Service No : 3164435
Place of birth : Jhajjar Dist (Haryana)
Service : Army
Last Rank : Naik
Unit : 11 Jat
Arm/Regt : The Jat Regiment
Operation : Op Meghdoot
Martyrdom : March 13, 1986
Naik Risal Singh, was born and raised in the village of Barhana in Jhajjar district, Haryana. Growing up in a region known for its rich martial traditions, Nk Risal Singh was inspired by the legacy of bravery and sacrifice that ran deep in his community. After completing his school education, Nk Risal Singh made the life-changing decision to join the Indian Army, motivated by his dream of serving his nation and following in the footsteps of the brave men of the Jat Regiment. With a heart full of determination, he enlisted and was recruited into the 11 Jat Battalion, a unit renowned for its courage, legacy, and numerous battlefield honours.
The Jat Regiment, one of the oldest and most distinguished regiments of the Indian Army, has been at the forefront of several critical military campaigns, including the Indo-Pakistani wars and peacekeeping missions. The regiment’s history of valour became a beacon for Naik Risal Singh, and he quickly adapted to the demanding military lifestyle. Naik Risal Singh underwent rigorous training that tested his physical endurance, mental resilience, and tactical acumen. The training was intense, designed to mould him into a soldier capable of performing under any circumstances, whether in the harsh terrains of the border regions or in intense combat scenarios.
Op Meghdoot: 13 Mar 1986
As part of the ongoing Operation Meghdoot, launched in April 1984 to secure the strategically crucial Siachen Glacier, Naik Risal Singh joined the troops stationed along the treacherous Saltoro Ridge. This operation was born from a long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over the Siachen Glacier, an area of immense strategic importance. Following the 1949 UN-brokered ceasefire, the ceasefire line (CFL) in Jammu and Kashmir was delineated under the Karachi Agreement. However, the agreement left the easternmost segment of the CFL, beyond a point known as NJ9842, undefined. It merely stated that the line would run “thence north to the glaciers.” For decades, the region's harsh, uninhabitable terrain meant neither side showed any intent to militarize it. But in the years between 1964 and 1972, Pakistan began altering maps, extending the CFL beyond NJ9842 and shifting it westward of the Karakoram Pass, rather than following the original northward direction. This cartographic maneuver ignited a territorial dispute, with Pakistan making an illegal claim over the Siachen Glacier.
In the early 1980s, Pakistan began to intensify its efforts to control the Saltoro Ridge, which provided strategic access to the glacier. To counter this, India launched Operation Meghdoot on April 13, 1984, with the mission of securing the region and preemptively preventing Pakistani advances. The operation was bold and unprecedented, involving air-dropping Indian troops at key passes such as Bilafond La and Sia La, eventually securing approximately 3,300 square kilometers of territory. This decisive move gave India a strong foothold in the region, which remains one of the most contested areas on Earth to this day. By 1986, Naik Risal Singh had been deployed to the unforgiving Saltoro Ridge, one of the most hostile and inhospitable terrains on the planet. Temperatures often plummeted to sub-zero levels, with snowstorms and blizzards that were relentless. Avalanches posed a constant threat, and unprovoked firing from Pakistani forces only added to the soldiers’ already perilous conditions. Every patrol was a battle for survival against the harsh natural elements and enemy fire.
On March 13, 1986, while leading a patrol through the perilous terrain of the Siachen Glacier, Naik Risal Singh and his team were struck by one of the deadliest hazards the region is infamous for—an avalanche. The avalanche was triggered by enemy shelling, which had intensified the already precarious situation. Under the leadership of Nb Sub Nafe Singh, the patrol was caught off guard as the snow and ice cascaded down the ridge, burying several soldiers beneath a thick blanket of snow. Despite the overwhelming odds, Naik Risal Singh displayed exceptional courage as he worked tirelessly to extricate his team from the snow. However, the elements were merciless—blinding snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and the sheer weight of the snow made rescue efforts incredibly difficult. Though he fought valiantly, Naik Risal Singh was eventually trapped beneath the avalanche. A large-scale rescue operation was launched immediately, with soldiers from nearby units joining the effort. Yet, the combination of extreme cold, heavy snow, and the treacherous environment proved insurmountable.
Despite the relentless efforts of rescuers, Naik Risal Singh, along with Nb Sub Nafe Singh and several other brave soldiers, could not be saved. The avalanche claimed their lives, and they made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. The soldiers of the 11 Jat Battalion who perished in this tragic incident, alongside Naik Risal Singh and Nb Sub Nafe Singh, included Naik Pema Ram, Sepoy Ram Pratap, Sepoy Man Singh, Sepoy Dilbag Singh, Sepoy Balga Nand, and Sepoy Ram Singh Sheoran.
Naik Risal Singh is survived by his wife Smt Krishna Devi.
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