Kumar Singh, VrC

Biography

Havildar Kumar Singh hailed from Basairi Qazi village in the Fatehpur Sikri tehsil of Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, born on 6 January 1968. He joined the Jat Regiment of the Indian Army in 1978 and, after rigorous training, was inducted into the 17 Jat Battalion. Through consistent dedication he rose to the rank of Havildar by 1999. During the Kargil War, his battalion was inducted into the Mushkoh Valley in May 1999 as part of the operations to evict Pakistani intruders. The next major objective after Point 5140 and Point 4700 was Point 4875, which dominated a 30-kilometre stretch of the National Highway. On the night of 6 July 1999, Charlie Company was tasked with capturing Pimple II, a part of Point 4875, advancing under intense enemy fire over steep and rocky terrain. When the Number One Section Commander fell after clearing two enemy sangars, Hav Kumar Singh, serving as Number Two Section Commander, took charge. He directed the rocket launcher onto an enemy bunker, then led a direct assault, hurling grenades and clearing it, before charging a second sangar and eliminating three enemy soldiers. While reorganising on the captured position he was struck in the head by shrapnel and, though he continued to lead his men, he succumbed to his wounds. For his conspicuous gallantry he was awarded the Vir Chakra.