Sepoy Gurbinder Singh SM

Sepoy Gurbinder Singh hailed from Tolewal village in Sunam tehsil of Sangrur district, Punjab. Born on 2 June 1998, he was the youngest son of Shri Labh Singh and Smt Charanjit Kaur, and grew up in a close-knit family environment rooted in traditional Punjabi values. From an early age, Sep Gurbinder Singh displayed discipline, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility—qualities that naturally drew him towards a life of service. After completing his school education, he chose to don the olive green uniform and joined the Indian Army in March 2018, at the young age of 19. He was recruited into the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment, one of the oldest and most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, renowned for its courage, battlefield valour, and unmatched legacy of sacrifice. Serving in such a prestigious battalion was a matter of immense pride for Sep Gurbinder and his family.

In his personal life, he stood at the threshold of new beginnings. He had recently been engaged and was to be married later in 2020, with dreams of building a future alongside his life partner. However, fate had ordained a different path for this young soldier—one that would etch his name among those who place duty above self and sacrifice personal happiness in service of the nation.

Operation Snow Leopard (Battle of Galwan): 15 June 2020

During 2020, Sepoy Gurbinder Singh’s unit was deployed in the Galwan Valley sector of Eastern Ladakh—an area that had become the epicentre of rapidly escalating tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Beginning in April, Indian forces observed a sustained and coordinated buildup of Chinese troops, weapons, and support infrastructure across the LAC. By early May, the adversary made repeated attempts to obstruct India’s long-established and traditional patrolling routes in the Galwan Valley, triggering a series of tense face-offs. Similar transgressions were reported at Kongka La, Gogra, and along the North Bank of Pangong Lake. Each provocation was firmly countered by Indian troops, even as diplomatic and military engagements conveyed India’s unequivocal position: any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo would not be accepted. As tensions mounted, senior military commanders of India and China met on 6 June 2020 and agreed to a process of mutual disengagement based on reciprocal actions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to respect the LAC and to avoid activities that could disturb the prevailing situation on the ground. However, in a blatant violation of this understanding, Chinese forces instigated a violent confrontation on the night of 15 June 2020 in the Galwan Valley.

Against this volatile backdrop, Sep Gurbinder Singh of 3 Punjab, a young infantryman barely 23 years old, was entrusted with a critical operational responsibility. On the night of 15 June, he was deployed as a scout, tasked with establishing an observation post and maintaining vigilant surveillance of enemy activity. Demonstrating exceptional alertness and professionalism, he detected a suspicious buildup of Chinese troops preparing for a confrontation and immediately alerted his comrades—providing a crucial early warning. What began as a tense standoff soon escalated into a brutal, premeditated attack. Armed with improvised lethal weapons and enjoying a significant numerical advantage, Chinese soldiers launched a fierce assault on Indian troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Indian soldiers stood their ground with unwavering courage and resolve. Recognising the gravity of the situation, Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar, personally led a team forward to ensure compliance with the disengagement agreement. During the discussions, tempers flared, and the confrontation rapidly degenerated into a violent clash, with Chinese troops attacking Indian soldiers using clubs and rods. As the fighting intensified, Sep Gurbinder Singh and other soldiers from 3 Punjab Battalion rushed forward to reinforce their embattled comrades. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat—fought for several hours amid treacherous terrain, freezing temperatures, and darkness—Sep Gurbinder Singh displayed extraordinary courage, resilience, and selflessness. Despite sustaining grievous injuries, he refused to withdraw and continued to fight at close quarters. Even while severely wounded, he repeatedly exposed himself to danger to assist and evacuate injured comrades, saving several lives through his fearless actions.

Fighting valiantly until his last breath, Sep Gurbinder Singh ultimately succumbed to his injuries, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Along with him, Colonel Santosh Babu and 18 other brave soldiers laid down their lives in defence of the nation. The fallen heroes included Naib Subedar Mandeep Singh, Naib Subedar Nanduram Soren, Naib Subedar Satnam Singh, Havildar Bipul Roy, Havildar Sunil Kumar, Havildar K. Palani, Naik Deepak Kumar, Sepoy Ganesh Hansda, Sepoy Ganesh Ram, Sepoy Chandan Kumar, Sepoy C.K. Pradhan, Sepoy Ankush, Sepoy Aman Kumar, Sepoy Kundan Kumar, Sepoy Rajesh Orang, Sepoy K.K. Ojha, Sepoy Jai Kishore Singh, and Sepoy Gurtej Singh. In recognition of his conspicuous bravery, exceptional gallantry, and supreme sacrifice, Sep Gurbinder Singh was posthumously awarded the "Sena Medal" on 26 January 2021—a fitting tribute to a young soldier who upheld the highest traditions of the Indian Army and laid down his life for the honour and integrity of the nation.

Sep Gurbinder Singh is survived by his father, Shri Labh Singh, mother, Smt Charanjit Kaur, brother Shri Gurpreet Singh and sister Ms Sukhjit Kaur.