Major Bhupender Singh SC

Verinag Operation (J&K): Jan 1994

In 1994, Major Bhupender Singh was serving with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Jammu and Kashmir, where he was the Officer Commanding (OC) of 99 Road Construction Company (GREF), stationed at Verinag near the Jawahar Tunnel. His role was not only military but also nation-building—ensuring vital road connectivity in a region of immense strategic and civilian importance. Under Project Beacon, his unit was entrusted with the demanding task of constructing five Bailey bridges along the Khannabal–Pahalgam road, a route crucial for both local communities and security forces operating in the area. Understanding the operational risks and the importance of meticulous planning, Major Bhupender Singh decided to personally conduct a reconnaissance of the bridge sites. On 4 January 1994, while leading the recce party, they reached village Akkar, where they were ambushed by anti-national elements (ANEs) who had established a roadblock and lay in wait. The party came under heavy automatic fire from all directions at close range. The attackers' strength was estimated at around 100 militants.

Displaying exceptional presence of mind and exemplary leadership, Major Bhupender Singh immediately deployed his men into effective positions and organised a determined counter-action. Under his command, the troops returned accurate fire. After a prolonged exchange, he successfully broke the ambush, cleared the roadblock, and safely extricated his party, thereafter continuing with the mission. His actions not only saved lives but ensured that critical infrastructure work could proceed despite hostile conditions. On 17 January 1994, while returning to his headquarters after supervising snow clearance at the Banihal Tunnel on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, Major Bhupender Singh was kidnapped en route by militants. Even in captivity, his courage and resolve did not waver. Remaining alert for an opportunity to escape, he managed on 19 January 1994 to wrest an AK-47 rifle from one of his captors. Before he could use the weapon, however, 10 to 12 militants overpowered him, subjecting him to severe assault and injuries.

He was thereafter kept tied and moved from place to place. Despite prolonged captivity and suffering, he remained defiant. Tragically, on the morning of 23 January 1994, Major Bhupender Singh was shot dead by his captors. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, one of the highest gallantry awards, for his bravery and dedication to the nation. Ironically, the award was presented on March 13, the birthday of his daughter, Nimrat Kaur, marking a poignant tribute to a soldier who laid down his life for the country while upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

Major Bhupender Singh is survived by his wife Smt Avinash Kaur and daughters Ms Nimrat Kaur and Ms Rubina Singh.

A Daughter’s Tribute To Her Father:

In an interview to the TOI Maj Bhupender Singh’s elder daughter Nimrat Kaur paying tribute to her father said, “My life changed after my father’s death. It was not a financial threat. But that life that I had lived with those orderlies, those army cars went away overnight. It was difficult moving to civilian life. In the army, you are living in a shell and that’s why my father never sent me to an army school. You are used to three sevadars around you and suddenly, there are no army get-togethers, so to just adjust to the new life without any fauji kids for friends was tough. I was undergoing puberty that time and that compounded my agony. But the army stands by you like a rock. They are your family and even today, they will come at the drop of a hat if you need something and they will do anything for you. I also think it’s to do with my father’s goodwill and his relationship with people. Coincidentally, he got awarded the Shaurya Chakra on my birthday, March 13. (His name is now written as Bhupender Singh SC, SC standing for Shaurya Chakra).

I remember my The Lunchbox premiered in Cannes and I immediately went back to Kashmir in June for the first time after my father’s death. I could sense that my life was going to shift in a big way and I wanted to go back to Kashmir for my closure and I did. I spent 10 days there all alone. I went to Verinag ( there’s a point there dedicated to my father). I came back and got a tattoo done on my wrist which reads, ‘Zenab’, meaning a father’s precious jewel that brings glory to his name”.

The citation for "Shaurya  Chakra" awarded to him reads:

Major Bhupender Singh, Officer Commanding 99 Road Construction Company (GREF), was assigned the task of constructing five Bailey bridges on the Khannabal–Pahalgam road in Jammu and Kashmir. On 4 January 1994, Major Bhupender Singh went on a reconnaissance of the bridge sites. At village Akkar, the recce party ran into an ambush by anti-national elements (ANEs), who were lying in wait at a roadblock created by them. The party was fired upon from all directions at very close range with automatic weapons by an estimated strength of about 100 ANEs. Major Bhupender Singh, showing great presence of mind, deployed his troops without any loss of time and returned the fire. After a prolonged exchange of fire, he successfully broke the ambush, removed the roadblock, extricated his party, and continued with the mission. On 17 January 1994, while returning to his headquarters after supervising snow clearance at the Banihal Tunnel on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, he was kidnapped en route by ANEs. During captivity, he remained alert for opportunities to escape and on 19 January 1994, he wrested an AK-47 rifle from one of his captors. However, before he could fire, his captors—numbering 10 to 12—pounced upon him and inflicted severe injuries. Subsequently, he was kept tied and moved from place to place. On the morning of 23 January 1994, he was shot dead by his captors.

Major Bhupender Singh thus displayed unflinching devotion to duty and exemplary courage, laying down his life in the service of the nation.

• On October 25, 2024, a poignant ceremony took place in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, where a war memorial was inaugurated to honour Major Bhupender Singh and 12 other martyrs. The memorial, featuring a bronze bust of Major Bhupender Singh, was unveiled on what would have been his 72nd birthday at a newly designated public square, Major Bhupender Singh Chowk, in central Sri Ganganagar. Major Bhupender Singh's daughter, acclaimed actress Nimrat Kaur, attended the ceremony alongside her mother, Smt Avinash Kaur, and sister, Rubina Singh. Nimrat Kaur dedicated the memorial to the memory of the soldiers' bravery, hoping their supreme sacrifice would inspire future generations.

• Memorial at Beacon Headquarters, Srinagar Cantonment:
  A memorial has been constructed at the headquarters of Project Beacon in Srinagar Cantonment to honour the supreme sacrifice and service of Major Bhupender Singh, ensuring that his courage and dedication are remembered by future generations of soldiers and engineers.

• Memorial at ‘Titanic View Point’, Srinagar–Jammu National Highway:
  Another memorial stands at the ‘Titanic View Point’ along the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the very place where Major Bhupender Singh last served and where his family spent their final days together, making it a deeply poignant tribute to his life and sacrifice.