Captain Sanjeev Dahiya was born on 10 October 1974 in Haryana into a military family. He was the son of Lt Col R. S. Dahiya, an Army officer, and grew up with the ambition of joining the Armed Forces. After completing his graduation, he was selected for the Officers Training Academy at Chennai.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 05 September 1998 into the Army Service Corps, the corps responsible for the logistic support functions of the Indian Army. For his first assignment, he was attached to the 5th Battalion of the Rajput Regiment and joined the unit on 26 September 1998. He subsequently served as a Ghatak Platoon Commander.
In July 1999, 5 Rajput was deployed in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu & Kashmir. On the night of 16/17 July, a patrol comprising one officer and seven soldiers was tasked to patrol the area between NS Pura and Malabela Post along the International Border and check enemy infiltration. The patrol was divided into two subsidiary patrols, with Captain Dahiya leading one group of four personnel.
At approximately 0200 hours on 17 July 1999, while Captain Dahiya's patrol was moving near the Malabela Bunker, it came under heavy fire from the sides and rear. Captain Dahiya and his comrades immediately took up positions and retaliated. During the ensuing exchange of fire, he sustained multiple serious bullet injuries.
Captain Sanjeev Dahiya succumbed to his injuries on 17 July 1999 at the age of 24. He is remembered as a motivated and inspiring young officer who led his men from the front. A school in Rohini, Delhi, has subsequently been named in his memory as Shaheed Captain Sanjeev Dahiya School.