Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana

Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana hailed from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and was born on 12 Dec 1955. He was recruited into 17 Horse of the Armoured Corps, the combat arm of the Indian Army, well known for its battle tanks. After serving for some years with his parent unit he was deputed to serve with 4 Rashtriya Rifles deployed in J & K area for counter insurgency operations. By the year 1999, he had put in substantial number of years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Naib Risaldar. 

Kupwara Attack: 06 Aug 1999

During Aug 1999, Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana was serving with 4 RR battalion, deployed in Kupwara district of J&K. Though, the Kargil war had ended on 26 July 1999, the situation along the LOC was tense during Aug 1999, and the troops were on alert for any eventualities. Also during that period a substantial number of army personnel were deployed at Anantnag as part of the security cover for Amarnath Yatra. The Kupwara town was left under the CRPF and the militants saw this as an opportune moment to attack the Army camp of 4 RR unit. Thus in a pre-planned move, at around 1:15 am on 06 Aug 1999, the Army camp of 4 RR unit in village Chak Nutnusa in Kupwara district was attacked by a group of heavily armed militants.

Capt Mandeep Singh was the Company Commander of 4 Rashtriya Rifles battalion which came under the deadly armed assault on that day. Capt Mandeep Singh and his troops including Nb Ris Narender Singh Rana swung into action and counter attacked. Though it was a surprise attack, Nb Ris Narender Singh Rana and his comrades rose to the occasion and effectively engaged the militants. However during the heavy exchange of fire Nb Ris Narender received gun shots and was severely injured. He soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Besides Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana, three more soldiers from 4 RR Battalion made the supreme sacrifice during the operation. The other martyred soldiers included Capt Mandeep Singh,  Naik Mithilesh Pathak and Sowar Sohan Singh Solanki. Naib Risaldar Narender Singh Rana was a gallant soldier and committed Junior Commissioned Officer, who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Nb Ris Narender Singh Rana is survived by his wife Smt Yashoda Devi.