Lance Naik Hazara Singh

Lance Naik Hazara Singh hailed from Bogoura village in Garhshankar tehsil of Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. He was the son of Shri Mani Singh. Motivated by a desire to serve the nation, he joined the Indian Army on 22 May 1950 at the age of 22 years, and was inducted into the 3rd Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment (3 Sikh LI). The regiment has a proud military heritage, distinguished by the courage, discipline and dedication of its soldiers, as well as its record of service in various military operations. Early in his military career, Lance Naik Hazara Singh was posted to the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), now part of Arunachal Pradesh. The region's challenging terrain, dense forests and difficult climatic conditions demanded considerable physical endurance, adaptability and professional commitment from the troops deployed there. His posting to this remote frontier region formed an important part of his early service in the Army. 

After serving for sometime, he married Ms Sawaran Kaur. The couple was blessed with a son, Manjit Singh. Alongside his responsibilities as a soldier, he embraced family life, balancing the demands of military service with his duties as a husband and father.

Operation Raji (Nagaland): 21 June 1956

In 1956, Lance Naik Hazara Singh was serving with 3 Sikh Light Infantry, a unit deployed in the Naga Hills in 1956 during a period of armed unrest and counter-insurgency operations. Following Independence, a section of the Naga nationalist movement sought independence from India under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo and the Naga National Council (NNC). In 1956, the movement's armed wing, the Naga Federal Army, was active in the region. As the situation escalated and the civil administration struggled to contain the violence, the Indian Army was deployed in the Naga Hills in April 1956 to assist the civil authorities and conduct counter-insurgency operations. The region's rugged, forested terrain and the presence of armed groups presented considerable challenges to the troops operating there. During this period, 3 Sikh Light Infantry was engaged in operations to counter the insurgency and restore security in the affected areas. During June 1956, 3 Sikh Light Infantry continued its counter-insurgency operations in the Naga Hills. On 20 June, an operation was launched that continued into the following day. Lance Naik Hazara Singh was part of the team that launched the operation.

During the advance, a section came under automatic rifle fire from a hostile position on the outskirts of the village. The engagement reflects the difficult and dangerous conditions in which the battalion was operating at the time. During an engagement at Jotsoma on 21 June 1956, Lance Naik Hazara Singh sustained gunshot injuries in action against armed Naga hostiles. He succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice. His sacrifice came during a difficult period for the unit, whose personnel were operating in challenging terrain amid ongoing armed confrontations. Alongside Lance Naik Hazara Singh, four other soldiers of 3 Sikh Light Infantry made the supreme sacrifice during the operations on 20 and 21 June 1956. They were Havildar Diwan Singh, Naik Ganga Singh, Sepoy Jit Singh, and Sepoy Tara Singh. Their sacrifice reflects the courage and commitment of the soldiers who served together during these operations. Beyond these casualties, 3 Sikh Light Infantry also suffered additional losses during other operations in June 1956. Sepoy Chanan Singh made the supreme sacrifice on 2 June, Sepoy Pritam Singh on 7 June, another Sepoy Pritam Singh on 12 June, Sepoy Darshan Singh on 14 June, and Sepoy Teja Singh on 24 June. These records bear witness to the continuing dangers faced by the unit throughout the month. Lance Naik Hazara Singh made the supreme sacrifice at the age of 28, leaving behind a legacy of courage, duty and service to the nation.

Lance Naik Hazara Singh is survived by his son Shri Manjit Singh.