Lance Naik Sandeep Singh hailed from Kotla Khurd village in Majitha-3 Tehsil in Amritsar district of Punjab. He was born to Shri Jagdev Singh and Smt. Kulwinder Kaur and grew up with his brother, Mandeep Singh, and sister, Ranjeet Kaur, in a close-knit family rooted in strong values and a spirit of patriotism. After completing his early education in his native region, he chose the path of service to the nation. He was enrolled into the Sikh Regiment as a mechanical transport (MT) driver on 18 June 2007. During the initial years of his service, he displayed exceptional dedication, discipline, and professional competence. Motivated by a desire to take on greater challenges, he volunteered for the Special Forces. On 05 July 2008, after successfully undergoing one of the most rigorous selection and training processes in the Indian Army, he was inducted into the 4th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), popularly known as 4 Para (SF). Originally raised in 1961 and later converted into a Special Forces battalion, 4 Para (SF) is regarded as one of the most elite and formidable units of the Indian Army. Its commandos are trained to operate in extreme and hostile environments, undertaking high-risk covert and overt missions that demand exceptional physical endurance, mental resilience, and tactical expertise.
His selection into 4 Para (Special Forces) stood as a testament to his extraordinary courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to duty, marking the beginning of his journey as a Special Forces commando. He initially joined the unit as a Mechanical Transport Driver, a role that required him to operate military vehicles in some of the most hostile and demanding operational environments. For years, he transported commandos, equipment, and weapons between bases, fully aware that even this responsibility carried significant risk. However, constant exposure to the unit’s rigorous training, operational planning, and high-risk missions deeply influenced him. Inspired by the courage and spirit of his fellow commandos, he resolved to take on a more challenging path. Volunteering to serve as a scout — one of the most perilous positions in a Special Forces team — he stepped into a role that forms the eyes and ears of the squad during operations. If driving in hostile terrain was not dangerous enough, the responsibility of a scout meant operating at the very front, often in the direct line of fire. Yet he embraced the challenge without hesitation. He believed he was meant for this role — and he proved himself worthy of it. After serving for some time, he married Ms Gurpreet, and the couple was blessed with a son, Abhinav, who brought immense pride and joy into his life. By 2018, he had participated in numerous counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations alongside his comrades, consistently displaying exceptional professionalism, courage, and devotion to the nation.
Tangdhar Operation: 24 Sep 2018
During 2018, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh’s unit was deployed in the Kupwara district of J & K for counterinsurgency operations. The Tangdhar sector of Kupwara was very volatile and was often used by the militants to infiltrate Indian territory. Consequently, the troops had to keep a very strict vigil and face challenging situations regularly. There was another infiltration bid on 22nd Sept 2018 in that sector by the militants from across the border. The troops of 4 Para(SF) were deployed to deal with the infiltrators who noticed suspicious movement near the Eagle Post in the Gagadhri Nar area of the Tanghdar sector along the LOC. On 22 September 2018, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was serving as the leading scout of a nine-member Special Forces team, comprising one and a half squads, led by Captain Gurjeet Saini. Lance Naik Surendra Singh was functioning as his buddy, supporting him in the high-risk forward role. The team was tasked with a high-risk search and destroy operation to locate and neutralise a group of heavily armed foreign terrorists who had infiltrated into Jammu & Kashmir. The operation was being conducted at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet in extremely challenging conditions. The rocky terrain, coupled with sparse vegetation and limited cover, significantly increased the risk and complexity of the mission. While advancing through the difficult terrain, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh successfully tracked the precise location of the terrorists and promptly alerted his squad.
As the team began to deploy tactically, they came under intense and accurate fire from the terrorists. Fully aware of the grave danger posed to his comrades, he displayed exceptional field craft and combat acumen. Without hesitation, he manoeuvred forward under heavy fire, closed in on the enemy, and neutralised one terrorist at very close range with precise rifle fire. In retaliation, one of the remaining terrorists hurled a grenade at him, causing severe injuries. Despite being grievously wounded, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh refused to withdraw. The terrorists continued to engage the squad with sustained and effective fire. In an extraordinary act of courage, he crawled forward toward the remaining two terrorists to prevent them from gaining an advantage. During this daring advance, he was again hit by enemy fire, causing his rifle to fall into a nearby gorge. Undeterred and driven by an unflinching sense of duty, he charged at one of the terrorists and engaged him in fierce hand-to-hand combat. His bold action created a critical pause in the enemy’s fire, enabling the rest of the squad to reposition themselves advantageously and launch a decisive counter-assault. While engaged in close combat, he was shot by the third terrorist and sustained mortal injuries. Through his indomitable spirit, raw courage, and supreme sacrifice, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh personally eliminated one foreign terrorist and inflicted serious injuries on two others, ensuring the safety of his squad and facilitating the subsequent neutralisation of all three terrorists. For his conspicuous bravery, selflessness, and gallantry beyond the call of duty in the highest traditions of the Indian Army, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) on 15 August 2019.
Lance Naik Sandeep Singh is survived by his father Shri Jagdev Singh, mother Smt Kulwinder Kaur, wife Smt Gurpreet Kaur, son Abhinav, brother Shri Mandeep Singh and sister Smt Ranjeet Kaur.
Praveen Rana
2025 at 12:06 pmSir salute to your courage and sacrifice for motherland. Jai Hind sir
Divyansh
2025 at 3:53 pmSir salute to your courage and sacrifice for motherland. Jai Hind sir…..Vande Mataram
Dilawarjit singh
2025 at 9:14 pmSir salute to your courage and Sacrifice for motherland, Real hero