Jaswinder Singh, SM

Biography

Naib Subedar Jaswinder Singh hailed from Mana Talwandi village in the Kapurthala district of Punjab. The son of the late Captain Harbhajan Singh and Smt Manjit Kaur, he was fascinated by army life and nursed a dream of serving in uniform from his childhood. Following in his father's footsteps, he joined the Army after completing his school education and was recruited into the 23 Sikh battalion of the Sikh Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle honours. Over the years Jaswinder Singh grew into an experienced and respected Junior Commissioned Officer, serving across varied terrain and demanding operational environments. By 2021 he had completed substantial service and risen to the rank of Naib Subedar. In recognition of his gallantry, devotion to duty and meritorious service, he was honoured with the Sena Medal and a Chief of Army Staff commendation. In 2021, his unit, 16 Rashtriya Rifles, was deployed in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir along a highly active and volatile Line of Control, where ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts were frequent. Acting on intelligence about the presence of hardcore terrorists in the Surankote area of Poonch, the security forces launched a search and cordon operation on 11 October 2021, and Jaswinder Singh was part of the assigned team. Beginning in the forested Chamrer area, the operation spread towards villages near Dera Ki Gali, where a fierce gun battle erupted with the cornered terrorists. During the heavy exchange of fire, Jaswinder Singh and four fellow soldiers were severely wounded and later succumbed to their injuries. A valiant soldier who led from the front, he laid down his life in the service of the nation.