Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi VrC

Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi was born on 03 December 1940, in Thair village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal district in Uttarakhand. He was the proud son of Shri Chitar Singh and Smt Bikla Devi, who raised him with the values of discipline, dedication, and service to the nation—virtues deeply rooted in the Garhwali ethos. Answering the call of duty at a young age, L/Nk Trilok Singh Negi joined the Indian Army on 03 December 1958, coinciding with his 18th birthday. He was enrolled in the 4th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment, a unit of immense historical prestige and martial glory. The Garhwal Rifles, known for their resilience, bravery, and unyielding spirit, were a natural choice for a young man from the hills of Garhwal. The Garhwal Rifles traces its origins to 05 May 1887, when the first battalion was raised under Lieutenant Colonel E.P. Mainwaring in Almora, as part of the Bengal Army. Later that year, on 04 November, the battalion marched to Kalundanda, a small settlement in the Garhwal region. In 1890, this site was renamed Lansdowne, which remains the regimental centre to this day.

Battle of Nuranang: Nov 1962

By late October 1962, as the Indo-China War escalated, Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi’s unit—the 4th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles—was placed under the command of the 62 Infantry Brigade. The brigade comprised several other battalions, including 1 Sikh, 13 Dogra, 2 Sikh Light Infantry, and 4 Sikh Light Infantry, all tasked with defensive operations against the rapidly advancing Chinese forces. The situation was grim. Indian troops, vastly outnumbered and suffering from acute shortages of supplies, ammunition, and manpower, faced an aggressive and well-prepared enemy in the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), now Arunachal Pradesh. Following the withdrawal of the 4th Infantry Division from Tawang, Indian forces repositioned south of the Mago Chu River to bolster defenses in key strategic locations. It was in this critical context that the 4 Garhwal Rifles was deployed, tasked with holding defensive positions against relentless Chinese offensives.

On 17 November 1962, Chinese troops launched a series of fierce attacks on the 4 Garhwal Rifles’ positions. One of the most pressing threats came from a Chinese Medium Machine Gun (MMG) strategically placed near the forward lines of ‘A’ Company. From its elevated vantage point, the MMG wreaked havoc, causing numerous casualties among Indian defenders and jeopardizing the battalion’s ability to hold ground. Recognizing the urgency of neutralizing the enemy MMG, Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, along with Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, volunteered for a perilous mission to destroy the post. The trio embarked on a daring assault, crawling through rugged terrain under intense crossfire, demonstrating exceptional fieldcraft and discipline. As they approached the MMG position, within just 12 to 15 meters, Rifleman Jaswant Singh hurled grenades into the bunker, killing several Chinese soldiers and temporarily silencing the deadly weapon. In a bold follow-up, Rifleman Jaswant Singh seized the MMG and began dragging it back toward Indian lines. Tragically, as he neared safety, he was fatally struck by enemy automatic fire and succumbed to his wounds. Despite the setback, the mission was not over. Lance Naik Negi and Rifleman Gusain pressed on. Under continuous enemy fire, the two crawled even closer to the MMG position.

Displaying outstanding courage, Lance Naik Negi provided suppressive fire with his Sten gun, allowing his comrades to close in. Rifleman Gusain, along with Rifleman Jaswant Singh, then launched another grenade attack on the MMG emplacement. With precise throws, they neutralized the remaining Chinese soldiers manning the gun. As the grenades exploded, the riflemen charged forward, finding two enemy soldiers dead and a third gravely wounded but still clutching the MMG. They quickly overpowered him, seized the weapon, and began retreating under heavy fire. Lance Naik Negi continued to lay down covering fire to protect his comrades during the withdrawal. In the process, he was severely wounded by a burst of enemy gunfire. Despite his grave injuries, he persisted in his task, ensuring that his fellow soldiers could escape the kill zone. Eventually, he succumbed to his wounds—a true act of selfless courage. Tragically, Rifleman Jaswant Singh was also killed during the withdrawal. Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, although seriously injured, managed to reach a nearby trench. He was later evacuated to the battalion headquarters and survived the operation. The heroic actions of Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain not only neutralized a significant threat but also became a shining example of bravery, sacrifice, and devotion to duty. Their courage under fire and unwavering commitment to their mission upheld the highest traditions of the Indian Army. For his exceptional gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi was posthumously awarded the "Vir Chakra", one of India’s highest gallantry awards.

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

On 17th November 1962, the Chinese launched an attack on a company position of a Garhwal Rifles Battalion near the Nuranang Bridge in NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency). Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain was a member of ‘D’ Section, commanded by Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, which was defending the left rear flank of the company. After three unsuccessful attempts, the enemy managed to bring a Medium Machine Gun (MMG) very close to Number Three Platoon and began heavy firing. Realizing that the position held by Number Three Platoon would soon become untenable if the enemy MMG was not destroyed immediately, Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi, Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, and another rifleman volunteered to neutralize it. They crawled forward, risking fire from both their own side and the enemy, and reached within 10 to 15 yards of the target. While Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi provided covering fire with his Sten gun, Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain and the other rifleman hurled grenades at the enemy MMG. The grenades exploded, and the two riflemen immediately rushed the position, where they found two Chinese soldiers lying dead and a third, badly wounded, still holding the MMG. They overpowered him, seized the MMG, and returned to their own position. While covering their return, Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi was severely wounded by a burst of enemy automatic fire. Despite his injuries, he continued to provide covering fire until he succumbed to his wounds. Although badly wounded, Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain managed to crawl into a trench and was later evacuated to the battalion headquarters.

In this action, both Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain displayed exceptional courage and a high sense of duty, upholding the finest traditions of the Indian Army.