Lance Naik Sandeep Singh SC

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.

The citation for the Shaurya Chakra awarded to him reads:

Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was enrolled into the Sikh Regiment on 18 June 2007 and later joined 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) on 05 July 2008.

On 22 September 2018, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was the leading scout of the Special Forces squad under Captain Gurjeet Saini, which was carrying out a search operation to locate and neutralise an infiltrated group of hardcore foreign terrorists at an altitude of 12,500 feet in Jammu & Kashmir. The rocky nature of the terrain and lack of vegetation made the conduct of the operation extremely difficult.

During the operation, Sandeep Singh tracked the accurate location of the terrorists and alerted his squad.  As the squad was getting deployed, they came under heavy, effective fire from the terrorists.  Realising the imminent danger to his squad members, Sandeep Singh, displaying field craft of an exceptional order, closed in on the terrorists and neutralised one terrorist at very close range with accurate rifle fire. One of the remaining terrorists lobbed a grenade at Sandeep, injuring him severely. Thereafter, the terrorists started engaging the rest of the squad with effective fire.  Lance Naik Sandeep Singh, in a daring act, crawled close towards the other two terrorists and engaged them, during which he was once again hit by the terrorists' fire, which led to his rifle falling into a nearby gorge.  In a selfless and brave act, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh grabbed one of the terrorists and engaged him in hand-to-hand combat. Taking advantage of the pause in the terrorists' fire, the rest of the squad quickly moved on to a position of advantage and engaged the terrorists effectively. Lance Naik Sandeep Singh, while in hand-to-hand combat, was shot by the third terrorist, mortally wounding him. 

Sandeep Singh displayed raw courage and utmost gallantry in personally eliminating one foreign terrorist, seriously injuring two terrorists and sacrificing his own life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army, thereby ensuring the safety of his squad and the subsequent elimination of three terrorists. For this selflessness and conspicuous courage beyond the call of duty, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh is recommended for the award of ‘SHAURYA CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUS)’.