Sepoy Hari Singh SC

Sep Hari Singh hailed from Rewari District of Haryana and was born on 15th Aug 1993. Son of an Army veteran Agadi Singh, Sep Hari Singh was third among his five siblings. Sep Hari Singh joined the Army at the age of 18 years in 2011 and was inducted into the 20th battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment. By 2019, Sep Hari Singh had put in around eight years of service and had evolved into a committed soldier.

After serving for a few years with his parent unit, Sep Hari Singh was deputed to serve with 55 RR Battalion, deployed in J & K for counterinsurgency operations. Sep Hari Singh got married to Ms Radha Bai in 2016 and the couple had a son, Laksha Chauhan.

Pulwama Operation: 18 Feb 2019

During 2018-2019, Sepoy Hari Singh’s unit 55 RR, was deployed in the Pulwama district in J&K and was engaged in operations against the militants on a regular basis. Following the terrorists’ attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on 14 Feb 2019, the security forces were maintaining a state of high alert, and subsequently, a massive operation was launched to nab the perpetrators of the attack. On 17 Feb 2019, the security forces received credible information from intelligence sources about the presence of terrorists in Pinglan village of Pulwama district. Based on the intelligence inputs 55 RR along with the Special Operation Group of J & K Police launched a search and destroy operation in Pinglan a neighborhood of Kakpora the home of the terrorist, who had attacked the CRPF convoy on 14 Feb.

The assault team was being led by Brigadier Harbir Singh himself and Sepoy Hari Singh was part of the team. On being challenged the terrorists opened fire and a fierce gun battle ensued thereafter lasting for over 20 hours. A number of hardcore terrorists responsible for the attack on the CRPF convoy on 14 Feb, were eliminated during the encounter. However, during the heavy exchange of fire, eleven security personnel too got injured including the leader of the team. The injured soldiers were shifted to the Army Hospital but Sepoy Hari Singh and three other soldiers Maj Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Sep Ajay Kumar, and Hav Sheo Ram succumbed to their injuries and were martyred. Sepoy Hari Singh was a valiant soldier, who displayed grit and determination during the operation and laid down his life at the age of 26 years, in the service of the nation. Sepoy Hari Singh was given the gallantry award, “Shaurya Chakra” for his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice.

Sep Hari Singh is survived by his wife Smt Radha Bai and son Laksha Chauhan.

The citation for "Shaurya  Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On night of 17 and 18 February 2019, based on input regarding the presence of a terrorist groups in a village in Jammu & Kashmir.

Sepoy Late Hari Singh along with Major Late Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal led the search from the front. While searching a cow shed, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire resulting in multiple gunshots injury to the individual. Despite being injured, maintaining his tactical composure, Sepoy Late Hari Singh retaliated fire immediately and did not allow terrorists to escape. Exhibiting utter disregard for his safety, Sepoy Hari Singh re-adjusted his position close to the cow shed in the line of fire to bring effective fire on hiding terrorists. Subsequently, when terrorists moved out of the cow sheds firing indiscriminately, Sepoy Hari Singh brought down heavy fire on terrorists and eliminated one terrorist and inflicted injuries to one more terrorist and attained martyrdom while fighting with terrorists at the operation site.  The terrorist eliminated was identified as a foreign terrorist.

For display of conspicuous courage and unparalleled devotion to duty, Sepoy Hari Singh is recommended for the award of “SHAURYA CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUS)”.