Sundar Singh (soldier)
Honorary Captain and Subedar Major Sundar Singh, AC (14 February 1929 - 23 January 2017) was an Indian Army soldier who was awarded India's highest peace time military decoration Ashoka Chakra. Lance Naik Sunder Singh was a great soldier of 4th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Punjab.[1]
Honorary Captain and Subedar Major Sundar Singh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 1929 Chauk Hadan Village, Poonch District, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Died | 23 January 2017 (aged 87) Chauk Hadan, Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Allegiance |   |
| Service/ |   |
| Years of service | February 1947 - ?? |
| Rank |   |
| Service number | 15103 |
| Unit | 4 JAK RIF |
| Awards |  |
Early life
Honorary Captain and Subedar Major Sunder Singh was born on 14 February 1929 in Chauk Hadan Village of Poonch District, Jammu & Kashmir. His father Kalyan Singh was a Kashmiri Sikh. He belonged to peasant family.
Military career
He was enrolled in the Jammu & Kashmir Infantry in February 1947. He was posted to 4 JAK RIF and retired from his duties as Subedar Major and Honorary Captain. Singh after completion of his training,posted as a soldier in Jammu & Kashmir State Force(After 1957 it became J&K Rifles). In 1952, he was made Acting Lance Naik by his Commanding Officer for his dare devil action in rescuing his family members from Pakistan.
Operation
On 18 March 1956 he was posted with Jammu & Kash Rifles at Hussainiwala near Ferozepore. On the night of 18/19 March J&K RIF's unit was attacked by Pakistani Army. The unit responded with counterattack and chased away them from the right side of the dam. On the other hand, rivals took front at the dam with light machine guns and started firing towards the left end of dam. As enemies had formed a post at Bela thus it became difficult for India to keep possession of dam and keep Indian Soldiers safe.
In this situation No. 15103 Acting Lance Naik Sunder Singh's name was suggested to kill enemies. On being called his name Lance Naik Sunder agreed immediately. Armed with six hand grenades and amidst hostile firing, he crawled hundred meters than he entered fifty meters in the rocky area. When he was near to enemies, he threw his first grenade due to which firing got stopped and three enemies were killed. He did this thrice and due to his bravery Jammu & Kashmir Rifles was able to possess the right end of dam.[2]
Ashoka Chakra awardee
Lance Naik Sunder Singh showed great presence of mind, courage and total disregard of his safety of the highest order. Without him it had been not possible to achieve the target. For this bravery act he had received “Ashoka Chakra” in 1956.
Death
Singh died on 23 January 2017 in his home village of Chauk Hadan. His death received no official acknowledgement.[3]
References
- "SUNDAR SINGH| GALLANTRY AWARD".
- "Brave Soldier Sunder Singh".
- Ghanshyam Singh Katoch (January 2019). "The Jungle Fox -Subedar Major Honorary Captain Sundar Singh". Sammaan (4): 23–24. Retrieved 10 May 2020.