Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh KC

Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, son of Shri Kura Ram, was born on 17 September 1947 in Goripur village, then part of the undivided Punjab. Over the decades, administrative reorganization placed Goripur within the present-day Bhiwani, Haryana. He grew up in a modest rural household, where financial constraints limited his formal education to about five years. Despite this, the early values instilled in him—discipline, resilience, and perseverance—shaped his character and became the foundation of his remarkable life journey. Driven by a strong sense of duty and patriotism, he chose to dedicate his life to the service of the nation. On his 18th birthday, 17 September 1965, he was inducted into the Indian Army and joined the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles—one of the most distinguished infantry battalions in the Indian Army. 

Proudly known as the “PVC Battalion,” the unit carries an exceptional legacy of gallantry and sacrifice. Its distinguished reputation was established during the first Indo–Pak War of 1947–48 in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Rajputana Rifles played a decisive role in critical operations. The battalion earned the honorific title “PVC Battalion” following the extraordinary bravery of Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, for his exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice during the conflict. Entering the Army at a time when the nation was facing serious security challenges, L/Nk Hoshiar Singh embraced soldiering not merely as a profession, but as a sacred responsibility. The ethos of the Rajputana Rifles—courage in battle, loyalty to comrades, and unwavering commitment to duty—became deeply embedded in his own conduct. Inspired by the battalion’s glorious traditions, he strove to live up to its highest standards, embodying the very spirit of bravery and selfless service that defines the finest soldiers of the Indian Army.

Counter-Insurgency Operation: 03 Nov 1976

In 1976, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh’s unit, 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, was deployed in Mizoram for counter-insurgency operations during a period of serious internal unrest. At that time, Mizoram had not yet been granted statehood (which came in 1987) and was part of Assam as the Mizo District. For years, Mizo civil and political organizations, including the Mizo Union, had expressed grievances over perceived neglect and discrimination by the Assam Government and demanded a separate state to safeguard their identity and rights. As dissatisfaction deepened, the situation gradually escalated into a secessionist movement led by the Mizo National Front (MNF). The extremist faction within the MNF adopted violent means to pursue independence from India and raised an armed wing known as the Mizo National Army (MNA). This force was structured on the pattern of a conventional army, with eight so-called infantry battalions, and frequently carried out armed attacks against Indian security forces. In response, the Indian Army launched sustained counter-insurgency operations to restore peace and protect civilians. As part of this effort, 6 Rajputana Rifles was assigned the critical task of locating and neutralizing insurgent camps operating in the region.

On 3 November 1976, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh was detailed for one such operation. Acting on intelligence inputs, the patrol moved towards a suspected insurgent hideout. Upon contact, the patrol launched a swift and coordinated attack. However, the advance was halted by intense machine-gun fire from the insurgents’ position. Recognizing the danger to his comrades and the urgency of silencing the threat, the patrol leader, Captain Lal Chand, tasked L/Nk Hoshiar Singh and a small group to advance and suppress the enemy fire. Displaying exceptional courage and complete disregard for his personal safety, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh charged forward under heavy fire. Through sheer determination and gallantry, he succeeded in silencing the insurgents’ machine gun, breaking their resistance. His fearless action demoralized the militants, forcing them to abandon their position and flee. Unwilling to allow them to escape, L/Nk Hoshiar Singh pursued the retreating insurgents and inflicted heavy casualties upon them. During this close-quarter pursuit, he was struck by enemy bullets at close range and, for the second time in the engagement, sustained fatal wounds. He attained martyrdom on the battlefield, having fought till his last breath. Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh exemplified the highest traditions of the Indian Army—courage, selflessness, and devotion to duty. In recognition of his extraordinary bravery and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the "Kirti Chakra", the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, on 26 January 1978. His sacrifice remains a lasting symbol of honour and inspiration for generations to come.

Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh is survived by his daughter, Smt Shakuntala.

The citation for the "Kirti Chakra" awarded to him reads:

In 1976, 6 Rajputana Rifles Battalion was deployed in Mizoram for conducting operations against Mizo hostiles. On November 3, 1976, a hostile gang led by self-styled Colonel Biakvela was reported to be moving towards the border through South West Mizoram with the intention of crossing over to Bangladesh. A strong patrol, led by Captain Lal Chand, which included Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, was ordered to intercept this gang. After a long pursuit, the hostile gang was sighted the next day. Immediately, the patrol mounted a raid. Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh was ordered by the patrol leader to go ahead with a buddy and destroy a strong position from where the hostiles were bringing down effective machine gun fire on the patrol. 

Despite intense fire, Hoshiar Singh, at great risk, moved forward stealthily and silenced the machine gun. This unnerved the hostiles and they started fleeing, abandoning their positions. Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh chased the hostiles and inflicted casualties on them. Despite injuries sustained from a burst fired by a wounded member of the gang from close range, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh kept on firing and advancing towards the fleeing hostiles. Inspired by him, the rest of the patrol also pursued the hostiles. While in hot pursuit, he was hit by a machine gun burst for the second time and the braveheart died instantaneously. In this daring feat of Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, followed by a lightning charge by the remaining patrol, four hostiles were killed, and 10 wounded and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was captured.

In this action, Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh displayed courage, initiative, determination and devotion to duty of a very high order for which he was awarded the Kirti Chakra, posthumously.