Rajeev Sandhu, MVC

Biography

Second Lieutenant Rajeev Sandhu was born on 12 November 1966 into a military family in Chandigarh. His father, Devinder Singh Sandhu, served in the Indian Air Force, and his grandfather had served in the Indian National Army during the Second World War. Rajeev completed his schooling at St John's High School, Chandigarh, and graduated from DAV College, Panjab University. On 5 March 1988 he was commissioned into the 7th Battalion of the Assam Regiment, then deployed on peacekeeping duties in Sri Lanka, and in June 1988 was attached to C Company of 19 Madras. On 19 July 1988, Second Lieutenant Sandhu was leading a small ration convoy when it was ambushed by heavy automatic and 40 mm rocket fire. A rocket struck the jeep directly, shattering both his legs. Despite grievous wounds and heavy bleeding, he crawled to a fire position and shot dead a militant who advanced to seize weapons, then held his ground, denying the enemy the body and arms. He directed the collection party to outflank the attackers and insisted his injured comrades be evacuated first. He slipped into a coma from blood loss and died during helicopter evacuation. For his extraordinary valour he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.