Naik Kapur Singh

Naik Kapur Singh was born on 12th August 1940 in Bhaproda village, located in the Rohtak district of Haryana. He was the son of Shri Mamchand Rathee and Smt. Mado Devi. He grew up in a large and loving family with six siblings—three elder (including two brothers) and two younger siblings (one brother and one sister). From an early age, Nk Kapur Singh exhibited a deep passion for the armed forces. Inspired by a strong sense of duty and patriotism, he aspired to join the Indian Army, a dream he earnestly pursued throughout his youth. After completing his school education, he realized this ambition by enlisting in the army on 23rd January 1960, at the age of 20. He was recruited into the 2 Jat Battalion of the Jat Regiment—an esteemed infantry regiment known for its distinguished history of bravery and numerous battle honours. During his military career, Naik Kapur Singh served in a variety of challenging and strategically important locations, including Jammu and Kashmir, Congo (as part of a UN peacekeeping mission), Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, and the Mizo Hills, a mountain range in southeastern Mizoram state.

In the same year he joined the army, he got married to Ms Mundra Devi. The couple was blessed with two children—a son in 1966 and a daughter in 1968—forming a close-knit family that supported him throughout his service. Naik Kapur Singh actively participated in the Indo-Pak War of 1965, where he displayed exemplary courage and dedication. Over the years, he was recognized for his steadfast service to the nation and received several medals and honors. These included the Long Service Medal, Sainya Seva Medal (J & K) Bar*, Videsh Seva Medal (Himalayas), and the Raksha Medal for the 1965 war. By 1971, he had put in around 11 years of service and developed into a battle-hardened and committed soldier. 

Battle of Dhalai: 28 Oct- 02 Nov 1971

During 1971, Naik Kapur Singh's unit 2 Jat commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Dalal was deployed in the eastern sector as the war became imminent. 2 Jat battalion was functioning under the operational control of 61 Mountain Brigade that was part of XXXIII Corps of the Indian Army. Though the war officially began on 3rd December 1971, following a preemptive strike by the Pakistan Air Force on eleven Indian air bases, hostilities and cross-border skirmishes had already intensified in the preceding weeks. The Battle of Dhalai was a significant engagement that took place just before the formal declaration of the 1971 India-Pakistan War, which ultimately led to the liberation of Bangladesh. The battle began on 28 October 1971, when the Indian Army launched an offensive on a Pakistani border outpost (BOP) in East Pakistan, aiming to curb cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces into Indian territory from the Dhalai sector.

The Indian assault was launched from Tripura, and the engagement lasted until 3 November 1971. The Indian forces comprised three infantry battalions of the 61 Mountain Brigade, supported by a brigade-level artillery formation. They fought against a battalion-sized force of the 12 Frontier Force Regiment of the Pakistan Army. On 1st November 1971, in response to a provocative and hostile action by the enemy, the 2 Jat battalion was ordered to retaliate with full force. Demonstrating swift resolve and tactical aggression, Naik Kapur Singh and his comrades launched a fierce counterattack against the enemy positions. During the operation, Naik Kapur Singh was grievously injured, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and thighs. Despite his critical condition, he was promptly evacuated to a nearby field hospital for emergency medical treatment. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries on 2nd November 1971 — a full month before the formal declaration of war. Naik Kapur Singh’s actions reflected not only personal courage but also an unyielding commitment to duty.  A veteran of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, he had served the nation with distinction for over 11 years before making the supreme sacrifice at the age of 31 years. 

Naik Kapur Singh is survived by his wife Smt Mundra Devi, Son Shri Ombir Singh Rathee and a daughter Smt Nirmala Deswal.