Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh SC

Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh hailed from Chandigarh in Punjab. Son of an army veteran Maj Paramjit Singh and Smt Luvpreet Kaur, Lt Col Bikramjeet completed his graduation from MLN College, Ambala.  Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh always had an inclination to join the armed forces right from his childhood. Consequently following into his father’s footsteps, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh joined the Indian Military Academy after passing the Command Defence service examination. He passed out in the year 1998 from IMA and was commissioned into 16 cavalry of the Armoured Corps, one of the elite combat arms of the Indian army.

By the year 2013, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh had put in around 14 years of service and had worked in various operational areas. After serving for a couple of years Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh got married to Ms. Navneet Kaur and the couple had a daughter Ramneet.

Terrorist attack: 26 Sep 2013

During  September 2013, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh’s unit was deployed in Samba district of the trouble-torn J&K. On 26 Sep 2016, the Officers’ Mess Complex of his unit was attacked by a group of heavily armed terrorists.  At around 7.10 am, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh on hearing the sound of weapons near the Officers’ Mess Complex, rushed to the site. He spotted terrorist hiding in a Nullah, firing and attempting to move towards the adjacent family accommodation. Despite the presence of many armed terrorists, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh moved from one position to another, shouting instructions and directing the action.  His prompt and fearless action dislodged the terrorist from an effective firing position, forcing the terrorist to seek cover in a room, leading to his eventual elimination.

Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh by his courageous and prompt action prevented the terrorists from going towards Officers’ Married Accommodation Complex. However, while moving from one position to another, he exposed himself and received gunshots in his stomach. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh displayed exemplary courage and leadership during the operation and saved many precious lives of his fellow soldiers and their families. Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh was a valiant soldier and a gritty officer who displayed a very high order of devotion to duty when the situation demanded. Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh was given the gallantry award  ” Shaurya Chakra”. for his outstanding bravery leadership and supreme sacrifice.

Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh is survived by his father  Major Paramjit Singh (retd), mother Smt Luvpreet Kaur, wife Smt Navneet Kaur, daughter Ramneet and sister Neetu.

The YPS Chowk at Mohali in Chandigarh has been named after Lt Col Bikramjit Singh in his honour.

The citation for “Shaurya  Chakra” awarded to him reads:

On 26 Sep 2013 at 0715 hours, Lt Col Bikram Jit Singh on hearing the sound of auto weapons near the Officers’ Mess complex, rushed to the site. He spotted a terrorist hiding in a nala, bringing down effective fire, and attempting to break out towards the adjacent family accommodation. Despite being unarmed, the officer, with utter disregard to personal safety, coordinated the close cordon, in an attempt to trap the terrorist. In doing so, he suffered fatal gunshot wounds in his chest.

By his above action, the officer prevented the breakout of the terrorists towards the Officers’ Married Accommodation complex, and provided time for the tanks and the unit Quick reaction Team to move into a tight cordon. His action prevented loss of further lives, especial that of unarmed women and children. Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh displayed courageous and bold leadership in the face of danger, and laid down his life.