Lt Amit Singh

Lieutenant Amit Singh hailed from Harpur Mahmada village in Samastipur district of Bihar and was born on 28 June 1979. The only son of Dr HP Singh and Smt Bimala Singh, Lt Amit Singh studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hebbal, Bangalore. Besides being good at studies, he also participated in various extracurricular events at the school. He had innate leadership qualities in him which made him take up the gauntlet all the time and anywhere. He went on to become the “Head Boy” of his school and won laurels for his school.  As his school was located near an Air Force establishment, his interest in the Armed Forces grew with age. Following his passion, he got selected for the prestigious NDA after finishing his schooling. He joined the National Defence Academy Khadakwasla in 1996 and passed out in the year 1999.

He then went to IMA Deharadun for further training and passed out as Lieutenant on 03 June 2000 at the age of 20 years. He was commissioned into the 'First Battalion' of the 9 Gorkha Rifles Regiment, a Regiment known for its gallant soldiers and various battle honours.  In a short period after joining the unit, he honed his field craft skills and gained confidence in undertaking various operations.  

Kupwara Operation (Op Rakshak) : 03 Sep 2000

During 2000, Lt  Amit Singh’s unit 1/9 GR was deployed in the Kupwara district of J & K as part of "Operation Rakshak". The AOR (Area of Responsibility) of the unit was very volatile, as several militants were active in the area. Consequently, the unit troops were engaged in operations against the militants on a regular basis. The area was also prone to infiltration, which necessitated regular armed patrols to check any infiltration from across the border. Based on the intelligence sources, an operation was planned on 03 Sep 2000 in the dense forest of Panzgam of Kupwara.

Lt  Amit Singh and his comrades reached the suspected area as planned and cordoned it off. Soon the troops made contact with the militants, who fired at them on being challenged. In the ensuing gun battle, Lt  Amit Singh received multiple gunshots and was seriously injured. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. He proved to be an officer par excellence, who led his men from the front during the operation. Lt  Amit Singh was a valiant soldier and gritty officer, who laid down his life at the age of 21 years in the service of the nation.

Lt  Amit Singh is survived by his father Dr HP Singh and mother Smt Bimala Singh.

• The family of Lt Amit Singh formed an organization called, "Lt Amit Singh Memorial Foundation (ASM Foundation)" in 2001 with an aim to develop a patriotic society, through education, secured health, economic development, and inculcation of ethics and values. To begin with, the foundation started its activities with the distribution of books and school bags amongst the poor and needy children to support their education. The Foundation has expanded its activities over the years with its major focus on improving the health of children and empowerment of women.