Lance Naik Shanghara Singh MVC

Lance Naik Shanghara Singh hailed from Chola Sahib village in the Amritsar district of Punjab and was born on 14 January 1943 into a family rooted in strong values and tradition. He was the son of Shri Ranga Singh and Smt Dhan Kaur, who instilled in him a deep sense of duty, discipline, and respect for service to the nation from an early age. Inspired by the call of the olive green, L/Nk Shanghara Singh joined the Indian Army on his 20th birthday, 14 January 1963. He was enrolled into the 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, one of the most distinguished infantry regiments of the Indian Army, renowned for its fearless soldiers, rich martial heritage, and numerous battle honours earned across various campaigns.

Over the years, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh proved himself to be a sincere, hardworking, and dependable soldier. Through rigorous training, field tenures, and demanding operational duties, he steadily matured both as a professional and as a soldier. By 1971, with nearly eight years of dedicated service behind him, he had earned the respect of his peers and superiors alike, having developed into a disciplined, committed, and battle-ready soldier—fully prepared to uphold the finest traditions of the Sikh Regiment and the Indian Army.

Indo-Pak war: 17 Dec 1971

In the final month of 1971, India was compelled to go to war with Pakistan following the large-scale genocide in the eastern wing of erstwhile Pakistan, which led to an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees into India. The situation created a grave humanitarian and security crisis, leaving India with no option but to respond militarily. As a result, the conflict was fought simultaneously on both the eastern and north-western fronts. The war culminated in a historic victory on the eastern front with the surrender of Pakistani forces on 16 December 1971 and the emergence of a new nation—Bangladesh. However, despite the ceasefire in the east, intense skirmishes continued along the western front. During the war, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh’s unit, 2 Sikh, was deployed in the Amritsar sector on the western front. In the course of operations, Pakistani forces launched an attack and succeeded in capturing the Indian village of Pul Kanjri, situated on high ground close to the International Border. Recognising the tactical importance of this position, Indian forces, led by 2 Sikh, planned a counter-attack to recapture the village. Owing to operational constraints, the attack could only be launched on 17 December 1971.

On that day, as the battalion advanced to assault Pul Kanjri, it encountered stiff resistance. The enemy had heavily fortified its positions with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and had deployed multiple machine guns to dominate the approaches. During the assault, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh, who was second-in-command of the left flanking section, along with his comrades, came under intense and sustained enemy fire. His section was pinned down by relentless fire from the enemy machine-gun posts, which posed a serious threat to the success of the attack and the safety of his fellow soldiers. Quickly assessing the situation, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh realised that unless these machine-gun positions were neutralised, further advance towards the objective would be impossible. Displaying exceptional courage and presence of mind, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he volunteered to take on the enemy posts single-handedly. Braving heavy fire, he charged through the mine-infested area towards the first machine-gun position and successfully hurled a grenade into the bunker, destroying it. Undeterred, he then crawled forward towards the second machine-gun post. In a daring act of sheer bravery, he reached the bunker, climbed over the loophole, and physically snatched the machine gun from the enemy. This audacious action completely unnerved the opposing troops. Panic-stricken, the enemy soldiers abandoned their positions and fled, leaving behind their weapons and equipment.

Lance Naik Shanghara Singh’s fearless initiative and gallantry turned the tide of the engagement, enabled his section to resume the advance, and played a decisive role in breaking the enemy’s defensive hold during the attack on Pul Kanjri. However, during this process, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh received a burst of fire in his abdomen and got seriously injured. The elimination of these machine guns enabled our troops to overrun the enemy post and move towards the objective. Lance Naik Shanghara Singh later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. He displayed exemplary dedication to duty in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army. For his raw courage, indomitable spirit and sacrifice, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh was given the nation’s second-highest gallantry award “Maha Vir Chakra”.

The Citation of "Maha Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On 17^th December 1971, during the attack on ‘Pul Kanjri’ a strong enemy position surrounded by anti-personnel and anti-tank mine and supported by a number of Machine Guns, his platoon came under very heavy ground and Artillery fire, particularly from two Machine Guns on the left flank. Lance Naik Shanghara Singh was second–in–command of the left-flanking section which got pinned down by continuous fire from these Machine Guns. In utter disregard to personal safety. Lance Naik Shanghara Singh made a dash through the minefield towards the Machine Gun post and hurled a grenade inside the bunker successfully silencing the gun. Then he charged to the second Machine gun post, crept over the loophole and succeeded in physically snatching the Gun. In doing so, he received a burst of fire in his abdomen, but undeterred he continued to hold the Machine Gun. The enemy was completely unnerved and fled from the bunker leaving the Machine Gun in Lance Naik Shanghara Singh’s hands. Elimination of these Machine Guns enabled our troops to overrun the enemy post, but Lance Naik Shanghara Singh succumbed to his injuries.

In this heroic action, Lance Naik Shanghara Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry and exemplary dedication to duty in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest tradition of the Army.