Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh, Shaurya Chakra, was an officer of the Indian Army's Armoured Corps and served with the 16th Light Cavalry. His service number was IC-58543X.
He hailed from Chandigarh and came from a military family. His father, Major Paramjit Singh, was an Army veteran. Bikram Jit Singh developed an inclination towards the armed forces from an early age and joined the Indian Military Academy after clearing the Combined Defence Services examination.
He passed out from the Indian Military Academy in 1998 and was commissioned into 16 Cavalry of the Armoured Corps. During his military career, he served in various operational areas and had completed approximately 14 years of service by 2013.
In September 2013, 16 Light Cavalry was deployed at Samba in Jammu & Kashmir. On the morning of 26 September 2013, heavily armed terrorists launched a fidayeen-style attack on the unit's Officers' Mess and adjoining Army camp.
At approximately 0715 hours, Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh heard automatic weapon fire near the Officers' Mess complex and immediately moved towards the site. He spotted a terrorist hiding in a nala and firing towards the area while attempting to move towards the adjacent family accommodation.
Although he was unarmed, Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh took charge of the situation and coordinated a close cordon around the terrorist. He moved between positions and directed the response despite the immediate danger.
During the action, he was hit by fatal gunfire. His intervention prevented the terrorist from breaking into the Officers' Married Accommodation complex and gave the tanks and the unit Quick Reaction Team sufficient time to establish a tight cordon.
His actions helped protect the families living in the accommodation area, including unarmed women and children, and prevented further loss of life.
Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh made the supreme sacrifice on 26 September 2013 during the terrorist attack at Samba, Jammu & Kashmir.
For his courageous and bold leadership, complete disregard for personal safety and supreme sacrifice while protecting his unit and military families, he was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 2014.