Vrahma Pal Singh, KC

Biography

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh was born on 10 July 1987 in the village of Shaujana Rani in the Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh. After completing his initial studies, he joined the Army in 2004 and was recruited into the famed Rajput Regiment, a regiment renowned for its fearless soldiers and distinguished battle record. By 2017 he had served for nearly 13 years across various operational areas marked by challenging terrain and demanding conditions. After serving with his parent unit, he was deputed to 44 Rashtriya Rifles, deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. In early November 2017, his battalion was operating in the Pulwama district, where it frequently engaged militants. Acting on intelligence about the presence of hardcore terrorists in Algar village, the unit launched a cordon and search operation on 6 November 2017 under the leadership of Captain Kaninder Paul Singh. Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh was deployed in the inner cordon. Having cleared two houses, he advanced with his buddy to clear an adjacent cowshed where terrorists were hiding. In a single-handed, gallant action, he provided covering fire that enabled his buddy, Rifleman Aurangzeb, to extricate himself from the cowshed, while keeping three terrorists engaged and preventing their escape. This also gave the team time to readjust the cordon. In the ensuing firefight he sustained bullet injuries to his chest and legs, yet despite being grievously wounded and numerically overwhelmed, he continued to dominate and engage the enemy, neutralising one terrorist and wounding another. Three militants, including a self-styled Divisional Commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, were killed in the operation. Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh later succumbed to his wounds. For his outstanding valour, dogged determination and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Kirti Chakra.