Service No : JC39248A

Date of Birth : May 31, 1929

Place of birth : Sangrur, Punjab

Service : Army

Last Rank : Subedar

Unit : 14 Punjab

Arm/Regt : The Punjab Regiment

Awards : MVC

Martyrdom : November 21, 1971

Subedar Malkiat Singh MVC

Subedar Malkiat Singh hailed from Lohat Baddi village in Sangrur district of Punjab and was born on 31st May 1929. Son of  Shri Gurcharan Singh, he joined the army at the age of 18 years on  05th May 1947.  He was recruited into the 14 Punjab battalion of the Punjab Regiment, one of the most decorated infantry Regiments of the Indian Army. By the year 1971, he had put in around 24 years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Subedar. By then he had served in various field areas and developed into a committed soldier and dependable Junior Commissioned Officer.  

 

Battle of Garibpur (Indo-Pak War) : 21/22 Nov 1971

 

During Indo-Pak 1971 war, Sub Malkiat Singh’s unit 14 Punjab was deployed on the Eastern border. The unit commanded by Lt Col RK Singh was functioning under the operational control 42 Infantry Brigade, which was under 9 Infantry Division. As part of the operational plan 9 Infantry Division under General Dalbir Singh was given the task of capturing Jessore. 9 Infantry Division decided to secure a bridgehead across the Kabadak River near the international border at Bayra through a preliminary operation which came to be known as 'Battle of Garibpur'. 42 Infantry Brigade tasked 14 Punjab for the operation which was allotted a squadron of 45 Cavalry and a platoon of engineers for close support.

 

The town of Garibpur was one of the most important strategic areas to be captured before the move to complete the encirclement of Jessore city in Bangladesh. Sub Malkiat Singh and his comrades crossed the Boyra border in West Bengal, and entered Bangladesh, crossing the Kabadak river from the south on the 20th of Nov 1971. By the 21st of November, the Battalion entered Garibpur and dug in defenses as the Pakistani 107th Infantry Brigade was approaching to launch a heavy counter-attack. The C squadron of PT-76 tanks, led by Major Daljit Singh Narag of the 45 Cavalry crossed the border on 20th of November and formed up with the Battalion. 
 
As the Pakistanis launched their counter-attack on the night of 21 November,14 Punjab and the 45 Cavalry engaged the enemy boldly inflicting massive casualties on them. Sub Malkiat Singh at that time was defending a position with his platoon that was under constant and fierce Pakistani armored and infantry attacks. He moved from trench to trench encouraging and motivating his men to hold position and repulse the attacks. When enemy troops were 50 metres from his position, he crawled forward and engaged the enemy forces. He was successful in killing two Pakistani machine gunners, but was grievously wounded by a tank shell. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Throughout the operations, Sub Malkiat Singh displayed commendable bravery, leadership and fighting spirit.
 

Subedar Malkiat Singh was  given the nation’s second highest gallantry award “Maha Vir Chakra” for his raw courage, unfaltering leadership and act of supreme sacrifice beyond the call of duty. Sub Malkiat Singh is survived by his wife Smt Gurdev Kaur.

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4 Comments

  • Hardee’s Singh son of Tara sigh villa Alipur khalsa

    2023 at 8:16 am Reply

    ਬਹੁਤ ਕੁ

  • Hardee’s Singh son of Tara sigh alipur khalsa

    2023 at 8:21 am Reply

    Big kurbanni

  • HARDEEP Singh kular

    2024 at 9:49 am Reply

    Wahegru jee Dhan mama Malkeet Singh Subadar jee

  • Sahibjot Singh Grandson of subedar malkit singh

    2024 at 7:14 pm Reply

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