Rifleman Surjan Singh KC

Rifleman Surjan Singh Bhandari hailed from the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, a region known for its proud tradition of producing brave soldiers for the nation. Born in 1980 to Shri Dhruv Singh and Smt. Sureshi Devi, he grew up in a humble yet disciplined environment alongside his three brothers. From an early age, he imbibed the values of hard work, resilience, and patriotism that are deeply rooted in the hill communities of Uttarakhand. After completing his school education, driven by a strong desire to serve the nation, he joined the Indian Army in 1999 at the young age of 19. He was recruited into the Garhwal Scouts battalion of the prestigious Garhwal Rifles Regiment. This elite unit is renowned for its expertise in long-range reconnaissance and high-altitude warfare, often operating in some of the most challenging terrains in the country. Stationed at Joshimath in Uttarakhand, the battalion plays a crucial role in safeguarding India’s northern frontiers. During his service, Rifleman Surjan Singh demonstrated exceptional dedication, physical endurance, and professional competence. His abilities and commitment did not go unnoticed, and he was subsequently selected to serve in the National Security Guard (NSG), an elite force specially trained and equipped to handle complex counter-terrorism operations and high-risk security challenges.

Upon successful completion of the rigorous selection and training process, he was inducted into the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG), one of the NSG’s premier operational units. The 51 SAG is tasked with executing specialized counter-terrorism missions, including hostage rescue and urban combat operations, requiring the highest levels of precision, courage, and tactical expertise. His induction into such a distinguished unit was a testament to his exceptional skills, unwavering commitment, and the trust reposed in him by the organization.

Operation Vajra Shakti: 24-25 Sep 2002

On 24 September 2002, heavily armed terrorists carried out a brutal attack on the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The sudden assault created panic and chaos within the temple complex, resulting in the loss of around 30 innocent lives and leaving over 100 people injured within a short span of time. In response to this grave act of terrorism, Indian security forces swiftly launched a counter-terror operation, codenamed Operation Vajra Shakti. The operation was spearheaded by the elite National Security Guard (NSG), with the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG)—its specialized offensive unit—taking charge of neutralizing the terrorists. Within hours, NSG commandos were airlifted to the site to take control of the situation. Rifleman Surjan Singh Bhandari was an integral part of this task force. As the operation commenced, the commandos tactically deployed themselves at key vantage points around the temple complex. Soon, the terrorists were located outside the main structure, concealed within dense shrubs and taking advantage of darkness for cover. In contrast, the NSG commandos were exposed and clearly visible, making them vulnerable to enemy fire. The situation demanded extraordinary courage, as the terrorists needed to be pinned down to enable the assault teams to advance and eliminate them.

At this critical juncture, Rifleman Surjan Singh displayed exceptional initiative and bravery. Volunteering to act as a scout, he moved ahead of his Squadron Commander, fully aware of the risks involved. Under intense and continuous enemy fire, he crawled forward along a low wall, using minimal cover. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he opened accurate and effective fire on the terrorists, successfully drawing their attention and enabling his comrades to manoeuvre forward. Closing in on the enemy position, he continued to engage the terrorists at close range. The terrorists responded with heavy fire, and during the exchange, he sustained a grievous injury to his face. Despite the injury, he remained undeterred. In a selfless act of courage, he shielded his Commander by diving in front of him, absorbing further splinter injuries in the process. Even in a severely wounded state, he continued firing his weapon and lobbing grenades at the terrorists, refusing evacuation and remaining focused on the mission. During the fierce engagement, he noticed the muzzle flash of a terrorist’s weapon and immediately responded with a burst from his carbine. However, in the retaliatory fire, he suffered a critical splinter injury to his head, which rendered him unconscious. He was immediately evacuated and rushed to a civil hospital in Ahmedabad, where he slipped into a coma. For nearly 600 days, Rifleman Surjan Singh fought a prolonged and courageous battle for life. Despite all efforts, he eventually succumbed to his injuries on 19 May 2004, making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Rifleman Surjan Singh Bhandari’s actions during the operation reflected extraordinary valour, unwavering determination, and the highest standards of soldierly conduct. His courage under fire, selfless devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice exemplified the finest traditions of the Indian Army. In recognition of his exceptional bravery and indomitable spirit, he was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

Rifleman Surjan Singh Bhandari is survived by his mother Smt Sureshi Devi.

The citation for the "Kirti Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On 24 Sep 2002, two armed terrorists entered the Akshardham Swamy Narayan Temple, Gandhinagar, Gujarat and started firing indiscriminately. The terrorists killed 30 people and injured over 100 people present in the complex. The Special Action Group of NSG was flown in to deal with the situation. The Task Force located the terrorists outside the main Temple Complex. While the terrorists were in thick shrubs and under cover of darkness. National Security Guard personnel were easily visible and were fired at. the terrorists had to be pinned down to allow troops to move forward and neutralize them. Commando Surjan Singh volunteered as a scout and moved ahead of his Squadron Commander. He crawled ahead behind a low wall under a hail of bullets. With utter disregard for his own safety, he brought down accurate fire on the terrorists and assisted Squad No.3 to move forward.

Crawling close to the terrorists, he engaged them with fire. The terrorists retaliated with heavy fire on him. In this action, he received splinter injuries on his face. To give cover to the Commander, he dived and covered him with his body. In this process, he sustained splinter injuries. Despite his injuries, Commando Surjan Singh kept firing and lobbing grenades fixing the terrorists and refusing to be evacuated. He then noticed the flash of a terrorist's weapon. As he let off a burst from his carbine, the terrorists retaliated and he received a splinter injury in his brain stem. Even as he fell, he refused to part with his weapon till he became unconscious. 

The bold and decisive action of Commando Surjan Singh paved the way for elimination of the terrorists thus making the operation a success.