Havildar Hangpan Dada was born on 2 October 1979 in Borduria village, Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh. He joined the Indian Army on 28 October 1997 and began his service with the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. After serving with the unit, he moved to the Assam Regiment and later served with 4 Assam. His military career included service in demanding operational environments, where he developed experience in field duties and small-team leadership.
In the later part of his career, Dada volunteered for service with the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir. He was posted to 35 Rashtriya Rifles in the Naugam area of Kupwara district in 2016. At the time, he was serving as the commander of Sabu Post. His responsibilities included leading troops in a difficult high-altitude area affected by terrorist activity and infiltration attempts.
On 26 May 2016, after terrorists broke contact with security forces in the Naugam Sector, Dada and his section were assigned to pursue and intercept them. He moved rapidly through snowbound terrain and positioned his team to block their escape. When the section came under heavy fire, he moved towards the terrorists to engage them at close quarters, helping reduce the danger to his fellow soldiers. Although grievously wounded, he continued fighting and killed three terrorists. His actions also contributed to the elimination of a fourth terrorist.
Havildar Hangpan Dada made the supreme sacrifice during the encounter on 26 May 2016. The Government of India recognised his exceptional courage and selfless conduct by awarding him the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 2016. His actions in the Naugam Sector remain an example of leadership under fire and commitment to the safety of fellow soldiers.