Mahendra Singh (soldier)

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh KC, SM
Portrait of Sub Maj (Hony Capt) Singh
Born	Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, India
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Rank	Subedar Major Honorary Captain
Service number	JC-413444W
Unit	9 Para SF 6 RR
Awards	Kirti Chakra Sena Medal (Gallantry)

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh, KC, SM is a decorated Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of 9 Para SF. During an operation, he was paralysed on one side of his body.^[1][2]

Military career

On October 21, 1990, Mahendra Singh of Jhunjhunu's Dumra village joined the Special Forces 9th Battalion The Parachute Regiment. Subedar Singh's career expanded over twenty years in the Indian Army. He participated in number of encounters with the hardcore terrorists in many operations.^[3]

On the night of September 2, 2015, the operative team of the 6 RR Battalion was scouring the Kupwara jungles for four terrorists. The terrorists started shooting. This resulted in the deaths of two terrorists. Many bullets pierced Subedar Major Mahendra Singh's intestine and spine during this time. Even though he was paralysed due to spinal injuries, he killed the terrorist. His injured companion was bravely rescued.^[4]

Sena Medal

Singh was awarded with the Sena Medal (gallantry) for tackling the terrorists in the Independence Day 2013. In 2013, he has killed a Pakistan Regular Army personnel who have breached the Line of Control.^[5]

Kirti Chakra

On the Republic Day, 2016 Subedar Singh was awarded India's second highest peacetime gallantry award the Kirti Chakra for his gallant act on 2 September 2015.^[6]

On the 2 September 2015 night, Subedar Mahendra Singh got informed about the heavy gunfire between the terrorists and his team in Darel forest at Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir. He also informed that during fire two soldiers were hit by enemy bullets and they were badly injured. After hearing this news, Subedar Mahendra Singh and Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami went to rescue his teammates who are still fighting to the terrorists.^[7] When they reached the place there was a heavy firing from the terrorist. Immediately Subedar Mahendra Singh fired back and killed a terrorist at close quarters by risking his life. He was facing heavy gunfire from the terrorist group after this incident. Subedar Singh determined to kill remaining terrorists to save his teammates. Unfortunately he was hit in his abdomen that results he became paralyzed from toes to waist. At this condition he killed one more terrorist at point blank range. After his inspiration Lance Naik Mohan Goswami went and killed remaining terrorists.^[8]

In this operation Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami martyred and Subedar Mahendra Singh became half body paralyzed.^[9]

For the courageous act, bravery and supreme sacrifice Lance Naik Goswami was awarded with the nation's highest gallantry award the Ashoka Chakra^[10] and Subedar Mahendra Singh was awarded with the Kirti Chakra.^[11][12]

References

1. "Subedar Mahendra Singh, Kirti Chakra, Sena Medal - A fantastico leader".
2. "Fantastico leader - Subedar Mahendra Singh, Kirti Chakra". Indi Blogger.
3. "Republic Day 2016: Complete list of Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra winners". DNA India.
4. "जंग जिद की : आतंकियों से मुठभेड़ में इन सूबेदार मेजर को लगी गोली, तभी से पेट के बाहर हैं आंतें...ऑपरेशन के समय 30 दिन तक खुला रखा था पेट और रीढ़". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 2018-09-17. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
5. "Independence day gallantry award and other decorations". Sainik Samachar.
6. "President Mukherjee approves 11 gallantry awards". Indian Express.
7. "India the Republic: 11 tales of valour YOU must know". Rediff.com.
8. "One posthumous Ashok Chakra winner among 365 defence awardees". Business Standard.
9. "Army, government slug it out over Ashok Chakra gaffe". India Today.
10. "Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra". The Hindu.
11. "Major Rajinder Kumar Sharma, SC". Gallantry Awards.
12. "Republic Day Gallantry". Sainik Samachar.