Commando’s gallant act saved his squad

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, September 25

Para commando Sandeep Singh lived and died for the country. The 30-year-old Lance Naik displayed exemplary bravery when he killed two infiltrators single-handedly before laying down his life on the Line of Control in the dense Tangdhar forests in Kupwara district on Monday.

At least five militants suspected to be foreigners were killed during the three-day-long counter-infiltration operation that began on Saturday at Tangdhar.

Army sources said Lance Naik Sandeep Singh of Special Forces led a search party which launched the operation in the Gagadhri Nar area of Tangdhar on September 22 after an input about infiltration was received. The combing was jointly carried out by the 4 Para commandos and 20 Jat Regiment.

“On noticing suspicious movement, Sandeep deployed his squad and moved further to ascertain the presence of militants. He encountered two terrorists at close quarters and a fierce gunfight ensued in which he neutralised both militants. During this daredevil act, he sustained a gunshot wound in his head and succumbed to his injuries as he was being evacuated,” the sources said.

An officer privy to the operation details said the commando ensured the safety of his own squad of the Special Forces. “With utter disregard for his personal safety and upon noticing that his squad was in danger, the commando eliminated two hardcore foreign militants, ensuring the safety of his four-member squad and the subsequent elimination of all three terrorists,” he said.

Lance Naik Sandeep Singh, a resident of the Kotla Khurd area of Gurdaspur in Punjab, is survived by his wife. He had joined the Army in 2007.

Gurdaspur bids adieu to braveheart

Gurdaspur, September 25

Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was cremated with full military honours at his native Kotla Khurd village, 15 km from here, on Tuesday.

Earlier, the body, draped in the Tricolour, was brought from Tibri cantonment where it was placed for the night after being flown in from Kupwara.

The pyre was lit by the martyr’s five-year-old son Abhinav and father Jagdev Singh. Senior officers from the district administration, Tibri cantonment and 4 para commandos, were present. SSP Swarandeep Singh had deputed DSP Gurbans Singh Bains to represent the police department. A contingent from Tibri reversed arms as a mark of respect. Sandeep was a part of the Army’s special force that carried out the surgical strikes on militant bunkers of Pakistan along the LoC in 2016. — TNS