September 2000, his dream was fulfilled when he joined the Indian Army. He was recruited into the Regiment of Artillery, one of the most crucial combat-support arms of the Army, known for its decisive role in battlefields through the use of its powerful field guns.

The Regiment of Artillery is a diverse formation consisting of Medium, Light, Rocket, Missile, and SATA (Surveillance & Target Acquisition) regiments, each specializing in distinct warfare domains. Hav Jitendra Singh underwent rigorous training, and through his skill and perseverance, soon became a proficient and proud gunner, excelling in the handling and operation of artillery systems with confidence and precision. After a few years of service, Hav Jitendra Singh got married. The couple was blessed with two children — a daughter, Tanisha, and a son, Anuj. His family became his greatest source of motivation, providing strength and encouragement as he continued to serve the nation with even greater dedication. Over the years, Hav Jitendra Singh was posted to different parts of the country, adapting to diverse and often challenging operational environments. His professionalism and commitment to duty saw him rise to the rank of Havildar by 2019, a recognition of his competence and leadership qualities.

Later in his career, he was deputed to the 6 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) — a specialized counter-insurgency force engaged in high-risk operations in some of the most difficult terrains. During his 19 years of service to the nation, Hav Jitendra Singh was deployed in several critical and demanding regions, including Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Nasik, Jalandhar Cantt in Punjab, Ambala, and Pathankot. Many of these postings were in extremely low-temperature and high-altitude areas, further underscoring his resilience and commitment as a soldier.

Service Deployment: 31 Dec 2019 

In 2019, Havildar Jitendra Singh was serving with 20 SATA Regiment, which was deployed in Leh, Ladakh. The Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the unit extended across some of the most rugged and inhospitable mountainous terrain, where soldiers endured extreme weather conditions, particularly the freezing and snowbound winters. The troops were deployed across forward posts, carrying out regular patrols to safeguard the stretches of land between manned positions. Newly posted soldiers or those returning from leave had to undergo multi-stage acclimatization at designated transit camps before joining their posts, as the high-altitude environment posed severe health challenges due to thin air and low oxygen levels.

However, owing to service requirements, Havildar Jitendra Singh was temporarily attached to duty in Chandigarh in December 2019 for a period of about two months. As his attachment was drawing to a close, preparations were already underway for his movement to Leh in accordance with his official orders. During this period in Chandigarh, Havildar Jitendra Singh’s health suddenly deteriorated. Despite receiving immediate medical attention and all possible efforts to provide him with necessary care, his condition worsened rapidly. Tragically, he passed away on 31st Decmeber 2019 in Chandigarh, before he could resume his duties in Leh. The untimely demise of Havildar Jitendra Singh was a profound loss — not only to his family, who had been his pillar of strength, but also to his comrades who had served alongside him in difficult terrains, and to the Indian Army, which lost a dedicated and disciplined soldier. 

Havildar Jitendra Singh is survived by his wife and two children – his daughter, Ms Tanisha, and son, Anuj.