Shravan Singh Shekhawat, SM

Biography

Sepoy Shravan Singh Shekhawat hailed from Antri village in Sikar tehsil of Sikar district in Rajasthan, where he was born on 15 November 1975 to Shri Hari Singh Shekhawat and Smt Durga Kanwar. After completing his initial studies, he joined the army on 30 April 1995 at the age of 19. He was recruited into the Rajput Regiment, a regiment renowned for its fearless soldiers and numerous battle exploits. After serving for a few years with his parent unit, he was deputed to 10 Rashtriya Rifles, deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. By 1999, Sepoy Shekhawat had served for almost four years across various operational areas marked by challenging terrain and demanding conditions. During May 1999, his unit, 10 RR, was deployed in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir as part of the Counter Insurgency Force (Delta Force), functioning under the operational control of XVI Corps. As the area of responsibility was prone to militant infiltration, the troops maintained a high state of alert and undertook operations regularly to check such activity. On 04 May 1999, Sepoy Shekhawat was made part of a team tasked with one such operation. He and his comrades quickly assessed the situation and cordoned off a suspected area of a village in Doda district. When the militants were spotted and challenged, they opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle with a heavy exchange of fire. Sepoy Shekhawat and his comrades kept tightening the cordon to prevent any escape, but he was struck by enemy fire and later succumbed to his injuries. A gallant and committed soldier, he laid down his life at the age of 23 in the line of duty. For his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice, Sepoy Shravan Singh Shekhawat was awarded the Sena Medal on 26 January 2000.