Naib Subedar posted at Siachen dies, Army chief Gen Dwivedi pays homage

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s comrade-in-arms Baldev Singh, a soldier of his battalion, who died in line of duty while he was posted at Siachen Glacier was today given an emotional farewell.

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Naib Subedar Baldev Singh passed away yesterday. The Army Chief was at the Shraddhanjali Sthal, Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt, to lay a wreath on his body today, making it not merely a ceremonial gesture, but a heartfelt farewell.

The body of the soldier has been sent to his native place Sirsa, Haryana, for the last rites. The family of the deceased soldier includes mother Rachna Kaur, brother Hardev Singh, wife Gurvinder Kaur and two children — Upraj Singh (13) and Manreet Kaur (8).

Baldev Singh was enrolled into the of 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (18 JAK RIF) in 2002 during Operation Rakshak in Kashmir Valley. He first came in contact with General Dwivedi in October 2003, when the latter was a Colonel and commanding his battalion. General Dwivedi handpicked Singh and assigned him specialist duties in the Battalion’s signal platoon.

In the Indian Army, command of battalion is done by an officer when he/she is at the level of Colonel – or about 36-38 years of age. General Dwivedi is now almost 61 year of age.

Being in the signals platoon, responsible for all communication of the battalion, Baldev Singh often accompanied his Commanding Officer (General Dwivedi) to numerous operations.

Last year he was promoted as Naib Subedar, and like all senior officers, General Dwivedi kept in touch with his battalion.

The Indian Army said it stands in steadfast solidarity with the bereaved family during this hour of grief.