Gurdev Singh

Biography

Lance Naik Gurdev Singh was born in the village of Boparai Baj Singh in Punjab, the son of Shri Mehar Singh. After completing his education he joined the Indian Army and was assigned to the 5 Sikh Regiment. In 2015 he was deployed with the 6 Rashtriya Rifles in the Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir, a unit regularly engaged in operations against militants. On 4 October 2015, intelligence sources reported the presence of militants in the dense Hafruda forests near Handwara, about 85 km north-west of Srinagar. A joint operation by the Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police was launched to track them down. The teams cordoned off the suspected area and sighted the militants, but the heavily armed group exploited the thick forest to scatter and evade the forces. The soldiers pressed on with the search, blocking the escape routes. As the operation continued, militants concealed at strategic positions opened heavy automatic fire on the troops under cover of darkness and dense undergrowth. In the ensuing firefight, Lance Naik Gurdev Singh was grievously wounded and later succumbed to his injuries. A brave and dedicated soldier, he laid down his life in the service of the nation.