Sepoy Ranveer Singh Barala

Sepoy Ranveer Singh Barala hailed from  Mainpura village in Udaipurwati tehsil of  Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan and was born on 07 July 1974. Son of Shri Hariram Barala and Smt Jhimkori Devi,  Sep Ranveer Singh joined the Indian Army on 28 Aug 1994 after completing his school education at the age of 20 years. He was recruited into 17 Jat battalion of the well-known Jat Regiment, a Regiment widely respected for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle exploits. After serving for a few years, he got married to Ms Manesh Devi. The couple was blessed with a son Amit, who was born on 14 August 1999, nearly three months after the martyrdom of Sepoy Ranveer Singh. 

Operation Vijay (Kargil War): 29/30 May 1999

By April 1999, Pakistani forces among other hill features had also occupied Point 4875, in Mashkoh valley. The Mashkoh valley provided a possible route of infiltration into the Kashmir valley as well as into the Doda-Kishtwar-Bhadrewah areas of Jammu. Point 4875 dominated the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway between Zozi La pass and Drass and had strategic importance for the Indian Army. Those manning the Pakistani artillery observation post at Point 4875 could easily spot convoys moving on the national highway and bring down artillery fire on them. Thus the clearance of Point 4875 became a high priority mission and the responsibility was given to 79 Mountain Brigade under Brig Ramesh Kakar. 17 Jat battalion was inducted into the Mashkoh valley on 26 May 1999 under the command of Col Umesh Singh Bawa. The battalion was tasked to capture Point 4540 as a prelude to the capture of Point 4875. Sep Ranveer Singh Barala as part of the 'B' Company joined the team that was assigned the task of conducting this operation. Sep Ranveer Singh had completed nearly 4 years, 8 months with the battalion and had been a part of many operations.

Sep Ranveer Singh Barala along with other 37 soldiers led by Sub Harphool Singh set off for their objective as planned. The enemy forces were well entrenched and were keeping a close watch on the movement of Indian soldiers. By 4 am on 30 May 1999, Sep Ranveer Singh Barala and his comrades had reached very near to the enemy bunker and when they were about 100 meters from the bunker the enemy soldiers launched the attack. Sep Ranveer Singh Barala and other soldiers quickly swung into action and retaliated forcefully. A fierce gun battle followed thereafter with heavy exchange of fire. Sep Ranveer Singh was functioning as a radio operator/runner of Sub Harphool Singh. While advancing toward the enemy bunkers, he saw his platoon commander being hit by a medium machine gun burst. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Sep Ranveer Singh helped the platoon commander to communicate with the company commander and simultaneously engaged enemy bunkers with his personal weapon. While doing so, Sep Ranveer Singh got hit by an enemy sniper and laid down his life in carrying out the assigned task.

Eventually, the soldiers of the 17 Jat Battalion managed to destroy the enemy bunkers and capture the given objective. The capture of Point 4540 was very important which eventually paved the way for the capture of the strategically significant Point 4875. Sep Ranveer Singh Barala displayed commendable courage and devotion to duty during the operation and laid down his life at the age of 24 years in the line of his duty. Besides Sep Ranveer Singh Barala, the other martyred brave hearts included Sub Harphool Singh, Sep Vinod Kumar Naga, Sep Dharambeer Singh, Sep Gajpal Singh, and Sep Krishan Kumar. Sep Ranveer Singh Barala was given the “Mention-in-Despatches” award for his outstanding gallantry, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice. 

Sep Ranveer Singh Barala is survived by his wife Smt Manesh Devi and son Amit Singh.

The citation for "Mention-in-Despatches" awarded to him reads:

No 3187320A Sep Ranveer Singh of ‘B’ Coy, 17 Jat had been serving in the battle in the battalion for the last 4 years, 8 months. He was the radio operator/runner of Sub Harphool Singh. While advancing toward the enemy bunkers he saw his platoon commander being hit by a medium machine gun burst with utter disregard for his personal safety, he helped the platoon commander to communicate with the company commander and simultaneously engaged enemy bunkers with his personal weapon. While doing so, he got hit by an enemy sniper and laid down his life in carrying out the assigned task.