Sepoy Kuldip Singh VrC

Sepoy Kuldip Singh hailed from Rasulpur village of Morinda tehsil in Rupnagar district of Punjab and was born on 20 Aug 1966. After completing his education he joined the army and was recruited into 13 Sikh LI of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers and rich history of various battle honours.

Sri Lankan Operations (Op Pawan) : 11/12 Oct 1987

During Oct 1987, Sepoy Kuldip Singh's unit 13 Sikh LI got deployed in Sri Lanka as part of IPKF operations.  The IPKF launched its first operation on 9 October 1987, after formulating a multi-pronged strategy to take on LTTE. Code-named Operation Op Pawan, it was expected to neutralize LTTE operational capability in and around Jaffna. This included the capture or neutralization of the LTTE’s chain of command, which was expected to leave the rebel movement directionless in the face of the impending assault on the LTTE strongholds by the IPKF.  On 10 October 1987, Intelligence inputs suggested that the LTTE leadership, which included not only Prabhakaran but also his deputies like Mahatiya and local military commanders were going to attend a meeting at their tactical HQ at Kokkovil in the Jaffna University campus on the night of October 11^th. 

The Army decided to utilize this opportunity of capturing them all and cut short the bitter fighting that lay ahead for the capture of Jaffna.  A Special Helicopter Borne Operation (SHBO) was planned in which troops would be dropped in Jaffna University. The troops, would try to capture the LTTE Top leaders in a lightning strike and bring to an end the resistance of the LTTE. The SHBO was planned to be carried out on the night of Oct 11/12, when the Helicopter force would have to heli-drop IPKF Troops in the football ground in the Jaffna University Campus. The Troops allocated for the mission were 120 Commandos from 10 ^th Para Commando and about 360 Troops from the 13^th Sikh LI . At that time 13^th Sikh LI was still under induction, with troops arriving into Jaffna airport by flights.

Citation for the "Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:-  

On the 12th October, 1987 at about 0200 hours, Sepoy Kuldip Singh along with his rifle platoon, was heli-landed deep into the militant's stronghold in the Kokkovil area in Sri Lanka. Immediately on landing, his platoon was heavily surrounded and came under very effective and extremely intense automatic fire. Sepoy Kuldip Singh fought heroically defending his platoon position and engaging militants' fire. but after a heroic fight, all the members of this platoon were killed except three. By 0800 hours they had exhausted all ammunition, but undeterred and with high morale, he fixed his bayonet charge. Sepoy Gora Singh who was severely wounded was asked to give covering fire. Knowing full well that a bayonet charge would mean certain ” death”, he preferred to charge at the militants and get killed gallantry rather than passively remaining in his position. 

Sepoy Kuldip Singh thus displayed conspicuous courage and valour in the face of the militants.