Shashi Bhushan Singh, SC, SM

Biography

Captain Shashi Bhushan Singh hailed from Gangtok in Sikkim. Hardworking and goal-focused from childhood, he studied at Daffodils Home and West Point School in Gangtok before moving to RIMC Dehradun after the eighth standard, where his dream of joining the armed forces took root. He was selected for the prestigious NDA and went on to the IMA Dehradun, graduating in 2003 and being commissioned into the Corps of Engineers. His first posting was with 236 Engineers Regiment of the Bengal Sappers, deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2005, while serving in Udhampur district, he displayed exceptional gallantry during a counter-terrorism operation, killing three of five terrorists, for which he was awarded the Sena Medal. He was later deputed to the 55 Rashtriya Rifles battalion for operations against terrorists. In June 2006 his unit was deployed in Pulwama district. Acting on intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a search and destroy operation was launched. On 23 June 2006, Captain Shashi Bhushan led his team into the suspected area, where a fierce gunfight broke out. During the exchange he was struck by a bullet that pierced his neck and lungs. Evacuated to a military hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries, making the supreme sacrifice. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his extraordinary courage.