Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was a soldier of 4 Para (Special Forces), The Parachute Regiment, of the Indian Army. He was enrolled into the Sikh Regiment on 18 June 2007 and subsequently volunteered for the Special Forces. After successfully completing the required selection and training, he joined 4 Para (Special Forces) on 5 July 2008.
Sandeep Singh was from Kotla Khurd in Punjab and had served in some of the Indian Army's most demanding operational environments. His unit, 4 Para (SF), was involved in counter-terrorism and counter-infiltration operations along the Line of Control and also participated in the September 2016 surgical strikes.
In September 2018, 4 Para (SF) was deployed in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, where an infiltrated group of terrorists was being tracked. During a search operation on 22 September 2018 at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet, Lance Naik Sandeep Singh served as the leading scout of the Special Forces squad.
Sandeep Singh tracked the location of the infiltrated terrorists and alerted his squad. As the team began deploying, the terrorists opened heavy fire. Realising the danger to his comrades, Sandeep Singh moved aggressively towards the terrorists and neutralised one of them at close range. He was then severely injured by a grenade.
Despite his injuries, he continued to engage the remaining terrorists. During the firefight his rifle fell into a gorge. He nevertheless crawled towards the terrorists and engaged one of them in hand-to-hand combat. During the struggle, he was shot by another terrorist and suffered a fatal wound.
His actions allowed the remainder of the Special Forces squad to move to a tactically advantageous position and engage the remaining terrorists. The operation subsequently resulted in the elimination of the infiltrated group.
Lance Naik Sandeep Singh succumbed to his injuries on 24 September 2018. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for conspicuous gallantry, selflessness and devotion to duty. His citation records that his actions ensured the safety of his squad and enabled the subsequent elimination of the remaining terrorists.
He was cremated with full military honours at his native Kotla Khurd village in Punjab. He was survived by his wife and young son.