Sukhdev Singh, SM

Biography

Subedar Sukhdev Singh hailed from Peoni village in the Majalta tehsil of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir. Like many young men from his region, he joined the Army after completing his school education and was recruited into 16 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers, an infantry regiment renowned for its brave soldiers and rich history of battle honours. As a young soldier, Sukhdev Singh took part in the Kargil War in 1999 while his unit was deployed in the Kargil sector. Over the following years he grew into a battle-hardened soldier and a dependable junior commissioned officer, serving in various operational areas and gathering substantial field experience. By 2020 he had risen to the rank of Subedar. During October 2020, his unit was deployed in Rajouri district, manning forward posts in the volatile Nowshera sector along the Line of Control, where ceasefire violations had become frequent and often came without warning. On the evening of 5 October 2020, at around 1900 hours, Pakistani troops initiated unprovoked firing on Indian posts across the border at the Kalal, Lam and Jhangad sectors. At the time, Subedar Sukhdev Singh was supervising the forward posts along the Line of Control. The Indian Army responded firmly, and a heavy exchange of fire ensued that continued intermittently for several hours. During this exchange, Subedar Sukhdev Singh was severely injured. He was evacuated to an Army medical facility but succumbed to his injuries. A valiant soldier and committed junior commissioned officer, he laid down his life in the line of duty. For his courage, camaraderie, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice, Subedar Sukhdev Singh was awarded the Sena Medal on 26 January 2021.