Sajjan Singh Malik, KC

Biography

Captain Sajjan Singh Malik was born in Kirtan village in the Rajgarh tehsil of Churu district, Rajasthan. He studied at the Rashtriya Military School, Belgaum, and followed in the footsteps of his father, who had served in the Jat Regiment. The military school laid the foundation of soldierly qualities in him, which were further honed at the NDA and the IMA, Dehradun. On commissioning, he was assigned to 10 Para (Special Forces), the elite battalion known as the "Desert Scorpions", trained specially for desert warfare and renowned for its fearless soldiers and daring operations. In 2004, his unit was deployed for counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Acting on intelligence about hardcore militants in the Bandipora tehsil of Baramulla district, Captain Malik tracked their movements for over a month before laying a trap at Gundpura village on the night of 7 July 2004. His team ambushed the militants as they left the village at dawn, triggering a fierce encounter. He gunned down two terrorists in the narrow village lanes. Though hit by three bullets, he continued to lead his men and helped corner and eliminate a third terrorist at close range before succumbing to his injuries. For his outstanding courage and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Kirti Chakra.