• Source: Manpreet Singh (soldier)

Colonel Manpreet Singh, KC, SM (born, 1982) was a decorated Indian Army Officer. He was killed in action during an operation in Anantnag with three others security personnel. For his bravery in the action he was awarded India's second highest peacetime gallantry award the Kirti Chakra posthumously, previously he was also conferred with Sena Medal gallantry.




Early life


Singh was born in 1982 in Amritsar, Punjab. He was a resident of Bharonjian in Mohali district of Punjab. He is the son of Late Naik Lakhmeer Singh and Smt Manjeet Kaur. His grandfather Sheetal Singh, and uncle Ranjit Singh also served in the Indian Army. He had a brother Sandeep Singh and sister Sandeep Kaur. He did his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya Mullanpur in Punjab. He completed his graduation in SD College Chandigarh, where he pursued B.Com. Thereafter, he got a degree in Chartered Accountancy. He worked as a chartered accountant for a few years. Then, he successfully cleared the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination in 2004 and joined the Army.




Military career


He passed out from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 2005. He got commissioned into 12 Sikh Light Infantry of Indian Army. Later he was deputed to serve with the 19 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, deployed in J&K for counter-insurgency operations. He served as Second in Command (2IC) from 2019 to 2021 with 19 RR and later became the Commanding Officer.




= Anantnag operation

=
During 2023, 19 RR was deployed in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir for counterinsurgency operations. In a span of 5 years, Lt Col Manpreet Singh had taken part in a numerous operations and was decorated with the Sena Medal, for gallantry in 2021. On 13 Sep 2023, the security forces received information from intelligence sources about the presence of some hardcore terrorists in the dense forests surrounding Gadool village of Kokernag in South Kashmir's Anantnag district. A joint team of 19 RR and Jammu and Kashmir Police was planned on the same night. When the team reached the place, hidden terrorists started gun fire to escape from that place. Singh was commanding the operation and ordered to start firing. A fierce gun battle was going on. In the operation Col Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak, Sepoy Pradeep Singh from 19 RR and DSP Himayun Bhat from Jammu and Kashmir were killed in Action. For Singh's bravery, legacy and leadership he was posthumously awarded India's second highest peacetime gallantry award the Kirti Chakra on 15 August 2024. Along with DSP Himayun Bhat was also awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously for his bravery, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Sepoy Pradeep Singh were awarded with the third highest peacetime gallantry award the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. In the single operation 2 Kirti Chakra and 2 Shaurya Chakra were posthumously awarded to the bravehearts.




Kirti Chakra Citation


The Kirti Chakra citation on the Official Indian Army Website reads as follows:

"On 13 September 2023, Colonel
Manpreet Singh, Sena Medal was
heading a specific search and
destroy operation in densely
forested hills of a village in
Anantnag District.
As the terrorist hideout was located
and identified, terrorists opened
indiscriminate fire in a bid to
escape. Colonel Manpreet Singh,
Sena Medal unmindful of his own
safety, returned fire towards the
escaping terrorists resulting in
killing of one terrorist. Displaying
extraordinary leadership the officer
quickly reorganised the party to
plug the escape routes. He
continued to direct fire on the
terrorists. However, in the ensuing
gunfight Colonel Manpreet Singh,
Sena Medal sustained severe Gun
Shot Wound on the Forehead.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Sena
Medal displayed raw courage and
unparallel leadership by leading
from the front. His undaunting
valour and quick decision making
led to the elimination of one
terrorist and preventing escape of
other terrorists. The neutralized
terrorist was later identified as
affiliated to a proscribed terrorist
group.
For displaying conspicuous
bravery, raw courage, exemplary
leadership and excellent tactical
acumen with sheer disregard to

his own safety, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Sena Medal is awarded with “KIRTI CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUS)”."




Personal life


Singh married Ms Jagmeet Kaur in 2016. They have a son, Kabir Singh, and a daughter, Vani.




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Manpreet Singh (soldier)
• Brothers Keepers (gang)
• List of people with surname Singh
• Parkash Singh Badal
• 2023 Anantnag encounter
• Border (2018 Bhojpuri film)
• Kirti Chakra
• Sikhism in the United States
• Jharokha Darshan
• Punjabi New Zealanders